The terrorist attacks had elevated Giuliani’s stature, but in a boon moment for his future employer, they also temporarily diverted media attention from OxyContin. A sales executive said as much to Purdue employees on September 12, via voicemail, giving them the day off. The message the sales manager left, according to a former Purdue staffer: At least the tragedy for the nation would take OxyContin off the front pages of the nation’s newspapers.
