HISTORY This Week Warning: The Surgeon General Has Determined...
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Jan 10, 2020 
In this discussion with Boris Lushniak, former acting U.S. Surgeon General, listeners dive into the shocking revelations from the 1964 report that officially linked smoking to severe health risks. Lushniak reflects on the slow acceptance of these findings amid a culture that glamorized smoking and highlights how advertising influenced public perception. The conversation also tackles the modern challenges posed by e-cigarettes and the ongoing fight against nicotine addiction, emphasizing the legacy of public health advocacy in America.
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Surgeon General Breaks The Taboo
- In 1964 the Surgeon General publicly declared smoking a major health hazard, breaking long-standing cultural norms.
- Luther Terry's announcement reframed smoking from lifestyle choice to public-health crisis.
Smoking Wove Into Everyday Culture
- Cigarettes were everywhere in midcentury America and tightly woven into popular culture and TV sponsorships.
- Shows like I Love Lucy and Rawhide were sponsored by cigarette companies, normalizing smoking for viewers.
Economic Power Slowed Action
- Tobacco was a major economic and political force with huge tax revenue and regional influence.
- That economic clout made anti-smoking action politically risky and slow to emerge.