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Before entering the political and lobbying business, Tom Griscom was employed as the political editor at the same Chattanooga Times he later returned to edit. In 1978 he joined the staff of Senator Howard Baker which then gave him a key role in the Reagan Administration. As Baker's senior staffer, he essentially ran the day-to-day operations at the White House while Baker was Chief of Staff, while simultaneously maintaining the strong links between the Administration and the Republican Party. [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/cgi/getdoc?tid=mhh43d00&fmt=pdf&ref=results]
Before entering the political and lobbying business, Tom Griscom was employed as the political editor at the same Chattanooga Times he later returned to edit. In 1978 he joined the staff of Senator Howard Baker which then gave him a key role in the Reagan Administration. As Baker's senior staffer, he essentially ran the day-to-day operations at the White House while Baker was Chief of Staff, while simultaneously maintaining the strong links between the Administration and the Republican Party. [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/cgi/getdoc?tid=mhh43d00&fmt=pdf&ref=results]
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===
Reagan
White House===
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Griscom also served in the 1990s as the executive vice president for external relations for the [[R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company|RJ Reynolds Tobacco company]], as an employee of [[Rupert Murdoch]]'s [[News Ltd]]; and as a [[public relations]] [[consultant]] with Powell-Tate.<ref>{{cite news | url
=
http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id
=
1042 | title
=
Jumping the Fence| publisher=American Journalism Review | year= 1999 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-03-18 }}</ref>
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In December 1998, ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' magazine's "The Power of 25: the influence merchants" named Griscom, along with other ex-
White House
staff, ex-politicians and sons-of-politicians, as a key [[lobbyist]] in Washington.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/cgi/getdoc?tid=vsw27d00&fmt
=
pdf&ref
=
results|title=THE POWER 25 THE INFLUENCE MERCHANTS (vsw27d00)|publisher=}}</ref>
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+
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==Documents & Timelines==
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<b>1949</b> born '''Thomas Cecil Griscom'''
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<HR>
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<B>1976-78</B> Political Editor at the Chatanooga Times Free Press.
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<hr>
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<b>1978-87</b> He was a top aide and adviser for a decade to [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] [[Howard Baker]] of Tennessee,
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<hr>
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<b>1987-88</b> Director of White House Communications under President [[Ronald Reagan]]
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<hr width
=
30%>
His most notable claim during this period was that, in 1987, as Communications Director at the White House, he approved and promoted (against diplomatic advice) Peter Robinson's draft rabble-rousing speech made at the Berlin Wall, where President Reagan demanded that Russian President Gorbachev "tear down this wall".[http://www.hoover.org/publications/digest/3550602.html]
His most notable claim during this period was that, in 1987, as Communications Director at the White House, he approved and promoted (against diplomatic advice) Peter Robinson's draft rabble-rousing speech made at the Berlin Wall, where President Reagan demanded that Russian President Gorbachev "tear down this wall".[http://www.hoover.org/publications/digest/3550602.html]
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In
1990
, when
the Reagan Administration ended he joined [[R.J. Reynolds]] Tobacco Company (RJR) as head of its External Relations program. Over the next ten years he was responsible for the company's strategic operations against the growing anti-smoking forces, and for conducting its political dirty-tricks campaigns. He organized and administered their involvement in many of the cooperative campaigns conducted with [[Philip Morris]] and the [[Tobacco Institute]] in lobbying Congress to blocking anti-smoking legislation, and often took a lead role in conducting misinformation campaigns for media and public consumption -- especially in the promotion of the idea that "health-regulations were largely the product of junk-science."
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<hr>
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<b>
1990
: </b> When
the Reagan Administration ended he joined [[R.J. Reynolds]] Tobacco Company (RJR) as head of its External Relations program. Over the next ten years he was responsible for the company's strategic operations against the growing anti-smoking forces, and for conducting its political dirty-tricks campaigns. He organized and administered their involvement in many of the cooperative campaigns conducted with [[Philip Morris]] and the [[Tobacco Institute]] in lobbying Congress to blocking anti-smoking legislation, and often took a lead role in conducting misinformation campaigns for media and public consumption -- especially in the promotion of the idea that "health-regulations were largely the product of junk-science."
Not long after joining RJR, he became one of the key directors on the management committee of the [[Tobacco Institute]], which was responsible for secretly-funding friendly think-tanks and other organizations, and for organizing scientists, lawyers and other business allies to attack regulatory measures which blocked cigarette advertising. Later their attention turned to attacking the introduction of environmental and health regulations. <ref>Adams WA, Tobacco Institute [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/wtz58c00 Minutes of the Management Committee] Meeting minutes. March 8, 1995. Bates No. 92609994/9995</ref>
Not long after joining RJR, he became one of the key directors on the management committee of the [[Tobacco Institute]], which was responsible for secretly-funding friendly think-tanks and other organizations, and for organizing scientists, lawyers and other business allies to attack regulatory measures which blocked cigarette advertising. Later their attention turned to attacking the introduction of environmental and health regulations. <ref>Adams WA, Tobacco Institute [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/wtz58c00 Minutes of the Management Committee] Meeting minutes. March 8, 1995. Bates No. 92609994/9995</ref>
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In mid-1996 the fake "grassroots science" organization known as [[The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition]] (TASSC) was partly-exposed as being funded by [[Philip Morris]]. The operation, together with [[Steve Milloy]], who ran both the organization and its junkscience.com web-site [http://www.junkscience.com], were transferred to the control of Reynolds under Griscom so that Philip Morris could deny involvement.
In mid-1996 the fake "grassroots science" organization known as [[The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition]] (TASSC) was partly-exposed as being funded by [[Philip Morris]]. The operation, together with [[Steve Milloy]], who ran both the organization and its junkscience.com web-site [http://www.junkscience.com], were transferred to the control of Reynolds under Griscom so that Philip Morris could deny involvement.
<ref> Powell Tate [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/syq70d00 Activity Report R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. December 1996] Report. December, 1996. 2 pp. Bates No. 520526642/6643</ref>
<ref> Powell Tate [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/syq70d00 Activity Report R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. December 1996] Report. December, 1996. 2 pp. Bates No. 520526642/6643</ref>
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Griscom subcontracted the administration of this "sound-science" operation to [[Jody Powell]], ex-press secretary to former U.S. President [[Jimmy Carter]], and [[Sheila Tate]], [[Nancy Reagan]]'s adviser, at the [[Powell-Tate]] lobby shop. During this time RJR and Powell-Tate also jointly handled the promotion and distribution of Milloy's book "Science without Sense <ref>Powell Tate [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/ryq70d00 Activity Report R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. January 1997] January, 1997. 2 pp. Bates No. 520526639/6640</ref> <ref> Smith MD, Cato Institute [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/vaw72a00 Cato Institute] Email letter. January 19, 1995. Bates No. 528016094</ref> Similar books promoting pro-tobacco positions were commissioned, and payment laundered, through other "think-tanks" that employed well-known academic authors. <ref>Bennet JT, George Mason University [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/ist03a00 This letter summarizes our discussion on August 18 regarding our activities during the coming year.] Letter. 1 pg. August 31, 1995. Bates No. 517118301</ref>
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One other "successful" propaganda program run by Griscom’s staff at this time was to characterize relatively harmless substances as "potentially cancerous." This was a key ploy in the industry's "sound-science/junk-science" campaign. One idea was to both promote as a genuine "science" claim … and ridicule the idea … that coffee could cause cancer. The attack on this "junk-science" was conducted via Milloy's junk-science web pages and some op-ed articles planted in newspapers.{{fact}}
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====Subcontracted to Powell-Tate====
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<B>1996 OCT /E</B> Griscom subcontracted the administration of this "sound-science" operation to [[Jody Powell]], ex-press secretary to former U.S. President [[Jimmy Carter]], and [[Sheila Tate]], [[Nancy Reagan]]'s adviser, at the [[Powell-Tate]] lobby shop. During this time RJR and Powell-Tate also jointly handled the promotion and distribution of Milloy's book "Science without Sense <ref>Powell Tate [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/ryq70d00 Activity Report R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. January 1997] January, 1997. 2 pp. Bates No. 520526639/6640</ref> <ref> Smith MD, Cato Institute [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/vaw72a00 Cato Institute] Email letter. January 19, 1995. Bates No. 528016094</ref> Similar books promoting pro-tobacco positions were commissioned, and payment laundered, through other "think-tanks" that employed well-known academic authors. <ref>Bennet JT, George Mason University [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/ist03a00 This letter summarizes our discussion on August 18 regarding our activities during the coming year.] Letter. 1 pg. August 31, 1995. Bates No. 517118301</ref>
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<HR>
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<B>1997</B>
One other "successful" propaganda program run by Griscom’s staff at this time was to characterize relatively harmless substances as "potentially cancerous." This was a key ploy in the industry's "sound-science/junk-science" campaign. One idea was to both promote as a genuine "science" claim … and ridicule the idea … that coffee could cause cancer. The attack on this "junk-science" was conducted via Milloy's junk-science web pages and some op-ed articles planted in newspapers.{{fact}}
By creating their own scientific "straw-man-theory," they were able to attack the ridiculous idea that everything enjoyable could be classed as potentially dangerous; then extended this to smoking (characterized as nothing more than another form of enjoyment and relaxation). They then extended this further to counter fears about passive smoking. The message was: "People aren't able to live without taking risks." So smoking or breathing other people's smoke, they implied, was no different to drinking coffee.<ref>Jensen P, Powell Tates [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/oyq70d00 Enclosed are April invoices and an activity report summarizing our work on GTC projects as well as general RJR projects] Letter. May 9, 1997. 3 pp. Bates No. 520526627/6629</ref>
By creating their own scientific "straw-man-theory," they were able to attack the ridiculous idea that everything enjoyable could be classed as potentially dangerous; then extended this to smoking (characterized as nothing more than another form of enjoyment and relaxation). They then extended this further to counter fears about passive smoking. The message was: "People aren't able to live without taking risks." So smoking or breathing other people's smoke, they implied, was no different to drinking coffee.<ref>Jensen P, Powell Tates [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/oyq70d00 Enclosed are April invoices and an activity report summarizing our work on GTC projects as well as general RJR projects] Letter. May 9, 1997. 3 pp. Bates No. 520526627/6629</ref>
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Griscom’s communications and media division of RJR was also responsible for hiring State and Federal lobbyists across the country, and for creating and planting ghost-written articles and letters-to-the-editor (LTEs) in major newspapers and magazines. They also promoted seemingly-normal tours by well-known comedians, musicians, artists, etc., who were all carefully trained and contracted to promote the pro-smoking message, often by ridiculing non-smoking activists and legislators as "wowsers" and "nanny-state promoters."<ref>Carter P, R.J. Reynolds [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/yev60d00 FDA Project Ideas] Letter. August 23, 1995. Bates No. 522542254/2256</ref><ref>Powell Tate [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/qnd13a00 Draft Report] May 12, 1995. 7 pp. Bates No. 512011981/1987</ref><ref> [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/toa13a00 Weekly Report. NC Contributions] June 1, 1995. Bates No. 513195056/5058</ref>
Griscom’s communications and media division of RJR was also responsible for hiring State and Federal lobbyists across the country, and for creating and planting ghost-written articles and letters-to-the-editor (LTEs) in major newspapers and magazines. They also promoted seemingly-normal tours by well-known comedians, musicians, artists, etc., who were all carefully trained and contracted to promote the pro-smoking message, often by ridiculing non-smoking activists and legislators as "wowsers" and "nanny-state promoters."<ref>Carter P, R.J. Reynolds [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/yev60d00 FDA Project Ideas] Letter. August 23, 1995. Bates No. 522542254/2256</ref><ref>Powell Tate [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/qnd13a00 Draft Report] May 12, 1995. 7 pp. Bates No. 512011981/1987</ref><ref> [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/toa13a00 Weekly Report. NC Contributions] June 1, 1995. Bates No. 513195056/5058</ref>
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In
1997-
8
Griscom represented R.J. Reynolds on the long series of tobacco industry negotiations with the States Attorneys General, the Justices Department, and the White House, which led to the November 1998 [[Master Settlement Agreement]] (MSA). The industry won a compromise, but agreed to pay many hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for Medicaid costs associated with smoking in order to avoid charges made under the
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<hr>
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<B>
1997-
98:</b>
Griscom represented R.J. Reynolds on the long series of tobacco industry negotiations with the States Attorneys General, the Justices Department, and the White House, which led to the November 1998 [[Master Settlement Agreement]] (MSA). The industry won a compromise, but agreed to pay many hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for Medicaid costs associated with smoking in order to avoid charges made under the
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations ([[RICO]]) act.
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations ([[RICO]]) act.
−
In December
1998
,
Fortune magazine's "The Power of 25: the influence merchants" article gives Tom Griscom credit (among dozens of other ex-White House Staff, ex-politicians and sons-of-politicians) as a key lobbyist in Washington. At this time he was working with Jody Powell’s Powell-Tate (a Cassidy Company) lobby shop. [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/cgi/getdoc?tid=vsw27d00&fmt=pdf&ref=results]
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<hr>
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<b>
1998
Dec </b>
Fortune magazine's "The Power of 25: the influence merchants" article gives Tom Griscom credit (among dozens of other ex-White House Staff, ex-politicians and sons-of-politicians) as a key lobbyist in Washington. At this time he was working with Jody Powell’s Powell-Tate (a Cassidy Company) lobby shop. [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/cgi/getdoc?tid=vsw27d00&fmt=pdf&ref=results]
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He had joined Powell-Tate as far back as 1997, probably to preserve some distance between his role as a negotiator in the Master Settlement Agreement and RJ Reynolds Tobacco itself.
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'''However he still continued to act for Reynolds in all of these crucial deals,''' and his name continued to feature on the internal circulation lists for RJR memos.
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<hr>
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<b>1999 Oct-July 2010</b> He was the [[executive editor]] and [[publisher]] of the ''[[Chattanooga Times Free Press]]'' from October 1999 to June 30, 2010.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://timesfreepress.com/epaper/templates/contact.asp | title=Chattanooga Times Free Press Masthead| publisher=[[Chattanooga Times Free Press]] | year= 1999 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-03-18 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070312013254/http://www.timesfreepress.com/epaper/templates/contact.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-03-12}}</ref>
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He had joined Powell-Tate as far back as 1997, probably to preserve some distance between his role as a negotiator
in the
Master Settlement Agreement and
RJ Reynolds
Tobacco itself. However he still continued
to
act for Reynolds in all of these crucial deals, and his name continued
to
feature on the internal circulation lists for RJR memos
.
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<hr>
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<b>2002</b> Then
in the
later half of 2002 he left
RJ Reynolds
employ entirely and returned
to
Chatanooga
to
edit their newspaper
.
−
Then in
the
later half of 2002 he left RJ Reynolds employ entirely and returned to Chatanooga to edit their newspaper
.
+
<hr>
+
<b>2010 Jun 10</b> Finally relinquished his publishing role at
the
Chattanooga Times Free Press
.
== External links ==
== External links ==