Surgeon general who fought tobacco dies at 87

[proverbialwisdom]

1. LA TIMES: Dr. Jesse Steinfeld, ousted as surgeon general due to his anti-smoking views, dies at 87

http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-jesse-steinfeld-20140806-story.html

Dr. Jesse Steinfeld dies at 87; fought tobacco use as surgeon general
By THOMAS H. MAUGH II

SHARELINES: (via Twitter and Facebook)
-- Dr. Jesse Steinfeld, ousted as surgeon general due to his anti-smoking views, dies at 87
-- Dr. Jesse Steinfeld, one of three surgeons general to spearhead the fight against tobacco, dies at 87
-- 'Worst surgeon general ever' --tobacco industry on Dr. Jesse Steinfeld, who has died at 87

August 5, 2014

Three U.S. surgeons general have played the biggest roles in alerting the public to the dangers of tobacco.

In 1964, Dr. Luther Terry issued the first Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health, irrefutably linking smoking with lung disease and other illnesses. The report led to a sharp drop in smoking and to the first warning labels on cigarette packages.

Seven years later, Dr. Jesse L. Steinfeld issued a second report focused on the dangers of secondhand smoke. He proposed what he called the Non-Smoker's Bill of Rights, which said that the country must free non-smokers from the hazards and annoyance of other people's addictions. He strengthened the warning on packages and issued the first ban on smoking in certain government buildings.

In the 1980s, Dr. C. Everett Koop accelerated the war against tobacco, producing the first ban on smoking in airplanes.

The tobacco industry considered Steinfeld's actions so egregious that he was labeled the "worst surgeon general ever." The industry lobbied vigorously for his removal and he became the first surgeon general ever forced out by the president.

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Amazing heroism.