Summary prepared by Fielding M. McGehee III. If you use this material, please credit The Jonestown Institute. Thank you.
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FBI Catalogue: Jones Speaking
FBI preliminary tape identification note: None
Date cues on tape: No context for Jonestown meeting
People named: None
Bible verses cited: None
Summary:
In this short tape of an undated meeting in Jonestown, Jones issues instructions to the people on how to conduct themselves “on that important day,” although there is no context as to whether the day is the occasion of a visit from a Soviet delegation, an American embassy delegation, journalists or relatives, or the final visit, that of Rep. Leo Ryan. Jones asks his followers not to refer to him as “Dad,” “Comrade,” or even “Pastor.” “I’m called Jim,” he says. “Just say Jim.” He also tells them not to complain about anything – the weather, the food, or the discipline.
Jones urges people to act by “our principle” – whether he is speaking of the community priniple, the leadership principle, or of himself in the imperial first person plural is unclear – because “you’ll hurt yourself when you don’t.”
FBI Summary:
Date of transcription: 6/12/79
In connection with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s investigation into the assassination of U.S. Congressman LEO J. RYAN at Port Kaituma, Guyana, South America, on November 18, 1978, a tape recording was obtained. This tape recording was located in Jonestown, Guyana, South America, and was turned over to U.S. Officials in Guyana and subsequently transported to the United States.
On May 31, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B93-24. This tape was found to contain the following:
Commentary and announcements by JIM JONES. JONES specifically talks about personal images, behavior, and tests. Total time for the news and commentary is approximately two minutes with the rest of the tape being blank.
Differences with FBI Summary:
The summary is accurate and meets the FBI’s purposes.
Tape originally posted June 2005