The Landmark 1964 Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health

The Unfiltered Truth About Smoking and Health

One of the foremost scientific documents of the 20th century, Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service, was released on January 11, 1964, by U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry, MD, at a packed auditorium in the U.S. State Department. The landmark Surgeon General’s Report concluded that cigarette smoking was a cause of lung cancer and was related to a host of other diseases.

1964 SGs Report Front Cover

Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service

Book, front cover
Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
January 11, 1964

1964 01 15 Luther Terry to Drs SGs Report

“I am pleased to send you the enclosed report of my Advisory Committee on Smoking and Health.”

Letter from U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry, MD, to physicians across the U.S.
Sent with copies of Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health to U.S. physicians
January 15, 1964

1964 01 24 Life Verdict on Cigs Guilty

“Verdict on Cigarets: Guilty as Charged”

News article
Life, page 56A
January 24, 1964

1964 01 11 Detroit News US Plans Legal War to Cut Smoking resized

“U.S. Plans Legal War to Cut Cigaret Smoking”

Front page story about the publication of the Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health
The Detroit News
January 11, 1964

1964 01 12 Dallas Morning News Smoking Held Cancer Cause

“Smoking Held Cancer Cause”

Front page story about the publication of the Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health
The Dallas Morning News
January 12, 1964

1964 01 12 Chicago Tribune Tie Cancer to Cigs

“Tie Cancer to Cigarets”

Front page story about the publication of the Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health
Chicago Tribune
January 12, 1964

1964 03 JNMA Smoking Health copy

“Smoking and Health”

Column by Kenneth W. Clement, MD
Journal of the National Medical Association, vol. 56, no. 2, page 201
March 1964

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