Kessler's book recounts the FDA's secret investigation, which uncovered the intention of the tobacco companies to increase addiction in smokers by manipulating the level of nicotine in cigarettes. This discovery permitted the FDA to focus on nicotine as a drug.

"A Question of Intent" is a gripping detective story that shows what it takes to tackle the biggest issues of public concern today. It traces Kessler's drive to make AIDS drugs more easily available and the probe of Sudafed tampering in Settle. It describes the historic efforts to investigate the tobacco industries hidden research and strategy under his impassioned leadership. At the height of this intense political struggle, tobacco questions ultimately involved every branch of the federal government.

Kessler is now the dean of the Yale University School of Medicine, a graduate of Harvard Medical School, the University of Chicago Law School and Amherst College. His appointment by President George Bush in 1990 was continued under President Clinton until he resigned in 1997. His articles have appeared in many prominent journals including "Scientific American" and "Journal of the American Medical Association."

The forum will enable audiences to hear first hand from the author whose moral courage led "U.S. News & World Report" to compare Kessler to the protagonists of the classic American stories "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and "To Kill a Mockingbird."

At the evening forum, legal analyst Roger Cossack, co-host of CNN's daily award-winning "Burden of Proof," will interview David Kessler.

Monday, April 2, 2001

This edition of the Kentucky Author Forums is sponsored by the University of Louisville in cooperation with the Brown Cancer Center and recorded by WFPL Radio and KET-TV.

9:30 a.m. - David Kessler will speak to U of L students, faculty and staff at the Allen Courtroom, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law on Belknap Campus. Copies of Kessler's book will be available for sale and autograph.

Kentucky Center for the Arts 5 Riverfront Plaza, Downtown Louisville

The evening's activities are as follows:

5 p.m. Hawley-Cooke Booksellers book sale and wine and cheese reception provided by Brown Forman, Lobby

6 p.m. Conversation with Roger Cossack and Dr. David Kessler in the Bomhard Theatre

7 p.m. Q & A followed by book signing on Bittners' stage set

A $16 ticket includes the above three events. A limited number of discounted tickets of $5 each are available for U of L students, faculty and staff at the KCA box office --U of L photo ID is required.

8:15 p.m. Dinner with the author, hosted by U of L President John Shumaker and Mrs. Shumaker

A $100 package ticket includes the above events plus dinner with David Kessler. (Proceeds go to the nonprofit Kentucky Author Forum, $60 is tax-deductible.)

Tickets available at the Kentucky Center for the Arts, 502-584-7777 (1-800-775-7777)

A taped version of the event will be made available at The Louisville Free Public Library, St. Matthews/Eline Branch, 3940 Grandview Avenue, at 10 am, Friday, April 6. There is no fee involved, but those interested must sign up in advance due to limited seating.

WFPL 89.3 FM and the Kentucky Education Network (KET) will record the event for future broadcast.

The Kentucky Author Forum series is produced by Mary Moss Greenebaum and sponsored by the University of Louisville in cooperation with Hawley-Cooke Booksellers; Brown-Forman Corp.; Bittners of Louisville; WFPL, Louisville's NPR Station for News; The Courier-Journal; KET, the Kentucky Network; and the Kentucky Center for the Arts.

624 West Main, Second Floor
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
Phone 502.589.2884
Fax 502.589.4334
email KYFORUM@aol.com