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To: JJ
From: M. Prokes
Wed. April 27th
Margaret Mapes, Stoen’s secretary at DA’s office called and wanted to know how Tim was doing. She said people were asking about him and she had not heard from him. She told me how much everyone liked Tim and during the course of the conversation said that a reporter had called him wanting some information about him.
I went in right away and saw Dan Weinstein who said that Kilduff had contacted him, and Freitas also on a separate occasion, the day before. Although Freitas did not tell Weinstein about it until after Weinstein had also been contacted, they both gave essentially the same stories. Kilduff asked what Stoen’s arrangement was with the DAs office. Freitas told him that Tim asked for leave of absence to do work for PT that involved his legal skills. Freitas said he couldn’t give him a leave of absence for the full period he wished that Tim had a lot of comp. time coming for all the overtime he put in during the voter fraud project. But after he was informed that Tim would be there for an indefinite period of time, they considered him as having resigned, but if he returned to seek employment, he would be given priority treatment because he was so highly regarded as a lawyer. Weinstein felt somewhat baited by Kilduff but Freitas said that it wasn’t the case when he was questioned, and that was more curiosity about why Tim had left, “whether anything was wrong or what was going on because he (Kilduff) didn’t know why Tim had left the country.” Freitas said the only other thing that Kilduff said was that he didn’t know if JJ was still around.
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Freitas said he didn’t know, he only knew that JJ had gotten ill but didn’t know if he was in town or what.
Weinstein said he thought Kilduff was fishing for something funny concerning Tim’s reason for meeting or his relationship to the church. He told Kilduff simply that Tim was deeply religious and that the church was very important to him. He told Kilduff that Stoen is a damn good prosecutor, has an outstanding reputation, and that they would like him back on the staff when he finishes the work he is doing for the Temple. [Handwritten addition: “I showed Mrs. Carter’s letter to both Freitas and Weinstein.”]
(I hope Tim has written all those who he worked for and with. At this point, they have still not received a letter and you might consider having Tim make a short phone call to Freitas or Weinstein with a message also to his secretary.)
Hugh Fortsen [Hue Fortson] does not appear to testify in Paul’s behalf until May 4th. JJ is not required to appear unless he is back in the area.
Bob Gnaizda called and suggested that some of our people might want to make two court appearances: 1. Friday, April 29th when 23 minority officers appear to try to get a decision which would promote them all to sergeants. Gnaizda said a group of white officers is expected to show up who oppose such a decision. 2. Gnaizda is taking on PG&E to get them to make public their records which show that their top personnel was given rebates for using more energy. This will happen on Tuesday, May 3rd. Unless we hear otherwise, we are planning on having people at both of these court events. [Marginal note next to paragraph: “Answer needed”]
Edna Beaver who is a sister of Rev. Edwards wife and evidently has some claim to the Edward’s property in Daly City, which she once transferred to her. Vincent Hallinan called for Chaikin (who had already left) in her behalf. I told Hallinan that Chaikin was
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away on a trip and wouldn’t be back for about a week. He said for me to have Gene call him when he got back. I don’t know if Hallinan knew he was calling PT or not. He said that Mrs. Beaver thought that the Edwards would have left Chaikin instructions re: the property.
Maria [Katsaris] has letter from Paul Wall (Matthews) with suggestions on how to make freedom of information request. We haven’t done anything with it yet being the attorneys left before it arrived.
If Terrie B. [Buford] knows where the letter C. Kelley [FBI director Clarence Kelly] who is a member of the Disciples denom. is, please let us know. If it is over there, I’m sure we could make good use of it here. This is the one that was sent to Penny in response to a letter sent to him. It says nice things about PT.
An Opportunity Hi teacher [Judy Bebelaar] is requesting participation by our youth in a Walkathon to raise money for the United Farmworkers. She is being told that our youth are involved in all kinds of activities on the weekend but that we will be sending eight students. This will be on Saturday, May 4th.
Jim Foster who is very active in the Gay Community called and said he has been selected to go to Miami to bring people together to fight Anita Bryant’s campaign against the Gay community. He was wanting to know what contacts JJ has in Miami that he could touch base with when he gets there. I told him that JJ was still away, and I wasn’t sure for how much longer. We talked for a while and he said he may call me long-distance after he’s been in Miami a while to see if I’ve been in touch with JJ. He obviously has a lot of respect for JJ.
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To: Dad
From: M. Prokes
I thought what Dick Tropp wrote up to you was an accurate statement about where white people from educated middle-class backgrounds are at (or at least were at). With very few exceptions, we (WASPS) are all elitists. One doesn’t get rid of his elitism suddenly, because one doesn’t become enlightened in a vacuum. I am an elitist, arrogant, chauvinistic – and I don’t believe I am any better for admitting it in this fashion. (Some people probably think they are honest for admitting bad things about themselves.) The important thing, I believe, is that I have admitted it to myself and I am willing to change. (Depending upon how much courage I have, will determine how fast I change.)
The thing that disturbed me most about myself is why I don’t feel more guilt for letting you shoulder all the burden. I feel some guilt about it, but not an enormous amount which is what I should feel. The only answer I can come up with is that I’ve been repressing the guilt. Though I fit very well into what Tropp wrote, I know I am committed to what we are doing, whatever the future might hold. The reason I know this is because – believe it or not – I don’t know how to relate to what people like Debbie and Stoen have done. I absolutely cannot understand it. Another reason I know my commitment is that it no longer matters to me what image you have of me. It used to matter, but it doesn’t any longer. After I admitted to myself my faults, I could then only conclude that you must have known all along that I’ve not been worth a shit (because I haven’t been). I believe that. I didn’t admit it to you though because I was ashamed of it (and still am), and I felt then that your image of me was important to me. I didn’t want to hurt the image I thought you have of me. [Document switches to handwritten statement] Now – irrespective of what you are anyone else thinks of me – I know what I’m prepared to do. I am prepared to live on indefinitely doing nothing special and nothing that would bring me any glory. To live on indefinitely is the hardest thing to be willing to do – as far as I’m concerned. I know where I’m at because I know enough about where you are at and I don’t turn my back on that. My conscience simply won’t let me.
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I especially related to what Tropp wrote, about being shot after one becomes useless. I only feel useless in the sense that there is nothing I am doing that someone else couldn’t do. I am no longer “special” (i.e., re: my role). But I realize now that person’s usefulness is determined by doing something “specialized.” I finally had to come to terms with doing mundane work.
Finally, I came to the realization that you related to me to bring me to Socialism. Though I’m sure you know I didn’t particularly enjoy it at the time, I can understand why it was done – to make me feel close to you. It was hard to admit to myself that I needed that. I’m sure. I did, however, or you wouldn’t have gone through that kind of hell. To me, what you did was the greatest act of character I could possibly imagine. The act was so great that I find it almost impossible to relate to that much character. It’s mind-boggling. It had to be the most repugnant thing you ever did. I don’t feel any resentment about it because I know you did it for me out of pure love. Hell, you know what you were letting yourself in for, the first time you let me in the door and told me about Socialism. You knew what you would have to put yourself through to bring me along. You didn’t have to do it (as the song goes) but you did. Why in the hell would you go through
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that needless hell? I know the answer – it’s simply due to some kind of unfathomable love that you have. Up till now you haven’t gotten much in return – but before it’s over I’m going to try to find the guts to make it worth your while. Thanks for carrying me this far and thanks for your perfect commitment to the only thing that has given any meaning to my life.
Mike
P.S. This requires no response – in fact, I’d feel better if you did not respond.
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To: JJ
From: M. Prokes
[Handwritten date: “4/21”] Disciples Conference at Asilomar: I conducted two workshops on “The Church Involved in the Community.” In both sessions I talked about PT’s programs but tried to keep it low-key and subtle. Since Tom Stratton (pastor of Fruitridge Christian Church in Sacto [Sacramento] who brought some of his members to a couple of our sessions) was present, I used his church as an example of what churches can do to get involved. I had his brochures passed around and he came before the group in both sessions and spoke for at least 20 minutes. He is very positive toward us. I suggested that he lead a workshop. The first session went very well on Thursday night (4/22). I talked a lot about the plight of senior citizens since there were many who attended. In Friday morning’s workshop, a couple from Sacto seemed to take exception to some things I was saying about the church’s duty to involve itself in community affairs. They didn’t come hostile when speaking what I could tell they were at first. Fortunately I got a lot of support from the larger group and praised the couple (Mr. and Mrs. Cassing) during the discussion for their ideas. After it was over I approached them with Sandy [Bradshaw] and inquired about their work. He works as a maintenance chief at Eskaton and they both work in a call-in program called “Contact” in which people with various problems can express themselves and get emotional support. They seemed friendly at the end of our private conversation and invited us to visit Eskaton (the Disciples senior citizens facility in Sacto.)
Jean Brown and Sandi B. wrote up other aspects of conference, including off-handed remark by Karl Irvin, in their reports.
From Monterey I went to my brother’s in Modesto who is selling
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our antiques the people he knows. He is doing it for gratis. The items have all been catalogued and we’ve put down minimum amounts that would be accepted for each one. He is getting more for them than what we could from a dealer. (Harriet [Tropp] knows the amount). He has properly signed for the work he is doing. He has also a friend who is winning to sell our cars on consignment (a guy has a car lot). We would get better than Blue Book. However, the car seemed to be moving pretty well here, so we plan to keep them in this area as long as they sell for fair prices.
[Mervyn] Dymally’s secretary told me that Dymally said that he talked with the Governor who is “favorably disposed to appointing JJ to whatever post he would like” and that JJ should come to Sacramento personally to meet with Carlotta Mellon, the governor’s appointment secretary. They do not necessarily expect a response.
[Handwritten date: “4/23”] Nathaniel Muhammad called and invited JJ to come to another big meeting in Kansas City, I think it’s a “Jubilee” on the order of the one we attended last year. It is scheduled for June 12th and he said Wallace D. will be there. I told him about JJ’s situation and that he is in our ag mission getting away from it all. He expressed his concern and said that if JJ could not come that they would like me to come in his place. They said they would pay the fare for JJ and five of his lieutenants. He will be sending a letter about the event. How should I respond?
[Handwritten notation: “4/24; also see tapes”] Call to Chester Hartman: Hartman listened to what I was told about Bailey and said that Bailey had called him on Wednesday (4/20) or Thursday and simply left the message that he called. Hartman said he did not call him back and does not intend to. He said that if Bailey called again and got a hold of him (Hartman), then he
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would call and let us know the nature of it. Hartman asked me if Bailey was still writing for SF as he was the last time we talked and I told him I presumed he was. I asked him if he had heard anything different and he said that he did not. Hartman ask if we still planned on suing Bailey and I said it was a strong likelihood but it would largely be determined on the course of action Bailey took.
The first time I called Hartman today, his wife answered and said, who is this? I told her my name and she said she would see if he was in. She came back on and said he had left and expected him back in an hour or two. I think that Hartman, very considerably is talking to Bailey and told his wife that if I were to call that she should tell me he was out but would be back. That would give him time to get Bailey over there and listen to the conversation, and “take notes.” The ramifications, if this is the case, could be serious as Harriet will verify.
Howard Wallace has requested a speaker from PT for Gay Freedom Day on June 26th. What do we tell him?
Rosalyn Carter letter has been shown to Goodlett who wanted a copy but didn’t say why. I haven’t given it to him yet. Fred Furth was also shown the letter. He is meeting Jimmy Carter later this week. Letter was read to Bob Levering over the phone. He gave us permission to reprint the Bay Guardian article he did on us. The letter was also shown to the official we met with at the EO dept of the T-dept [Treasury Department]. Gavin was also shown the letter and said, “Now that is class. No one writes handwritten letters anymore because they are devastating.. He was very impressed.
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Call to Dymally: He said he had a long conversation with the governor about JJ and the type of organization he has, and his ability to get large numbers of people together. Evidently the conversation resulted in the Gov. saying that he was favorably disposed two appointing JJ to whatever commission he wanted. Gnaizda recommends that JJ hold out for a Bd. of Regents position because it carries the most prestige and though it would require a fair amount of time, it would not be as much as many of the other appointment positions. Gnaizda said he thought another UC regent position would be opening up.
Dymally so there is no government guest house but he would see what arrangements can be made. I told him that the office would be coming with the delegation of 12 plus two and that the delegation wanted to meet with the PM and mentioned what about. Dymally wants our youth to meet with a young candidate in his 20’s who will be running for assemblyman from our district. I told him I would get back to him with a date.
Dennis Banks is up for extradition again by a court ruling that would force the Gov. to extradite him. However, at this time 4/25, Jerry Brown is refusing to do it. Banks called tonight saying that he and Brightman our arranging a press conference to show the Gov. that he has support of various leaders. We told him, of course, we would be there. He is also bringing Cecil [Williams] into it. I told him to call us if there was anything else we could do and generally offered our total support. (The Gov. evidently feels he has legal grounds for not obeying the extradition orders. The appellate court’s decision is without precedent. Attorneys can explain.)
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4/25 Letters have gone out to [Thomas] Fleming in response to his article on JJ and I will also be taking him candy this week.
I-Hotel [International Hotel]: Several calls have come from the organizers who are counting on PT’s participation, particularly if there is another eviction day. They want to use our security and are also asking if we can get 30 of our people to be inside the Hotel. I explained about the conflict of interest and the situation with our tax-exemption status but they asked if our people could not simply come as individuals, in other words, not representing PT. So far I’ve shown consistent interest to them but I’m not sure how we should proceed as things get more intense. The next event is a hearing on a writ of mandamus requested by 4 Seas which seeks a judgment that the city does not have the right to declare eminent domain. Since I-Hotel has not won in court, they don’t expect to come out on the winning side at the hearing. [Mayor George] Moscone has assured that the city will pursue every little possibility at no cost to the Hotel or tenants Association. He said he thought if Judge Arnold approved the 4 Seas writ that it would be struck down on appeal. It sounds like this thing could drag on for a while yet, but I’m not sure if an eviction action might not be taken before the appeal. [Gene] Chaikin thinks I-Hotel will die a bloody death, so he can give his opinion to you on this.
Chris Lewis was using the private line to call Charlie Walker to get him to call Bailey. (The other house lines were all out.) Maria [Katsaris] pick up the extension in the apartment and didn’t know who it was. When Chris told her to get off, she asked who was on the line and a shouting argument ensued. I ran down and got her off the line but Chris said it made Charlie paranoid and though Charlie agreed to make the
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call to Bailey, he did not want to meet up with Chris the next day to do it. Chris thinks it’s because Walker was paranoid about where he (Chris) was calling from and the interruption. We are having Chris still pursue getting Walker to make the call.
Hector Curasco: His hearing comes up in early May. His public defender says she will have to convince the judge and the youth authority that it is in Curasco’s best interests to be put in our mission program. We are sending her a letter and materials to work with.
end