753 



centration of tobacco— -in this study, he found lower levels in the 

 smoke. 



I think, again, that's exactly what I said and what I've taken 

 issue with in the chairman's press conference yesterday, a 

 misstatement, not in this regard — in this regard. 



Mr. Waxman. Thank you, Mr. McMillan. I think you're turning 

 the world on its head, but it's not my turn to get into the questions. 

 I'll get there in a minute. Mr. Wyden, your turn. 



Mr. Wyden. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Gentlemen, I'd like to 

 turn again to the matter of children in our country smoking. I men- 

 tioned I've got young children. Millions of parents, of course, do, as 

 well. I note that the Federal Government has found the Centers for 

 Disease Control, and I quote, "Approximately 75 percent of current 

 sm^okers become addicted to tobacco by age 18," generally before it 

 was even legal for them to purchase tobacco products. 



I'd like to start at this point by asking how many of you have 

 children or grandchildren. If you would, just raise your hand, ei- 

 ther children or grandchildren. 



[Show of hands.] 



Mr. Wyden. Almost everybody. Good. My situation. I know that 

 you all have been asked in the past about whether you v/ould want 

 your kids or your grand-kids to smoke and I have listened very 

 carefully to the response that you've made. 



In the past, when you all have been asked this question about 

 whether you would want your kids or your grand-kids to smoke, 

 the position of executives and others has been that this is an indi- 

 vidual decision to be made by adults, and I have heard that stated 

 on many occasions. I agree with you on that. No question about it. 

 It is a decision that should be made by adults. 



But I'm not going to ask you that question this morning. What 

 I'd like to ask each of you with children is I'd like to ask each of 

 you if you had your preference, would you want your kids or your 

 grand-kids to smoke or not smoke? If you had your preference. 

 Let's start with you, Mr. Campbell. 



Mr. Campbell. I have no preference. 



Mr. Wyden. It wouldn't bother you if your kids smoked. 



Mr. Campbell. Well, I think that in the end, the most important 

 part, I've answered some of these questions earlier, is that the 

 most important part is that our children be given information 

 about all of these kinds of things, smoking and drugs and alcohol 

 and sex and disease. I think that we're doing a good job of that and 

 I think that the Congress of the United States is leading that. 



Mr. Wyden. But after all that information is given, it wouldn't 

 bother you if your kids smoked. 



Mr. Campbell. I have to accept that my children are going to 

 take risks, whether I like them to or not. I would prefer my kids 

 have no risks. 



Mr. James Johnston. Mr. Congressman, I do not want my chil- 

 dren to smoke. I do not want your children to smoke or anyone 

 else's children to smoke. 



Mr. Wyden. Thank you. 



Mr. James Johnston. I want adults to smoke. 



Mr. Wyden. Thank you. I agree with that answer. 



