ABSTRACT
James Burke, former chairman and chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and current chairman of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America and The Business Enterprise Trust (BET), discussed the drive to eradicate illegal drugs in America and the fostering of corporate ethics and social responsibility. Burke believes there are three big problems in America today: illegal drugs, the educational system, and the breakdown of the family. He discussed what CEOs and their businesses can do to shape personal ethics and social policies in their communities. One of the most respected senior executives in America, Burke was chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson in 1982 when seven people died from ingesting Tylenol Extra-Strength capsules that had been laced with cyanide. Burke's decisive leadership included absolute honesty with the media, an executive team devoted full time to the situation, and the unprecedented step of removing every bottle of Tylenol from sale during the crisis.
