Day 012 - 18 Jul 94 - Page 15
1
Q. As a matter of no doubt good practice and convenience, he
2 keeps a lot of his middle, lesser ranking staff, but may
want to bring in his own lieutenants?
3 A. That is correct, his own team.
4 Q. But it is entirely up to him who he keeps on and who he
does not?
5 A. That is correct.
6 MR. RAMPTON: I would like to ask one or two questions about
this letter from Dewey Ballantine to the Attorney Generals
7 of Texas and California. Will you have been consulted
about the contents of this letter before it was sent?
8 A. Yes, I would have.
9
Q. It is copied to you?
10 A. Yes, Sir.
11 Q. We can see the last page, 191. I want to just look at one
or two passages, the second paragraph on page 188, first
12 page of the letter: "According to press reports, Texas
and California officials have charged that the company's
13 nationwide program is in reality a reluctant concession to
threats of legal action from your offices."
14
Two questions about that, Mr. Horwitz: Were there press
15 reports to that effect at this time?
A. Yes, I believe there were.
16
Q. Do you remember seeing them?
17 A. I believe I did, yes.
18 Q. Second, was it or was it not true that the company's
nationwide programme was, in reality, a reluctant
19 concession to threats of legal action?
A. That is completely untrue.
20
Q. "These officials have accused McDonald's of misleading the
21 public and of breachingan agreement to participate in a co
ordinated press announcement arranged by your offices.
22 These charges are totally unfounded." Was there any
agreement to participate in a co-ordinated press
23 announcement with these Attorneys General?
A. There was no agreement of any sort, whether written
24 or oral.
25
Q. So we can contrast that with the position which obtained
26 in April this year, when there was a joint press release
as you told us between the New York Attorney Generals and
27 McDonald's?
A. That is correct.
28
Q. There is what one might call a conciliatory paragraph
29 until we get over to page 189 in the numbered paragraphs:
"McDonald's decision to put ingredient and nutrition
30 booklets in its restaurants nationwide culminates a
process that began years before we had any contact with
