{"id":122790,"date":"2023-06-01T16:39:11","date_gmt":"2023-06-01T23:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=122790"},"modified":"2023-07-10T15:04:58","modified_gmt":"2023-07-10T22:04:58","slug":"q385-summary","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=122790","title":{"rendered":"Q385 Summary"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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

FBI Catalogue:<\/b> Jones speaking<\/p>\n

FBI preliminary tape identification note: <\/strong>(None)<\/p>\n

Date cues on tape:<\/b> Shortly after May 3, 1978 (date of Guinness suicide)<\/p>\n

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

Public figures\/National and international names:<\/i><\/p>\n

Part 1<\/strong>
\nFrancisco Franco, dictator of Spain
\nAldo Moro, former prime minister of Italy
\nKwame Nkrumah, former president of Ghana
\nIgnatius Kutu Acheampong, military head of state of Ghana
\nFred Akuffo, successor to Acheampong
\nMahatma Gandhi, Indian leader, practitioner of non-violence
\nIndira Gandhi, prime minister of India
\nSanjay Gandhi, son of India Gandhi
\nYeshwant Vichnu Chandrachud, Chief Justice of India Supreme Court
\nLeopold Senghor, president of Senegal
\nKim Il-Sung, President of North Korea
\nChe Guevara, Latin American Revolutionary
\nForbes Burnham, Prime Minister of Guyana
\nPtolemy Reid, Deputy Prime Minister of Guyana
\nGeorge King, Guyana Minister of Trade
\nCheddi Jagan, leader of People\u2019s Progressive Party, Guyana opposition party
\nWalter Rodney, political activist in Guyana
\nMohammed Shahabadeen, Guyana attorney general
\nJames Mentore, intelligence chief of Guyana police
\nHenrietta Guinness, heiress who committed suicide
\nPatrick Guinness, cousin of Henrietta Guinness
\nTara Brown, cousin of Henrietta Guinness
\nHenry Jordan, author of Eating Is Okay<\/em>
\nRichard McCoy, former U.S. Embassy Consul
\nRichard Dwyer, U.S. Embassy Consul [by reference]
\nVivian Davis, sympathetic relative<\/p>\n

Part 2<\/strong>
\nAdolf Hitler, German F\u00fchrer<\/p>\n

Part 3<\/strong>
\nJimmy Carter, president of US
\nRep. Clarence Long (D-MD)
\nRep. Paul Rogers (D-FL)
\nGeorge Latimer, mayor of St. Paul
\nGriffin Bell, Attorney General<\/p>\n

Vladimir Lenin, father of Russian Revolution
\nMao Tse-Tung
\nJiang Qing, wife of Mao Tse-Tung
\nHuang Hua, Foreign Minister of China
\nFerdinand Marcos, president of Philippines
\nImelda Marcos, wife of Ferdinand Marcos
\nValerian Mikhailov, Soviet Ambassador to Philippines
\nFidel Castro, leader of Cuba<\/p>\n

Daniel Ford, Executive Director of the Union of Concerned Scientists
\nLouise Dunlap, Environmental Policy Center
\nAnita Bryant, anti-gay activist
\nRichard Angwin, leader of Citizens Alert for Morality
\nGreg Anderson, spokesperson for Minneapolis Citizens for Human Rights
\nFrank W. Snepp III, author of Decent Interval
\nDavid Schaeffer, Columbia Presbyterian Psychiatric Institute<\/p>\n

Judy Dolan, psychiatric nurse, San Francisco General Hospital
\nBoyd Stephens, San Francisco chief coroner
\nDr. Martin Glasser, chief psychiatrist, San Francisco General Hospital
\nBill Cunningham, San Francisco social worker
\nHazel Levitt, San Francisco suicide prevention center consultant<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Temple adversaries; members of Concerned Relatives:<\/i><\/p>\n

Part 2<\/strong>
\nSuzanne Jones Cartmell
\nWade Medlock
\nTim Stoen<\/div>\n

Temple members not in Guyana:<\/i><\/p>\n

Part 2<\/strong>
\nClaire [could be Janaro]<\/div>\n

Jonestown residents:<\/i><\/p>\n

Part 1<\/strong>
\nRosie Lee Burgines
\nJohnny Jones<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Part 3<\/strong>
\nJohn Harris
\nMarceline Jones [by reference]
\nTerry Carter Jones
\nRichard Tropp<\/div>\n

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

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

This tape recorded by Jim Jones in early May comprises three separate segments, all likely recorded the same day, but all different from one another in tone and substance.<\/p>\n

Part one<\/em> is a reading of several articles from Guyanese sources. The first extended reading is from Liberation, a publication of what Jones describes as an anarchist group, \u201cradical left,\u201d and outside the mainstream of the country\u2019s three recognized political parties. He says he\u2019s reading it to give the community a complete scope of the news, but he inserts a number of disparaging comments along the way (\u201cThat\u2019s a lie\u2026 I doubt this very much. I don\u2019t believe this either\u201d).<\/p>\n

Jones also reads a speech given by Deputy Prime Minister \u2013 and Temple ally \u2013 Ptolemy Reid, calling for approval of a constitutional amendment that would give the governing political party expanded powers. (It later passed.) Throughout the first section, Jones lauds his political patrons in the Peoples National Congress, recognizing the Temple\u2019s own need to stay in the party\u2019s good graces, and reports on their promises to deal with the threats of a mercenary force that have plagued Jonestown. \u201cOur position will be secure,\u201d he promises.<\/p>\n

Along the way, Jones offers a sidebar trumpeting the news that a demonstration organized by the Concerned Relatives was met with counter-protesters from the Temple, with Temple forces mounting a four-to-one advantage.<\/p>\n

Other news items in this section:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Elections are held in Senegal;<\/li>\n
  • Metallurgical workers go on strike in Spain, unemployed march in Madrid;<\/li>\n
  • Portuguese communist party denounces Eurocommunism;<\/li>\n
  • Government in Ghana faces protests over military rule;<\/li>\n
  • Son of Indian prime minister arrested for witness tampering;<\/li>\n
  • North Korea welcomes Forbes Burnham on a state visit;<\/li>\n
  • The tragedies of the Guinness brewery family continue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The second section of the tape<\/em> finds Jones in an angry mood, as he lambasts those who criticize him or write lengthy letters of complaint or otherwise denigrate Jonestown.<\/p>\n

    He begins by requesting that his followers get in touch with their relatives back home, to counter what their antagonists in Concerned Relatives are saying, to point out the hypocrisy of their movement, and to point out specifically that their leader, Tim Stoen, has talked about mercenaries and bombs to get his way.<\/p>\n

    There are deficiencies on Jonestown, Jones knows, but within a few months, things will be much better. They will have sufficient housing for all residents \u2013 even enough for guest housing \u2013 as well as a resort and place of entertainment. This is beyond what they already have, he reminds them, beautiful surroundings, good food, and a healthy environment.<\/p>\n

    At that point, he addresses the hostility he perceives at evening Peoples Rallies. The meetings are important for their own education, to help them on their paths to true communism. And it\u2019s not everyone. \u201cSome of you come with beautiful intelligent answers to so many things, creative things, but you think emotionally. There is no room for emotion.\u201d<\/p>\n

    The hostility extends to the children, because they are mirroring the adults, and they can see their parents\u2019 emotions on their faces.<\/p>\n

    Jones says he can\u2019t understand this. \u201cI don\u2019t really know what I mean to you. You say, you\u2019re grateful when I save your loved ones from death\u2026 And you<\/em> who have received so much, should work on gratitude, and not behave emotionally. \u2026 You behave emotionally. Totally, incessantly and insanely emotionally.\u201d<\/p>\n

    He also says he knows how some folks will reply, that they are being honest with him, just as he has encouraged them to be. \u201cI don\u2019t give a fuck about your honesty,\u201d he replies. \u201cI love you, I would be tortured for you, \u2026 I\u2019d die for you, but any more of your goddamn writing, fuck you now and fuck you eternally.\u201d<\/p>\n

    The sentiments last throughout the section, and end on a similar note: \u201cyou\u2019ve got the nerve, the goddamn nerve to bother me with your fucking resentments about setting in a meeting. Well, I say, fuck you. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

    The third section<\/em> is much calmer, much more in keeping with a reading of the news. It is notable mainly in that he uses much less of the editorial characterizations that fill many these sessions. He describes the US as imperialist only once, and does not use the word lackey to describe American allies; neither are the Soviet Union and Cuba held up as vanguards of liberation. Even his fixation with nuclear war is reduced to a single mention. This more modest approach does not affect his many diatribes against capitalism, however.<\/p>\n

    One recurring refrain is the need for pragmatism, which he says Communists understand. \u201cAnd we have to understand pragmatism, that the end does justify the means,\u201d he says of the Chinese, and later, of Cuba\u2019s leader Fidel Castro, \u201cthe ends justify the means.\u201d<\/p>\n

    The lengthiest feature Jones reads here is that about the rise in child suicide in the US. It relates to several messages he wants to reinforce to his community. First is to contrast life in the States to that in Jonestown: \u201cthere\u2019s not enough treatment programs and counseling programs for the suicidal, our children are leading healthy, productive lives, producing with joy, perspective and goals in kind.\u201d As with so many other problems in American life, though, the root of the problem is capitalism and its negative consequences. The second lesson is about the deaths themselves: \u201cselfish suicide always leads one to come back\u2026 there\u2019s only one way that one can give their life, and that\u2019s in a revolutionary effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Among other news items in this section:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Philippines president is ill, wife hints moving into Soviet orbit;<\/li>\n
    • Soviets offer to build Philippine nuclear power plant;<\/li>\n
    • Minneapolis becomes latest city to vote against gay rights;<\/li>\n
    • Environmentalists criticize Carter for abandoning campaign promises;<\/li>\n
    • Pentagon reports thousands of veterans of atomic tests swamp hotline;<\/li>\n
    • Ex-CIA agent faces lawsuit over book publication;<\/li>\n
    • Talks on Namibia to begin soon;<\/li>\n
    • World Council of Churches praises Peoples Temple.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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

      Date of transcription: 6\/22\/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 4, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B93-116. This tape was found to contain the following:<\/p>\n

      A recording by JIM JONES on current events and some popular music.<\/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\u00a0June 2023.<\/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, click here. Listen to MP3 (Pt. 1,\u00a0Pt. 2). To return to the Tape Index, click here. FBI Catalogue: Jones speaking FBI preliminary tape identification note: (None) Date cues on tape: Shortly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":27996,"menu_order":211,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-122790","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/122790","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=122790"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/122790\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":123360,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/122790\/revisions\/123360"}],"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=122790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}