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: Identified Individuals Speaking
FBI preliminary tape identification note: One Compact Cassette C120/ 2/18/76 call to Ralph Rath 3×5 card
Date cues on tape: 18 February 1976 (notation on tape box)
People named:
Public figures/National and international names:
Ralph Rath, Oakland Tribune religion editor (identified in FBI Summary) (speaks)
Temple members
Mike Prokes (speaks)
Bible verses cited: None (although Prokes refers to the gospel writer Luke as a physician)
Summary:
Note: This tape was transcribed by Michael Bellefountaine. The editors gratefully acknowledge his invaluable assistance.
In this short telephone conversation, Temple press relations spokesman Mike Prokes discusses an upcoming article with the religion writer for the Oakland Tribune, going over some of the points he hopes the reporter will mention, and which aspects he hopes the reporter will downplay, such as the healings or anything else “that takes the glory from God and Christ.” The two are professional but cordial with each other.
FBI Summary:
Date of transcription: 7/6/79
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 26, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape number 1B68-C29. This tape was found to contain the following:
This tape is labeled, “February 18, 1976, call to RALPH RATH, following his interview with JJ” The unidentified caller speaks to RALPH (LNU [Last Name Unknown]) prior to an article being written about JONES, and subsequent to the interview. RALPH is appreciative of JONES and the church and indicates a favorable article to be published. Attached to this tape was a 3 x 5 pink card with a note from MIKE PROKES to J.J. with a summary of the above facts of the tape.
Differences with FBI Summary:
This is one of the few tapes for which the FBI provided more information in its summary than appeared on the tape itself.
Tape originally posted April 2004