51.   Russell Crowe, a handsome leading man whose physical transformation into a downtrodden, besieged tobacco executive impressed many critics, won best actor.

52.   Senators howled, recalling three years ago when tobacco executives, one after another, swore to Congress that cigarettes were not dangerous.

53.   Several tobacco executives and lobbyists say Bush is viewed as a popular candidate by the industry because of his stand on limiting liability damages.

54.   Some observers might assert that ads hinting that tobacco executives are liars who traffic in a killer drug might qualify as vilification.

55.   Still, tobacco company executives remained concerned about smoking-related lawsuits brought by states, which they consider the most difficult and costly cases pending against them.

56.   Taking over were two longtime tobacco executives, R. William Murray, the new chairman, and Geoffrey C. Bible, the new president and chief executive.

57.   Television executives would be just as likely as tobacco executives to raise their right hands and swear under oath that they do not believe television is addictive.

58.   Still, give tobacco executives credit for coming as far as they have with this settlement.

59.   That case is scheduled for trial in June, and Rosenblatt has scheduled video depositions of top tobacco executives in two weeks.

60.   Suddenly, tobacco executives are admitting that tobacco may be responsible for killing people.