News Summary: Ex-Johnson & Johnson CEO Burke dies

The Associated Press

LEADER DIES: James E. Burke, who as CEO steered Johnson & Johnson through the Tylenol poisonings that led to the first tamper-resistant packaging, died at 87 after a long illness.

AT THE HELM: Burke ran J&J for 13 years, including during the 1982 crisis when seven Chicago-area people died after taking Tylenol capsules that were laced with cyanide in a still-unsolved case. Burke recalled 32 million bottles of Tylenol to protect the public, then had the company develop sealed packaging before reintroducing Tylenol.

SECOND CAREER: Burke built the Partnership for a Drug-Free America into a powerful force fighting drug abuse.