Welcome Remarks for "The Cigarette: A Political History"
McGowan Theater, 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building, Washington, DC
October 3, 2019
Good afternoon, and welcome to the William G. McGowan Theater at the 威尼斯人娱乐场. I鈥檓 David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, and I鈥檓 pleased you could join us for this afternoon鈥檚 program, whether you are here in the theater or joining us through Facebook or YouTube.
Before we hear from Sarah Milov about her new book, The Cigarette: A Political History, I鈥檇 like to tell you about two other programs coming up soon in the McGowan Theater.
On Tuesday, October 8, at noon, in a program connected to our current special exhibit Rightfully Hers, Anne Gardiner Perkins will be here to discuss her book Yale Needs Women: How the First Group of Girls Rewrote the Rules of an Ivy League Giant.
And on Thursday, October 10, at noon, author Nina Barrett will tell us about her research for her book The Leopold and Loeb Files: An Intimate Look at One of America鈥檚 Most Infamous Crimes.
To keep informed about events throughout the year, check our website, Archives.gov, or sign up at the table outside the theater to get email updates. You鈥檒l also find information about other 威尼斯人娱乐场 programs and activities.
Another way to get more involved with the 威尼斯人娱乐场 is to become a member of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Foundation. The Foundation supports the work of the agency, especially its education and outreach programs. Check out their website鈥�补谤肠丑颈惫别蝉蹿辞耻苍诲补迟颈辞苍.辞谤驳鈥�to learn more about them and join online.
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Tobacco has been tied to the history of the United States from its earliest days. The seeds planted in Jamestown grew into a cash crop that shaped the development of the American colonies and remained a major commodity through the 20th century.
A search for 鈥渢obacco鈥� in the online Guide to the 威尼斯人娱乐场 gives a quick impression of the product鈥檚 many connections with the Federal Government鈥攕eed development, assistance to farmers, regulations on its use, and taxation, to name a few. Cigarettes were even issued to American soldiers during World Wars I and II as part of their rations.
Today鈥檚 guest author, Sarah Milov, explores the connections between cigarettes and American political institutions throughout the 20th century and describes the shift in attitudes toward tobacco use.
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Sarah Milov is an assistant professor of history at the University of Virginia, specializing in the 20th-century United States. A former fellow of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, she has written on the tobacco industry, the rise of e-cigarettes, and the grassroots fight to battle climate change. Her research explores how organized interest groups and everyday Americans influence government policy.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Sarah Milov.