[Editor’s note: Several of the subjects whose names are deleted in this serial are known to the editor. Those notations have been indicated by red type.]
United States Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Memorandum
Date: 11/30/78
To: Mr. Moore
From: J.O. Ingram
Subject: RYMUR
Purpose: To set forth the results of a review of FBI files pertaining to [name deleted] [Ted Patrick].
Recommendation: None. For information.
Details: An Associated Press news item, dated 11/21/78, carrying the lead-in, “Patrick – Peoples Temple,” included statements by Ted Patrick that he was not surprised by the murders and mass suicides by Peoples Temple members at Jonestown, Guyana, and that he, Patrick, went to Washington, D.C., in 1973, to ask Congress, the FBI, and Justice Department to take action against religious cults but received no positive response. Director Webster made the following note in response to Patrick’s statements, “11/22/78, See if we have any record of this report; Check under Patrick’s name. WHW.”
A review of FBI HQ files concerning [one line deleted] resulted in the locating of a memorandum from [name deleted] to [name deleted] dated 2/21/74, captioned, [name of file deleted], and others; [name deleted], also known as, and others – Victims; Kidnapping; Civil Rights; Conspiracy; Bureau file 44 – 58302. This memorandum relates the following information:
On 2/21/74, [name deleted] [Ted Patrick], San Diego, California, and [name deleted] [last name Love], Attorney, Canton, Ohio, voluntarily appeared at FBIHQ and were interviewed by Special Agent [name deleted]. At the time of the interview, the FBI was investigating, at the request of the Department of Justice, the activities of [name deleted] as they concerned the [2 lines deleted] was not connected with the
[Page 2]
J.O. Ingram to Mr. Moore Memo
RE: RYMUR
[name deleted] investigation and appeared concerning his [name deleted] who has associated himself with a [one line deleted].
During the interview, [Patrick] related that he and [Love] were interested in obtaining legislation to help parents retrieve the children from various religious cults which lure children away with brainwashing and hypnotic techniques. [Patrick] stated that he was aware of the current FBI investigation into his activities.
Patrick advised that on 11/30/73, he presented to then Speaker of the House Carl Albert a petition requesting an investigation of religious cults which lure young people away by brainwashing and hypnosis. In most instances, these young people surrender to the cult all earnings, savings, valuables, and property. According to Patrick, Speaker Albert referred his petition to the Rules Committee where no action was taken. As a result, Patrick stated it was necessary for him to form a committee to conduct an investigation of his (Patrick’s) activities in order to obtain some action to assist the parents of these young people. Patrick’s group, Volunteer Parents of America, hoped to obtain representatives from various religious organizations, Congress, the Department of Justice, the FBI, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and other interested individuals.
Patrick was informed that the FBI does not conduct investigations in the manner he suggested and would not participate on his committee. Patrick was advised that any legal questions concerning his activities should be discussed with the Department of Justice. At the conclusion of the interview, Patrick and Love were escorted to the office of Messrs. [Names deleted], Criminal Division, Department of Justice.
The statements attributed to Patrick in the Associated Press news item, namely, that he traveled to Washington, DC, in 1973, to ask Congress, the FBI, and the Justice Department to take action against religious cults, evidently refer to his presentation of the petition to Speaker Albert in November, 1973, and subsequent meetings with SA [name deleted] and the Department in February, 1974.
FBI investigation into [Patrick] activity led to his indictment on 9/18/74 by a Federal Grand Jury in Seattle, Washington, for violation of Title 18, USC, Section 1201 (a) (1) and Section 2,
[Page 3]
J.O. Ingram to Mr. Moore Memo
RE: RYMUR
Kidnapping, in connection with the case captioned [withheld]; et al; [name withheld] – Victim; Kidnapping; Civil Rights; Conspiracy; 00: Seattle; Bureau file 44-58302. This indictment was dismissed by a U.S. District Court Judge, Seattle, Washington, on 12/11/74. An appeal filed by the United States Attorney, Seattle Washington, was dismissed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, San Francisco, California.
[Next paragraph related to Patrick highly redacted]
The [information deleted] have been brought to the Bureau’s attention on several occasions and were investigated under the Kidnap and Civil Rights Statutes. Only one attempt was made to prosecute [Patrick] federally and that was unsuccessful.
[page 4]
[Teletype from Washington Capitol News Service]
Patrick-People’s Temple
San Diego (AP) – Cult deprogrammer Ted Patrick says he warned U.S. officials five years ago to take action against religious sects such as the People’s Temple, whose members committed mass suicide after the weekend’s slayings of California Rep. Leo Ryan and four others.
Patrick, a San Diego resident who has served two jail terms for his efforts to get members of several cults to abandon their religious beliefs, said Monday he was not surprised at the murders and apparent suicide of at least 409 People’s Temple members in Guyana.
“I am surprised that it didn’t happen two or three years ago,” Patrick said in a telephone interview from Cincinnati, where he is conducting a cult deprogramming, what he calls a “rescue.”
He said he went to Washington in 1973 to ask Congress, the FBI and the Justice Department to take action against the cults but got no positive response.
[page 5]
Patrick urged a Watergate-style investigation into cults, saying other sects have more potential for violence and are more dangerous than the People’s Temple because they are larger and better organized.
Though Patrick said he has not deprogrammed any People’s Temple members, he said he was asked to several months ago by a family whose 16-year-old daughter was at the group’s San Francisco center.
“Before I could get there,” he said, “the family called and said they had shipped the girl overseas.”
Patrick said he has received calls about the People’s Temple, founded by the Rev. Jim Jones, since 1971.
[4 page attachment withheld ]