Letter to the Chairman of the National Cancer Advisory Board About Regulation of Cigarette Tar and Nicotine Content.

Dear Dr. Rhoads:

I have received and reviewed a preliminary copy of the 1974 annual report of the National Cancer Advisory Board.

In several places, the Board's report recommends Federal regulation of the tar and nicotine content of cigarettes. The report does not, however, provide an assessment of the scientific evidence at hand which should provide the basis for such regulation.

In order that all concerned may be fully informed, I would like to request that the National Cancer Advisory Board review the existing scientific evidence on an urgent basis and provide me with an assessment of the extent to which there exists a scientific basis for responsible regulation of cigarettes.

I recognize that all questions of regulation necessarily involve a certain amount of reasonable disagreement as well as the exercise of sound judgment. Nevertheless, it is critically important that our judgments be soundly based so that we may proceed with the greatest amount of wisdom.

I know I can count on the National Cancer Advisory Board to provide me with scientific advice on this important matter of public concern. I would greatly appreciate the Board's assessment by December 1, 1974.

Sincerely,

GERALD R. FORD

[The Honorable Jonathan E. Rhoads, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 36th and Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, Pa. 19104]