Mon, 30 Aug 1999 11:29:36
Dear Ms. Marimont,
I apologize profoundly to you, as I did to Mr. Levy. I did not intend any personal attack on you or your scientific integrity. I only wanted to point out your membership in the National Smokers' Alliance, and the connection between that organization and tobacco industry funding. However, I agree with you that my statement could have been misinterpreted as a personal attack on your integrity, and I assure you that I did not intend that at all. I am very sorry that I was not more careful with wording the statement.
I don't know if you remember, but we had some contact when I worked at the Office on Smoking and Health at CDC and I think I may have provided you with some statistics at that time. I did (and still do) respect you and your scientific integrity and therefore I feel terrible that I was so careless in not making the statement clearer. I feel particularly bad because I certainly did not intend to suggest any allegations of personal corruption.
Therefore, I do apologize and in addition, I do accept your request for me to add your name to the apology and to include the statement assuring readers of your scientific integrity. I will amend the retraction and apology accordingly. I am sending ANR a revised version of the retraction and apology that includes these changes. (I am including the exact wording you suggested.)
Again, my profound apology and regrets. I assure you that this type of mistake will not occur again from me.
Most sincerely,
Michael Siegel
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