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Signed letters to Pres. Carter against Stoen
From:
- Harvey Milk
- Dennis Banks
- Enola Maxwell
- Yvonne Golden
- Gloria Davis
- Yvonne Nahem & [Gabriel] Schack
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Letters already signed
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[Editor’s note: A less-legible copy of this letter appears in the State Department’s records, which were released under the Freedom of Information Act.]
[Letterhead of Supervisor Harvey Milk, Board Supervisors, City Hall, San Francisco 94102]
January 19, 1978
President Jimmy Carter
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Carter:
I am the Supervisor for District Five in the City of San Francisco. The Peoples Temple Christian Church is not located in my District, so I have no political ties or obligation to this church. I am writing to call an urgent concern of theirs to your attention. I’m concerned on what I understand is the endorsement of some of our Congressmen for the efforts of Timothy Stoen against Rev. Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. There are some facts I feel you should be informed of:
Rev. Jones is widely known in the minority communities here and elsewhere as a man of the highest character, who has undertaken constructive remedies for social problems which have been amazing in their scope and effectiveness. He is also highly regarded amongst church, labor, and civic leaders arrived range of political persuasions. Our own Board of Supervisors has presented Rev. Jones with a Certificate of Honor, unanimously passed by all members, praising the church for its many projects “which have been so beneficial to all the citizens of the Bay Area.” On the same occasion, he was also presented with a unanimously passed resolution by a Republican State Senator, Milton Marks representing that legislative body.
Timothy and Grace Stoen, the parties that are attempting to damage Rev. Jones’ reputation, and viciously disrupt the life of his son, John, have both already been discredited in the news media here. The most widely-red columnist in the area, Herb Caen, printed Mr. Stoen’s sworn testimony that John is not his child but rather Rev. Jones. Grace Stoen is reportedly involved in what can be considered a blackmail attempt against another leader in the minority community, Dennis Banks, reported in the two major dailies with her name also given in Mr. Banks’sworn affidavit about the attempt.
It is outrageous that Timothy Stoen could even think of flaunting the situation in front of our Congressmen with apparently bold-faced [illegible word]. I have learned in addition, that he has pressured those Congressmen towards unwitting compliance with promoting State Department intervention in the custody case now pending in Guyana.
Not only is the life of a child at stake, who presently has loving protective parents in Rev. and Mrs. Jones, but our official relations with Guyana could stand to be jeopardized, to the potentially great embarrassment of our State Department.
Mr. President, the actions of Mr. Stoen need to be brought to a halt. It is offensive to most in the San Francisco community, and all those who know Rev. Jones to see this kind of an outrage taking place.
Respectfully,
/s/ Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk
cc: Rep. John Burton; Rep. Phillip Burton; Lt. Gov. Mervyn Dymally
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February 17, 1978
President Carter
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Carter;
I am Dennis Banks, leader of the American Indian Movement. I am writing out of concern for my good friend, Jim Jones, who has been a loyal and tireless friend to the Indian people, and to all oppressed minorities in the United States. I understand his work in Guyana, as well as his small son, John, are being threatened by some very ugly methods. As a champion of justice through thick and thin, there is no one who could deserve such treatment less than Jim Jones.
I first met Rev. Jones when my wife, Ka-Mook was imprisoned in Kansas, on false charges that were later dropped. At that time, we were penniless and her bill was $20,000. She had had our baby in jail, with the baby immediately removed from her and she was never given the proper medical attention that she needed. Jim Jones learned of our plight, and I was invited to come to the Peoples Temple church along with several of my associates from AIM. The same night I came, Jim Jones raised the money for Ka-Mook’s bail from members of his congregation. I couldn’t believe that these people, many or most of whom were from poor backgrounds themselves, were making this kind of sacrifice for me. But I learned later that Jim Jones himself has made this kind of sacrifice again and again over the years, and it was just his way, and the way of his people, to extend their help to the farthest limit when an injustice was involved.
Later I witnessed Jim Jones made the object of the same kind of false accusations, and I was approached myself by a man, David Conn, who said he was working with Treasury Department agents, and said he could give me help avoiding extradition (to a certain death in South Dakota jails) if I would only join the people who were lying on Jim Jones. He also implied that things would go badly for me if I did not agree, and it was clear to me that he was trying blackmail. I refused to go along with this scheme, and later exposed the man publicly for what he had done. This same man told me that one of the people he was working with was Grace Stoen, the mother of Jim Jones’ child.
I did not know the background of John’s situation at the time, but trusted in the integrity of a man I had seen do so much for me and so many others with no thought of reward or praise. Now that I know the true background of the situation, and how Grace Stoen rejected and abandoned her own son, I can well understand how she was working with these agents to try and destroy Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple plus anyone else who got in her way, because I have fifteen children, Mr. President, and this woman didn’t care whether I lived or died, whether my children had a father or not, or whether my people were left without a leader. As you may know, it is also common for Indian children to be
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(Page 2)
forced from their natural homes and put in foster homes when one parent is gone, so my devoted wife has had the burden of not only my own future, but the future of all the Banks children as well.
One more thing I want to add is that the Peoples Temple are very wonderful people. They work together, and build programs to help children, youth, and senior citizens. They extend friendship and assistance to whomever needs help, and never ask anything in return. Now they are working in Guyana, and saving the lives of Amerindian babies who would have died of malnutrition and gastroenteritis. It takes a very sick and cold-hearted person to turn against people like that.
I am sure that Jim Jones and his people are the best thing that could happen to Guyana. And Jim Jones being the kind of person he is, I’m sure he will also be making many Guyanese friends for the United States. It would be a terrible tragedy if anything happened that would hurt his son, John who has a wonderful future there. For him to go back to Grace Stoen, who doesn’t even want him except to use him to hurt others, would be like having no future at all. It can’t even be considered.
I stand behind Jim Jones keeping his son, and the unethical and vicious actions of Grace and Timothy Stoen being stopped. I urge you to do the same, President Carter. Anyone who carries moral authority as you do, cannot fail to see where justice lies.
I also urge you to further a policy towards Guyana that is humane and generous, because we all need to work together more closely in this hemisphere and help developing nations build a good life for their people. The Guyanese are people who were under colonial rule until a few years ago, and they need and deserve whatever aid America can give to them.
Sincerely,
/s/ Dennis J. Banks
Dennis J. Banks
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February 17, 1978
District Attorney Joseph Freitas
Hall of Justice
850 Bryant Street
San Francisco, California
Dear Mr. Freitas:
I am writing out of concern for my good friend, Jim Jones, who has been a loyal and tireless friend to the Indian people, and to all oppressed minorities in the United States. I understand his work in Guyana, as well as his small son, John, are being threatened by some very ugly tactics. As a champion of justice through thick and thin, there is no one who could deserve such treatment less than Jim Jones.
I first met Rev. Jones when my wife, Ka-Mook was imprisoned in Oregon, on false charges that were later dropped. At that time, we were penniless and her bill was $20,000. She had delivered our baby in jail. The baby had been taken away from her and she was not allowed to receive the proper medical treatment she needed. Jim Jones learned of our plight, and I was invited to come to the Peoples Temple church along with several of my associates from AIM. The same night I came, Jim Jones raised the money for Ka-Mook’s bail from members of his congregation. I couldn’t believe that these people, many or most of whom were from poor backgrounds themselves, were making this kind of sacrifice for me. But I learned later that Jim Jones himself has made this kind of sacrifice again and again over the years, and it was just his way, and the way of his people, to extend their help to the farthest limit when an injustice was involved.
Later I witnessed Jim Jones made the object of the same kind of false accusations I had been subjected to, and I was approached myself by a man, David Conn, who said he was working with Treasury Department agents, and said he could give me help avoiding extradition. (You know that certain death awaits me in South Dakota.) The only price was that I join the people who were lying on Jim Jones. He also implied that things would go badly for me if I did not agree or “blow their cover.” It was clear to me that he was trying blackmail. I refused to go along with the scheme, and later exposed the man publicly for what he had done. This same man told me that one of the people he was working with was Grace Stoen, and that she was the mother of a son of Jim Jones’ – John!
I did not know the background of John’s situation at the time, but trusted in the integrity of a man I had seen do so much for me and so many others with no thought of reward or praise. Now that I know the true background of the custody situation, and how Grace Stoen rejected and abandoned her own son, I can well understand how she was working to try to ruin Jim Jones and the Temple. I have fifteen children, Mr. Freitas, and this woman – the same one who was tied in with a scheme to blackmail me – did not care whether I lived or died, whether my children had a father or not, or whether my people were
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left without a leader.
I am writing to you because I know that Tim Stoen used to work in your office, and he has been pressuring people he knows to take up his cause. I think it would be a terrible mistake for any US officials to try to put pressure on the course of events taking place with this case. And my deepest sympathy is with Jim and his child who are very happy together in Guyana. I know the thousands of Peoples Temple members and supporters, both here and there, are united in support of Jim in this matter – which is a moral issue with them, and with me.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ Dennis J. Banks
Dennis J. Banks
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[Editor’s note: A less-legible copy of this letter appears in the State Department’s records, which were released under the Freedom of Information Act.]
Portrero Hill Neighborhood House
953 DeHaro Street
San Francisco, California 94107
February 15, 1978
Rep. George Miller
U.S. Congress
#1531 LHOB
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Mr. Miller:
I have known Rev. Jim Jones of the Peoples Temple for ten years. During this time I have never known him once to refuse to help anyone in need, regardless of race, color, or creed.
He has always believed in lighting a candle rather than cursing the darkness, and his work here in San Francisco and the Bay Area, as well as his devotion to the people and mission in Guyana, are the mark of a man who has devoted his whole life to the service and welfare of humankind.
I am thus dismayed to learn that another round of attacks has been leveled against him – although I understand that Jesus Christ and Martin Luther King, among many others throughout history, have suffered condemnation and persecution during their lifetimes for wanting nothing more than a better life for the downtrodden.
If you have been used and misled by a detractor in any way who is trying to hinder the work of Rev. Jones and Peoples Temple in their Jonestown agricultural mission, which is making such strides in resource and human development and building a bridge of friendship between Guyana and the United States, I am very sad. Because if such a beautiful work for the people could just be left alone to develop in peace, the world would see a candle of hope become a flame of inspiration for others to follow. All of us have much to learn about living together in racial and economic equality as the Peoples Temple is doing.
I implore you to withdraw any commitment you have or may have made inadvertently on the half of one who is bent on throwing the work of peacemakers to the wind and who may well be receiving money to do it.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ Enola D. Maxwell
Enola D. Maxwell, Executive Director
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Mrs. Yvonne Golden, Principal
Opportunity II High School
742 – 37th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94121
Representative Timothy Wirth
#312 Cannon House Office Bldg.
and
Representative George Miller
Longworth House Office Bldg. #1531
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Wirth and Miller:
A situation has come to my attention which I hope you will help clarify for me. Mr. Timothy O. Stoen has apparently received support from your offices in a child custody case which is being conducted in Georgetown, Guyana, South America.
In the first place, is it not within the jurisdiction of the Guyanese court system to settle this matter? Is the reason for US governmental officials to be involved in any way? I seriously question this kind of intrusion into the affairs of a sovereign nation, or is it that the internal affairs of a developing Third World nation are considered less than sovereign? Is it the business of our US elected officials to be putting pressure on the Stoen custody decision as your respective offices allegedly have done?
I am told you have signed, among a few other Congressmen, a letter on behalf of Mr. Stoen. Regardless of the circumstances of this or any other case being handled within the legal framework of a foreign country, I can see no reason whatsoever for you to have done this. I would hope that you will reconsider and somehow revoke this document.
Very sincerely yours,
/s/ Yvonne Scarlett Golden
Yvonne Scarlett Golden
Coordinator, Opportunity II Senior High School
San Francisco Unified School Dist.
cc: President Carter
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Feb.15, 1978
Congressman Timothy Wirth
Congressman George Miller
Washington, DC
Dear Gentlemen:
The progressive stand that President Carter and his administration has taken regarding US and Caribbean affairs is one that I very much agree with. Realizing that Ambassador Young has worked diligently to establish these positive relations, I would hate to see his efforts being undermined. This, I am afraid may happen to some extent because of the presumptuous actions of one US citizen, Tim Stoen.
Mr. Stoen has misrepresented his intentions, not only to the Guyanese government officials, but to some US officials also. He is asking different people in the US government to become involved in a private custody dispute within the country of Guyana, So. America. I understand that you gentlemen were approached by Mr. Stoen and he evidently was able to misconstrue some of the facts in this case sufficiently so as to cause you to go against already existing foreign policy of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of sovereign nations.
The United States has some very effective ‘goodwill ambassadors’ in the nation of Guyana, by the name of Peoples Temple Church and Rev. James Jones. There are well over 1000 people located at the church mission site in the North West District of Guyana. The services that the various members give to the surrounding communities include access to the Temple’s doctor and entire medical staff free of cost; technical training in both agriculture and numerous mechanical area; quality education for children and adults by certified teachers on location; additional protein supply to the area, introduced by the thousands of chickens, pigs, and various livestock on the project itself, and many, many other aspects as well. Peoples Temple also carries on human service programs in their San Francisco-based church. Both the Temple and their pastor, are widely known and respected for the good works they carry on.
Please, Congressman With and Congressman Miller, reconsider your involvement in a matter which should be taken care of solely in the Guyanese courtroom without intervention from any outside forces.
Sincerely,
/s/ Gloria Davis
Past President of Black Teachers Caucus of SF
cc: President Carter
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1409 Shrader Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
February 18, 1978
Congressman Timothy Wirth
#312 CHOB
and
Congressman George Miller
#1531 LHOB
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Gentlemen:
As a rank and file trade unionist in San Francisco and other cities for many years, I am very well acquainted with Rev. Jim Jones and his activist church, Peoples Temple. That this church, over a span of two decades, has successfully reached thousands of troubled youth as well as disenfranchised and needy senior citizens, can only be attributed to the man’s deep commitment to justice and an egalitarian society. His efforts have resulted in a highly acclaimed agricultural project in Guyana, South America, where hundreds of once incorrigible youth from the inner cities of the United States are now living productive lives, growing and harvesting food for hungry people – of whom there are so many in that part of the world.
Despite the visits of international delegations from many Third World and other developing nations, from top officials in the United States Department of State, all of who have left the project highly impressed, there have been some unfortunate attempts on the part of certain detractors to try to interfere with the progress there.
Namely, a Mr. Timothy Stoen, has been trying to swing the opinion of the courts in Guyana to his side of a custody case that is being tried there now. To do this, he has evidently encouraged members of Congress and the State Department of our country to take an adversary role in the issue. If this is the case, I am disappointed with our governmental officials. Recognizing that Guyana is an independent and sovereign nation, and has a legitimate complaint if United States intrudes in matters that are the country’s own internal affairs, I urge you not to endorse any sort of pressure that Mr. Stoen is trying to bring to bear on the Guyanese government or courts.
Thank you. I remain sincerely yours,
/s/ Gabriel Schack
Gabriel Schack
/s/ Yvonne V. Nahem
Yvonne V. Nahem
cc: Mr. Frank Tumminia
Pres. Carter
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[Handwritten memo]
Letters to Pres. Carter & Freitas for Jones & against Stoen from
- Willie Brown
- Jane Fonda
- Tom Hayden
- Angela Davis
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[Typed memo]
Not yet signed: Willie Brown has this, said he would reword somewhat, and type on his own letterhead. Tom & Jane have these letters but we haven’t been able to get back to them yet, even to fill them in on the background. Angela we haven’t caught up with yet at all.
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[Willie Brown’s amended text of this letter on his letterhead appears here.]
Dear President Carter:
It is an honor for me to write on behalf of Rev. Jim Jones, a rare human being and leader of the first order. He has been unjustly maligned in recent months, but is presently undertaking a remarkable agricultural mission in Guyana, South America, the reality of which flies in the face of all its detractors. Rev. Jones, more than any other minister the Bay Area has seen, did wonders for this community in terms of tackling ingrained social problems, such as drug abuse, crime, and unemployment. I have no doubt that his inspirational leadership is motivating the Peoples Temple members in Guyana to even greater achievements now that they are established on their own territory free from the tensions and hinderances of urban life.
As a leader within the minority community of San Francisco and of the State of California, I can speak to the tireless efforts Jim Jones extended to virtually everyone in need of assistance when he was a resident of our city. The Third World community knows and respects him well. A man this noteworthy for his high principles, ceaseless work, and extraordinary ability to motivate others is surely the best representative our country could hope to have in the emerging Third World nation of Guyana. I have confidence that Jim Jones’ community can only reflect well upon both America and the Guyanese.
I had the pleasure of attending a testimonial dinner on behalf of Rev. Jones, at which he was presented well-deserved certificates of commendation from both the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and the State Senate, the latter of which was initiated by my Republican colleague, Senator Milton Marks. The dimension of Rev. Jim Jones humanitarian goals and accomplishments is such that he has been uniquely able to transcend surface political considerations to promote concrete, humane and better conditions of life for all our citizens.
I understand why Rev. Jones presently needs to remain in Guyana with his son, and I along with other community leaders have the deepest empathy for his plight. I am distressed to learn that one Timothy Stoen, who formerly claimed loyal allegiance to Rev. Jones, is now embarking on a course of destruction which will surely be as ill-fated as it is ill-motivated. John Jones, Rev. Jones’ son, is happy and well-adjusted where he is, with the best parent a child could hope to have. I well understand the urgent and unified concern of the Peoples Temple. It would be tragic, sacrificing a human life, to have this child torn away from peace and security and thrown into the hands of the sick and vicious people Stoen and his wife themselves characterize each other to be. It is beyond any understanding or excuse if our government were to intervene in this situation.
I urge you not to let any pressures be brought to bear upon our government, by Mr. Stoen or anyone else, which will harm the remarkable group of people who have coalesced under the leadership of Rev. Jim Jones. Individuals like Jim Jones come along rarely, and he is a great American asset, whether here or in Guyana. I have no doubt that Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple will emerge in the right, and we should prevent this kind of severe embarrassment from befalling our State Department. Our government would do well to befriend and encourage the Peoples Temple enterprise in Guyana, and allow the Guyanese to decide the custody matter under their jurisdiction.
Yours truly,
Willie L. Brown, Jr.
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[A second copy of this letter appears here.]
February 28, 1978
President Jimmy Carter
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I would like to commend to you highly the work of Reverend Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. I first became acquainted with Jim Jones when he and his church came out early on behalf of my defense when I was in prison on charges for which I was later vindicated. This was a great risk to himself and his church, because my cause was not a popular one in church circles at that time. When I found on later personal contact with him, and to this day, that he is an ardent spokesman for justice who will speak out whenever he sees individuals or groups unjustly harassed or persecuted, whatever their race, background, or political persuasion. He is a humanitarian in the broadest sense of the word, who renders assistance often at great personal sacrifice, never concerned about what people think of his actions, but only that he is following the right course. He is a great champion of the poor and oppressed of our country, who has been able to organize and mobilize people the struggle for the racially quality as social justice which is our only insurance of freedom in the days to come.
You cannot realize how fortunate you are to have Rev. Jones spearhead his agricultural project in the Third World. He communicates with great sensitivity two Third World peoples, and his commitment to alleviating human suffering can hardly be matched. I am certain his intentions are of the best, and he will be a potent influence for good in strengthening America’s relationship with that area of the hemisphere.
I understand efforts are underway to influence Congressman to exert pressure on the State Department to intervene in a court matter under local Guyanese jurisdiction. This would be a foolhardy move, both from the standpoint of the best interests of the United States, and would surely antagonize the Guyanese, who are very competent to handle the matter, and the many thousands of Peoples Temple members as supporters here in the United States who are prepared to stand by Rev. Jones.
I urge you to give this matter your utmost consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Angela Y. Davis
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February 18, 1978
Joseph P. Freitas
Office of the District Attorney
Hall of Justice
850 Bryant Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Dear Mr. Freitas:
I am highly supportive of the work of Rev. Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. I first became acquainted with Jim Jones when he and his church came out early for my defense when I was unjustly accused and in prison, at great risk to himself and his church because my cause was not a popular one in church circles at that time.
Then, and since that time, I have found him to be an ardent spokesman for justice who will speak out whenever he sees individuals or groups unjustly harassed or persecuted. He is a humanitarian in the broadest sense of the word, who renders assistance often at great personal sacrifice. He is a great champion of the poor and oppressed of our country, who has been able to organize and mobilize people to struggle for the racial equality and social justice which is our only insurance of freedom in the days to come.
It is for the reasons above, and none other, that I believe Jim Jones has undergone the merciless attacks leveled at him in the City of San Francisco. I understand your office has found no evidence to support any of the allegations made against the Peoples Temple, which is not surprising. But the harassment seems to continue.
Now there is a custody case which Tim Stoen is bringing against Jim Jones in Guyana. I understand there may be an effort underway to put pressure on the Guyanese courts to decide on behalf of Tim Stoen. If you know the true facts of the situation, you can relate to the pain this is causing not only Jim Jones personally, but his many thousands of members and supporters who are prepared to stand by Jim and his son all the way.
It should also be considered that the Guyanese government is very supportive of the agricultural program founded by Rev. Jones, and, like any struggling Third World nation, resentful of unwarranted interference in its internal
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affairs.
I urge you to give this matter your utmost consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Angela Y. Davis
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February 19, 1978
President Jimmy Carter
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Carter:
There is an issue of concern to Americans working for viable alternatives and solutions in our society, which has just been brought to my attention. It concerns the Peoples Temple, a remarkable amalgam of people of every race, age, and socio-economic background who have been providing constructive remedies for the problems of urban life for many years.
Against a long history of provocation and attempted disruptions of their work, Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple have now launched out into the Third World, to Guyana, South America, where they have built a community that is a model of social cooperation, interracial harmony, and economic democracy. It has brought the hope of a lifetime for youth who were previously very disturbed, or lost in the world of drugs and crime. In addition, the community now incorporates people of every age and background, including many professionals, to build a life which Charles Garry, the Temple’s attorney and my own attorney in the Chicago Seven trial, has described as a “paradise”. This is the kind of hope we need for disadvantaged Americans to believe is possible for them, and I believe it would be a national tragedy if certain unscrupulous individuals were to succeed in destroying it.
There have been repeated attempts in recent weeks, I have been told, to pressure and influence Congressional representatives and officials in the State Department to act on the interests of Mr. Timothy Stoen, who appears to be bent on destroying the Peoples Temple work in Guyana to suit his own personal ambitions. This should not be allowed.
I also understand there has been pressure exerted on the State Department to influence court proceedings under local Guyanese jurisdiction. This will be very bad policy in any case, and especially wrong to undertake in this situation.
Anything you can do to prevent unfortunate, even devastating ramifications from coming out other disruptive activities of Mr. Stoen, would be appreciated by myself and my wife. We have met Rev. Jim Jones and the people of the Peoples Temple personally, and found them to be unusually motivated towards bringing about constructive and humanitarian social change.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely yours,
Tom Hayden,
California Campaign for Economic Democracy
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152 Wadsworth Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90405
February 19, 1978
The President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Carter:
A year ago I first came to the Peoples Temple, a meeting in Los Angeles. When I walked in, what I saw and what I felt were overwhelming to me. When you believe in a world of brotherhood, where no one hoards their wealth, where everybody has dignity and an important place, or people of every race and age fellowship in joy and mutual concern, where when one is unjustly treated, it is a common cause for all… When you envision such a world, you don’t ever give up hope that it will happen, however distant it sometimes seems. But the feeling I got when I walked into Jim Jones’ church was something else. I felt I didn’t have to wait. It was right there.
My husband, Tom Hayden and I are working hard to bring a concept of economic democracy into reality, for Californians, and for all people of this country. Jim Jones and his people are an inspiration to our efforts. I’ve heard much about the amazing work being done at Jonestown, Guyana, the realization of a Peoples Temple dream, and I have an open invitation to visit any time my schedule permits. I look forward to doing this enormously.
I am sorry that the reason I am writing is potentially a tragic one, but I hope you will attend to this concern with the gravity it deserves. Jim Jones has a child, his own natural child named John, who is now living with him in Guyana. Custody of the child is being contested in the Guyanese courts, by the child’s natural mother, Grace Stoen, who neglected and abandoned John; and by her husband, Timothy Stoen, who is falsely claiming paternity of the boy. There are numerous sworn affidavits to attest to the truth of this matter, plus a history of questionable and underhanded behavior on the part of both Mr. and Mrs. Stoen. Timothy Stoen’s most recent venture trying to deprive this child of his (presently) happy future, has been to manipulate as many Congressmen as possible to pressure action from the State Department on his behalf, through fabrications and lies.
I want to emphasize, Mr. President, that this is no ordinary custody case. Jim Jones has got thousands upon thousands of people motivated to work for peace and social justice for good reason. Jim is someone who has taken in everyone’s children: thousands of mothers, after facing the agonizing frustration of losing their youth to the street culture have seen help, hope, training, understanding, and in time, complete transformation given to case after case where everyone else thought there wasn’t a chance. There wasn’t any child that was too “incorrigible”, there wasn’t any teenager already branded as a “young criminal”
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whose life couldn’t be salvaged, there wasn’t any problem of rebellion or antisocial behavior that was too overwhelming to work with. Jim Jones is someone who has always loved till it hurt, who would take on the problems of complete strangers like they were members of his own family, just because he saw they were in need of help. He set up programs to put poor youth through college free, all the way through professional schools, set up free job training in every trade, counseling services, and has seen that no one suffers for lack of proper housing, diet, or an important job to do. That’s what his church is all about.
You can understand surely, the intense loyalty people feel, people many of whom came from severely deprived circumstances, towards a man who has made all this a reality for them, who has given their children a future they never even dreamed possible. It would break their faith if they saw their government intervening to ruling the chance of any future for Jim Jones’ own son.
I do not feel the State Department should intervene in a foreign court matter of principle, in any case. But if they are persuaded to interfere with this case, they could only expect massive, persistent protest. And I for one, would understand why.
I know Marceline Jones too, Jim Jones’ wife, I’ve spoken with her at length. She is a wonderful, compassionate human being, who has devoted her life to nursing work, tirelessly advocating decent hospital conditions for the elderly. She also dearly loves this child, and is in complete accord with her husband in the matter. John Jones has the best parents, and the best environment a child could ever hope to have.
I understand you told my husband Tom you enjoyed “Julia”. I want to say in closing that the film “Julia” gives tremendous food for thought because you don’t meet people of that commitment every day. Many people go through a whole lifetime without ever knowing what that kind of devotion is, or what motivates certain rare people to sacrifice personal comfort, wealth, all their time and energy to devote their lives to the human struggle. But that’s the kind of life I believe Jim Jones leads day by day; and thousands of people who are concerned about this case agree.
Much of what America needs, to resolve its overwhelming social problems, has become embodied into the life and works of the Peoples Temple. To have someone like Jim Jones working in the Third World, to be an example of what America is capable of at her best, is something that should make America very proud. If our government takes any part in this matter at all, it should be to praise what Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple are doing in Guyana, and to encourage it to continue.
I thank you for your attention, and send regards and best wishes for my husband and myself.
Sincerely,
Jane Fonda