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Mr. Wyden. One last point, Mr. Chairman. 



First, let me thank both of you because I think this has been 

 very helpful. I want to ask you one last question. As I have worked 

 on Chairman Waxman's subcommittee over the years on this issue, 

 we have continually heard that the tobacco industry's position is 

 that smoking is essentially a matter of free choice. 



I think, you know, that we had some science that has raised 

 questions about that, but certainly at a minimum if it is a matter 

 of free choice, people ought to be in a position to make an informed 

 choice. 



One of the things that has troubled me is it seems to me that 

 if your studies had gotten out at the time that they were written, 

 at a minimum, at a bare minimum, other scientists would have fol- 

 lowed up on the research that you had done. And then, clearly, the 

 American people could have made a more informed choice about 

 smoking. Would you agree with that. Dr. DeNoble? 



Mr. DeNoble. Yes, I do agree with that. It was the reason that 

 Paul and I took the risk in 1986 to try to publish this material and 

 present it. The scientific community had the right to look at this 

 research and to confirm or disconfirm it. And they confirmed it, 

 much of it, but years after it should have been confirmed. 



Mr. Wyden. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Waxman. Thank you, Mr. Wyden. 



We've referred to a number of exhibits during this hearing. Let 

 me indicate that all of the exhibits were shared with them I know, 

 in advance of this hearing. 



And let me ask unanimous consent, so that we have it on the 

 record, that all those exhibits be made part of the record in the se- 

 quential numbering order that they have been referred to. And 

 without objection, that will be the order. 



And let me indicate that Dr. DeNoble and Dr. Mele, you not only 

 met with our staff, but you had a meeting with the minority staff, 

 as well, prior to this hearing, is that correct? 



Mr. DeNoble. Yes, that's correct. 



Mr. Waxman. And that was a private meeting? 



Mr. DeNoble. Yes, it was. 



Mr. Waxman. OK. I want to make an observation then. I thank 

 you both for being here. 



I was taken aback 2 weeks ago when we had at this very table 

 the 7 chief executive officers of the major tobacco companies in this 

 Nation and they gave us blanket denials, absolute blanket denials 

 about a number of important issues. 



We asked them if they knew whether cigarette smoking caused 

 people harm, and they said they didn't know. But one thing they 

 did know about and could tell us was that cigarette smoking was 

 not addictive. And we went down the line and each chief executive 

 officer indicated that cigarette smoking was not addictive. 



They also told us at this hearing that environmental tobacco 

 smoke is not dangerous, that advertising was not intended to influ- 

 ence kids. One of the witnesses even told us that he thought ciga- 

 rette smoking was not addictive and, if it was, it was no more of 

 an addiction than eating Twinkles. 



Well, I want to just indicate that hearing, as compared to this 

 hearing, is the reason why Congress has got to be involved in the 



