Win or lose on the tobacco settlement, Ann Richards’ employer, Verner Liipfert, Bernhard McPherson & Hand, will make money. According to the National Law Journal, the firm is being paid about $200,000 a month by the big five cigarette makers to lobby for the global tobacco settlement in Congress and within the Clinton administration.

Richards has been one of the firm’s key foot soldiers. She has met with U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy and a number of others on Capitol Hill, in the hope of quieting their opposition to the settlement deal, which could mean huge profits for the tobacco makers. “I have talked to a number of people about the agreement,” Richards told the Chronicle on August 27. “A lot of people. And I think the agreement, is uh, I think it’s going to be one of the greatest breakthroughs in public health in my lifetime.”

Maybe it’s just a matter of perspective: Jonas Salk perfected the polio vaccine in 1952. Antibiotics — used to treat general infections, typhoid, plague, cholera, and tuberculosis — came into use during World War II. Richards was born on September 1, 1933. — R.B.

This article appears in October 24 • 1997 and October 24 • 1997 (Cover).

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