Kathleen Linehan



Kathleen M. Linehan, J.D.(center, at right) was a Philip Morris Washington Relations Office lobbyist who also served on the Executive Committee of the Tobacco Institute. She was a member of PM's Tobacco Action Team.

Biography
She received a Bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Maryland in 1972 and graduated from George Mason University Law School in 1980. In 1979 she worked as a lobbyist for Gulf Oil. She joined PM in 1985, and was known by her nickname, "Buffy." She headed up the tobacco lobbying group of PM. Linehan has served as Vice President of Altria Corporate Services in Washington, D.C., and also as Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Philip Morris International’s European Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland from 1995 to 2001. She held various positions within the federal government, including legislative assistant to a Democratic congressman from South Carolina, and Executive Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Energy, John F. O’Leary, during the Carter Administration. In 2006 she served on the Board of Directors of the International Foundation for Election Systems. 

In a September 10, 1992 deposition for the court case KUEPER v. R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO CO., Linehan indicated that she was involved in lobbying against the banning of smoking on commercial aircraft, and that she does not consider the health consequences of the product she is lobbying (cigarettes).

In a June 14, 1995 deposition in PHILIP MORRIS INC. v. AMERICAN BROADCASTING CO. (a libel case PM brought against the ABC television network over a "Day One" segment that claimed PM spiked their cigarettes with nicotine), Linehan stated that she did not believe that cigarette smoking is addictive. Because she stated this was her belief, she was not subject to perjury charges.

"Vice President of Altria Corporate Services in Washington, DC; served from 1995 to 2001 as Vice President, Corporate Affairs, at Philip Morris International’s European Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland; held various positions on Capitol Hill and with the federal government, including Executive Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Energy, John F. O'Leary, during the Carter Administration."


 * Former Director, Center for Democracy
 * Director, Humane Society