{"id":118737,"date":"2022-11-28T15:58:17","date_gmt":"2022-11-28T23:58:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=118737"},"modified":"2023-06-21T15:01:16","modified_gmt":"2023-06-21T22:01:16","slug":"q435-summary","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=118737","title":{"rendered":"Q435 Summary"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary prepared by Fielding M. McGehee III. If you use this material, please credit The Jonestown Institute. Thank you.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

To read the Tape Transcript,\u00a0click here<\/a>. Listen to MP3 (Pt. 1<\/a>,\u00a0Pt. 2<\/a>).
\nTo return to the Tape Index, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

FBI Catalogue<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jones Speaking<\/p>\n

FBI preliminary tape identification note: <\/strong>Labeled in part \u201cAug 26 SAT News\u201d<\/p>\n

Date cues on tape:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Contents consistent with tape label<\/p>\n

People named:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Public figures\/National and international names:<\/em>
\nJimmy Carter, President of US
\nFranklin D. Roosevelt, former U.S. President
\nHenry Kissinger, former U.S. Secretary of State
\nSem. S. I. Hayakawa (R-CA)
\nSen. Jesse Helms (R-NC)
\nJohn Carbaugh, on staff of Sen. Helms
\nSen. James McClure (R-ID)
\nSen. John Stennis (D-MS)
\nGriffin Bell, U.S. Attorney General
\nThomas P. Griesa, U.S. District Court Judge [by reference]
\nJon O. Newman, judge in Xerox antitrust suit [by reference]
\nMervyn Dymally, California Lieutenant Governor<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Vladimir Lenin, father of Russian Revolution
\nNikita Khrushchev, former Soviet premier
\nAdolf Hitler, German F\u00fchrer
\nPope Paul VI
\nSebastiano Baggio, Italian cardinal, candidate for papacy
\nJosip Broz Tito, president of Yugoslavia
\nHua Kuo-fenj, Chairman of Chinese Communist Party
\nReza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran
\nMohammad Mosaddegh, former premier of Iran [by reference]
\nJohannes Vorster, South African Prime Minister
\nJoshua Nkomo, leader of Zimbabwean Patriotic Front in Rhodesia
\nRobert Mugabe, leader of Zimbabwean Patriotic Front in Rhodesia
\nIan Smith, Prime Minister of Rhodesia
\nBishop Abel Muzorewa, leader of Zimbabwe independence
\nNdabaningi Sithole, Rhodesian black leader<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fidel Castro, leader of Cuba
\nAnastasio Somoza Debayle, President of Nicaragua
\nForbes Burnham, Prime Minister of Guyana
\nCheddi Jagan, Guyana opposition leader
\nHamilton Green, Guyana Minister of Health, Welfare and Labour<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel Ellsberg, military analyst who released Pentagon Papers
\nLee Harvey Oswald, convicted assassin of JFK
\nUnita Blackwell Wright, Mayor of Mayerville, MS
\nMartin Luther King, civil rights activist
\nJames Earl Ray, convicted assassin of Martin Luther King
\nRussell G. Byers, alleged conspirator in King killing
\nJohn R. Kauffmann, alleged conspirator in King killing
\nJohn H. Sutherland, head of St. Louis White Citizens Council
\nJulian Temple, CIA officer charged with espionage
\nEarl Jones, Kansas judge
\nHerb Overton, man arrested on marijuana charges in Kansas
\nClarence M. Ditlow, director of the Center for Automobile Safety
\nRalph Nader, consumer advocate<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher
\nLouis Malle, film director
\nSven Nykvist, cinematographer
\nE. J. Bellocq, American photographer
\nBrooke Shields, American actress
\nSuzanne Sarandon, American actress
\nHoward Hughes, eccentric American billionaire
\nJ. Paul Getty, Getty Oil heir, philanthropist<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Carlton Goodlett, San Francisco physician, publisher, friend of Peoples Temple
\nDon Freed, author and playwright, friend of Peoples Temple<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Temple adversaries; members of Concerned Relatives<\/em>:
\nTim O. Stoen<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Temple members not in Jonestown<\/em>:
\nJim Randolph<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jonestown resident<\/em>s:
\nSharon Amos
\nErnestine Blair
\nEugene Chaikin
\nRalph Jackson
\nAva Jones
\nMarceline Jones
\nTheresa King
\nJim McElvane
\nCharles Touchette
\nJoyce Touchette
\nRita Tupper<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bible verses cited: <\/strong> None<\/p>\n

Summary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

(This tape was transcribed by Kristian Klippenstein. The<\/em> editors gratefully acknowledge his invaluable assistance.)<\/em><\/p>\n

Jim Jones reads the news for August 26, 1978.<\/p>\n

There are numerous elements that characterize these readings \u2013 especially in Jones\u2019 insertion of editorial comments and inclusion of extraneous asides \u2013 but for much of this tape, the Temple leader speaks in fairly measured tones. Towards the end \u2013 and especially in the two short additional sessions \u2013 his voice becomes slurred and less certain, but it is not known whether this was due to his fatigue or to the drugs he used to stay awake.<\/p>\n

Evidence of this quieter tone can be found in the fact that he does not vilify the United States or champion the Soviet Union every time the countries come up. He mentions the bugaboo of monopoly capitalism a half dozen times, and describes the US as an imperialist power even less often than that. Similarly, American allies are puppets fewer than a half dozen times, and lackeys not at all. The Communist and Third World nations of the world remain the forces of liberation, but not as aggressively so.<\/p>\n

One throughline from Jones\u2019 history does appear, though as he describes the threat \u2013 if not the inevitability \u2013 of nuclear war about a dozen times. At one point, he does remind his followers that their lives in Jonestown protect them from that holocaust.<\/p>\n

Indeed, one subject he returns to several times is his assertion that many people want to live in Jonestown than are already there \u2013 beyond the Temple members who have been approved to come, there are several important political figures from the US \u2013 and given how the community is as free of racism and age-ism and sexism as it is, that is not surprising.<\/p>\n

There is a charitable word for Martin Luther King \u2013 whom he often disparages in other tapes \u2013 referring to him in this tape as \u201cbeloved.\u201d But his only other reference to religion in this reading is a back-handed one. After noting that a criminal defendant\u2019s reliance upon the Bible for proof of his innocence was unsuccessful because \u201cthe high court of God has never been known to speak,\u201d Jones adds, \u201cAll that comes down from the sky is bird shit.\u201d<\/p>\n

One positive sentiment he does express is familiar both to the jungle community and \u2013 further back in Temple history \u2013 to the congregations back in the States, when he expresses his belief that \u201cas long as there\u2019s life, there\u2019s hope.\u201d It is a sentiment that Christine Miller repeats to the community on the last day as she tries to remind Jones\u2019 of what he has always taught them.<\/p>\n

Miller also reminds Jones on the last day of something else he says here. In telling the people of Jonestown that the Soviet Union has free education, medical care, dental care, and rent, he adds his oft-repeated message, \u201cthe Soviet Union [is] willing to give us sanctuary.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jones does offer object lessons for the people in Jonestown in his asides. In reporting a human interest story about some kids assembling the world\u2019s largest sandwich, some 600 pounds, he points out that there was as much waste as food that went into the sandwich, proof of the decadence of living in the US.<\/p>\n

Among the items Jones covers in the news:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • President Carter vetoes the defense bill;<\/li>\n
  • The US government insists on the single assassin theory in MLK\u2019s death; House committee ties plot to Missouri segregationists;<\/li>\n
  • The US government may pay $40 million to socialist group to prevent release of files;<\/li>\n
  • Government policies serve to support airlines, prop up corporations;<\/li>\n
  • US inflation rate is 10%;<\/li>\n
  • More automobiles recalled in US than were sold in calendar year;<\/li>\n
  • Xerox loses antitrust suit;<\/li>\n
  • Proposition 13 in California has resulted in many problems;<\/li>\n
  • California releases list of 200 organizations under police surveillance;<\/li>\n
  • Accidents at missile silos and a workers exposure to plutonium show the danger of nuclear weapons;<\/li>\n
  • Cardinals in Rome have not decided on a successor to Pope Paul VI;<\/li>\n
  • President Tito of Yugoslavia seeks to reassure Soviets he has not fallen from their orbit;<\/li>\n
  • A CIA officer is arrested for passing secrets to USSR;<\/li>\n
  • Zimbabwean liberation forces control 90% of Rhodesia; Britain and US make contingency plans for evacuations of whites;<\/li>\n
  • Senate to consider lifting arms embargo on Rhodesia;<\/li>\n
  • UN waffles on Namibian Pact over Walvis Bay, after passing resolutions supporting independence;<\/li>\n
  • Iran hit by nationwide revellion;<\/li>\n
  • Nicaragua seeks general strikes against Somoza;<\/li>\n
  • The International Youth Festival in Cuba ends with a condemnation of Chinese aggression;<\/li>\n
  • China fears being squeezed by USSR with Soviet presence in Afghanistan;<\/li>\n
  • Chinese and Vietnamese troops skirmish at their border;<\/li>\n
  • Guam will hold a vote on whether to become a state, remain a territory, or become independent;<\/li>\n
  • Repression increases in Puerto Rico against forces of independence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The first session of the reading \u2013 taking up most of the tape \u2013 ends with his usual declarations of love for his people and calls to produce. He also coaches residents to tell their relatives in the US that they love Jonestown and would never want to return. The second session features more instructions, repeating earlier advice, and adding requests that people smile more, to keep the place beautiful \u2013 he singles out several places that need attention \u2013 and finally, most importantly, not to accept any letters that someone may try to pass along to them.<\/p>\n

    FBI Summary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Date of transcription: 6\/25\/79<\/p>\n

    In connection with the Federal Bureau of Investigation\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

    On June 6, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B100-39. This tape was found to contain the following:<\/p>\n

    News of the day and commentary by JIM JONES.<\/p>\n

    JONES also speaks of administrative matters,, i.e. cleaning up the area, planting shrubbery, flyswatters, mosquito control, etc.<\/p>\n

    Differences with FBI Summary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The summary is accurate and meets the FBI\u2019s purposes.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Tape originally posted\u00a0December 2022.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Summary prepared by Fielding M. McGehee III. If you use this material, please credit The Jonestown Institute. Thank you. To read the Tape Transcript,\u00a0click here. Listen to MP3 (Pt. 1,\u00a0Pt. 2). To return to the Tape Index, click here. FBI Catalogue\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jones Speaking FBI preliminary tape identification note: Labeled in part \u201cAug 26 SAT News\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":27996,"menu_order":246,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-118737","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/118737","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=118737"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/118737\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":123310,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/118737\/revisions\/123310"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27996"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=118737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}