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: Labeled in part “Humanitarian Award”
Date cues on tape: April 23, 1972 (reported in The Living Word)
People named:
Carlton Goodlett, San Francisco physician, newspaper publisher (speaks)
Cecil Williams, minister at Glide Methodist Church, San Francisco
Bible verses cited: None
Summary:
Carlton Goodlett, the publisher of The Sun-Reporter, the black newspaper of San Francisco, presents an award sponsored by his paper to Jim Jones. In reviewing the history of the award, Goodlett says it is dedicated “to those who have given a little bit more above and beyond the call of duty, to making our lives meaningful.”
In the 18 years of the award, only one minister had received it prior to this occasion – Rev. Cecil Williams, the minister at Glide Memorial Methodist Church, and an activist in his own right – but even more significantly, Goodlett continues, was that “the award which we give today moves out of our community of color, and it extends itself broad across the panorama of race.”
In his brief speech of acceptance, Jones contrasts it with his own history of refusing such honors over the years, but says he is honored “by Dr. Goodlett because of what The Sun Reporter represents through his inspiring leadership. “
Goodlett, who describes himself on this occasion as “a friend” of Jim Jones, was also his personal physician. About a month before the deaths in Jonestown, Goodlett would travel to Guyana to visit his friend and patient, during which time he reportedly urged Jones to seek medical treatment for an unknown illness which had plagued the Temple leader for some time. It is unknown how Jones’ recognition of his own health condition – that is, its severity as diagnosed by a non-Jonestown doctor who also has a personal regard for him – may have contributed to the events of the final day.
FBI Summary:
Date of transcription: 7/9/79
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 21, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape number 1B110-7. This tape was found to contain the following:
Approximately eight-and-a-half minutes of a laudatory speech by Dr. CARLTON GOODLET, an Editor and Publisher of the “Sun Reporter”. This speech took place in the United States; following the speech, GOODLET presents JIM JONES with an award.
The remaining portions of the tape were blank and appear to contain no items of evidentiary nature.
Differences with FBI Summary:
Aside from the misspelling of Carlton Goodlett’s name, the summary is accurate and meets the FBI’s purposes.
Tape originally posted July 2014