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 Miscellaneous
FBI preliminary tape identification note: Labeled in part “10/1/78 Entertainment”
Date cues on tape: Reference to Proposition 13 consistent with tape ID note
People named:
Lyndon Johnson, former U.S. president
Daniel Ellsberg, Defense Department worker who leaked Pentagon Papers
Robert McNamara, former Secretary of Defense
Dean Rusk, former Secretary of State
General Maxwell Taylor
General William Westmoreland
Victor Jara, Chilean singer, killed after 1973 coup
George Jackson, imprisoned Black Panther
Martin Luther King, slain civil rights leader
Patrice Lumumba, assassinated Prime Minister of Zaire
Malcolm X, black activist with Nation of Islam
Harriet Tubman, black activist, organized underground railroad
Ethel Rosenberg, executed U.S. spy
Julius Rosenberg, executed U.S. spy
Mike Prokes (speaks)
Jose Simon (speaks)
Peter Wotherspoon (speaks)
Summary:
(This tape was transcribed by Vicki Perry. The editors gratefully acknowledge her invaluable assistance.)
The editors of this site are also grateful to Luis Ángel González Rocha for identifying and documenting the song “El Derecho de Vivir En Paz,” which was composed by Chilean poet Victor Jara, and performed on this night in Jonestown.]
A number of Jonestown residents perform skits and sing songs for the community. The lyrics of the songs – including “A Simple Song of Freedom” by Bobby Darin, “Yesterday” by Paul McCartney, “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke, and “The Internationale” – are adapted to reflect their own beliefs and understandings of political philosophy. The skits are statements of the oppressed people of the world, most likely written by the performers themselves.
FBI Summary:
Date of transcription: 6/26/79
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 June 6, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B100-36. This tape was found to contain the following:
A recording of an entertainment session by the people of Jonestown.
Differences with FBI Summary:
The summary is accurate and meets the FBI’s purposes.
Tape originally posted December 2009