Michael Pertschuk was the chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) who drove legislation on seatbelt use and cigarette warning labels.
- Died: November 16, 2022 (Who else died on November 16?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico of pneumonia at the age of 89.
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“101st senator”
Beginning in the mid-1960s, Pertschuk worked as counsel for the Senate Commerce Committee, rising to chief counsel and staff director. In this capacity, he became highly influential, earning the nickname “the 101st senator” for his key role in drafting consumer protection laws. One of those laws required tobacco companies to add a warning label to their products, reading “Caution: Cigarette Smoking May Be Hazardous to Your Health.”
Pertschuk worked with consumer advocate Ralph Nader on safety standards for automobiles, and he was instrumental in the passage of the 1966 National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, including new seatbelt laws. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed him chairman of the FTC; his work there included requiring the funeral industry to provide clearly itemized charges to customers. After leaving office in 1981, Pertschuk continued to work toward tobacco control, including founding the Smoking Control Advocacy Resource Center.
Tributes to Michael Pertschuk
Full obituary: The New York Times
