Former chief strategist to President Clinton
See also: Government Time Line | Interview Excerpt | Dick Scruggs Interview | Richard Scruggs
Inside the Tobacco Deal interviewed Dick Morris in January 1998.
Morris: "When the history of the 20th century is written, there are going to be some pretty obscure people who are entitled to sainthood. Nobody is going to know their names, and I don't know if they'll go on to do anything else in their lives. But Scruggs and Moore have earned their place in heaven."
Who?
Dick Morris had worked with Richard Scruggs on asbestos litigation. When Scruggs told him of his intention to sue tobacco companies, Morris conducted a poll in Mississippi to gauge public reaction. Morris had personal reasons for wanting to sue the tobacco industry. In September 1993, Morris' mother, a lifelong smoker, died of cancer. Morris was also born two pounds 11 ounces premature and almost died because his mother chain-smoked during her pregnancy.
As a special advisor to President Clinton, Morris met with Clinton on a regular basis in the Treaty Room at the White House. After the loss of Congress to the Republicans in 1994, the president was looking for issues where he could take the political offensive. But Clinton had grave reservations about taking on the powerful tobacco industry.
Contribution to the Deal
Morris asked Richard Scruggs for help in convincing the President that this was a good issue. Scruggs paid for a poll in the five tobacco states (North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee) to gauge public reaction to the issue. It showed that the public was strongly against teen smoking and tobacco was a major health concern. After seeing the results of the polls, President Clinton decided to act. He proposed new anti-tobacco regulations that would restrict marketing to children and give the FDA the authority to determine if nicotine was an addictive drug.
In the summer of 1995, Morris telephoned Dick Scruggs asking if he would raise money for an ad campaign in case the tobacco industry began running negative television ads against the Presidents stance. Morris was assured by Scruggs that the money would be there if needed.
Expectations
Dick Morris is in favor of a national settlement because it is good politics. Everyone gets money, Clinton looks good and his influence is highlighted.
Personal Information:
Dick Morris was once described in Time magazine as the most influential private citizen in America. He has worked in election campaigning for more than twenty years and was a political advisor to Clinton when he was governor in Arkansas in 1978.
Affiliations: He plays both the Democrats and the Republicans
Cards they hold (issues):
Cards: Access to Clinton | Public Opinion Polling | Intellectual Influence