{"id":28243,"date":"2013-06-16T00:18:43","date_gmt":"2013-06-16T00:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alternativejonestown.com\/?page_id=28243"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:19:05","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T17:19:05","slug":"683-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=28243","title":{"rendered":"Q683 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>. To listen to MP3, click here<\/a>.
\nTo return to the Tape Index, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

FBI Catalogue<\/b>: Tapes Not Summarized<\/p>\n

FBI preliminary tape identification note: <\/strong>One Tracs 90\/ “Cecil Williams interviews JJ 4\/12\/76”<\/p>\n

Date cues on tape: <\/b>12 April 1976 (notation on tape box, confirmed in context)<\/p>\n

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

Peoples Temple members<\/i>
\nPart 1<\/b>
\nTim Carter (speaks)<\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Part 2 <\/b>
\nMike Prokes (speaks)<\/b><\/p>\n

Part 3<\/b>
\nMarie Duckett<\/p>\n

Part 4<\/b>
\nMike Prokes (speaks)<\/b><\/p>\n

Part 5<\/b>
\nTim Carter
\nGene Chaikin
\nPhyllis Chaikin
\nChristine Chavez
\nJames “Reb” Edwards
\nPaul Flowers
\nHue Fortson
\nRhonda Fortson
\nJohn Harrison
\nArchie Ijames (speaks) <\/b>
\nRonny James
\nAnita Kelley
\nHarriet Randolph, aka Harriet Sarah Tropp
\nJim Randolph
\nLarry Schacht
\nDick Tropp
\nMary Wotherspoon
\nPeter Wotherspoon (speaks)<\/b><\/p>\n

Part 7 <\/b>
\nMike Prokes (speaks)<\/b><\/p>\n

Part 8 <\/b>
\nBonnie [most likely Simon] (speaks)<\/b><\/p>\n

Part 9 <\/b>
\nMike Prokes (speaks)<\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Peoples Temple members, full name unknown: <\/i>
\nPart 5<\/b>
\nLois (either Briedenbach or Ponts)
\nRosie (could be Burgines, or any one of a number of Roses)
\nSusie<\/p>\n

Temple adversaries; members of Concerned Relatives: <\/i>
\nPart 5<\/b>
\nLester Kinsolving, newspaper columnist and Temple antagonist<\/p>\n

Public figures\/National and international names:<\/i>
\nPart 1<\/b>
\nJohn Maher, director of Delancey Street Foundation<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Part 3 <\/b>
\nAmerican Indian Movement activist Anna Mae Pictou Aquash
\nAmerican Indian Movement activist Dennis Banks
\nKamook Banks, wife of Dennis Banks
\nAngela Davis, University of California professor who was fired over her membership in the Communist Party<\/p>\n

Newsman Bill Farr
\nFormer President Richard Nixon
\nSchrimerhorn [phonetic, first name unknown], columnist in San Francisco Examiner
\nNAACP Executive Director Roy Wilkins<\/p>\n

Adolf Hitler
\nMartin Niemoller, German pastor in World War II<\/p>\n

Cecil Williams, Methodist minister in San Francisco (speaks)<\/b><\/p>\n

Part 4 <\/b>
\nDuncan James, on staff of Mendocino County district attorney<\/p>\n

Part 7 <\/b>
\nNative American activist Dennis Banks
\nThen-San Francisco assemblyman Willie Brown
\nU.S. Representative Ron Dellums
\nThen-President Gerald Ford
\nAttorney William Kunstler
\nMalcolm X
\nNation of Islam leader Wallace D. Muhammed
\nCecil Williams, Methodist minister in San Francisco
\nPaul Godsey, North of Market Senior Organization<\/p>\n

Part 8<\/b>
\nCarlton Goodlett, Sun-Reporter <\/i>newspaper publisher<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Unknown persons<\/em><\/p>\n

Part 4<\/b>
\nCasey [phonetic] Cartmell<\/p>\n

Part 7 <\/b>
\nDick, last name unknown, writer (speaks)<\/b>
\nLoretta Smith
\nGene Weller<\/p>\n

Part 8 <\/b>
\nDon
\nDr. Gerlach
\nMarsha at Jackson Travel agency
\nRon Newpower
\nMr. Rizzo
\nMiss Tomkis<\/p>\n

Part 9 <\/b>
\nBill Lenson, president of health clinic (speaks)<\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Bible verses cited: <\/b>
\nPart 3<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cJesus Christ \u2026 said, we were our brother\u2019s keeper, and God is no respecter of persons.\u201d (Reference to Genesis 4:9, \u201cAnd the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother\u2019s keeper?\u201d; also Acts 10:34, \u201cThen Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.\u201d) <\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

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

This tape consists of a series of phone calls, recorded television interviews and general business discussions, most of which make little sense without a context that is not provided. It could be that one of the segments is deliberately obscure: it has so many unfamiliar names that it is possible that the two women involved in the telephone conversation are speaking in code.<\/p>\n

Only the segments that make sense are discussed below.<\/p>\n

Part 3 <\/b>of the tape is a recording made inside a television studio of an interview between Jim Jones and Cecil Williams, the minister of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco. [Note: This segment of the tape is reproduced in its entirety on Q 645<\/a>, but the circumstances of the taping is different, and the interruptions and unintelligible portions of the conversation are fewer on the other tape.]<\/p>\n

Taped apparently as part of a regular television program which Williams hosts, the two men talk about the political lightning rods of the day \u2013 such as Dennis Banks, Angela Davis and Bill Farr \u2013 and the role of support that Peoples Temple has given in their causes. Jones emphasizes that the support didn\u2019t come just from him, but from the whole congregation. The membership figure he gives includes 8000 in San Francisco, 10,000 in L.A., and an unknown number in Central Valley towns of Fresno and Bakersfield.<\/p>\n

Closer to home, Jones talks about the assistance that Peoples Temple gives on a regular basis to seniors in San Francisco\u2019s Tenderloin \u2013 an area that Williams also ministers to \u2013 and the drug treatment programs of the church. In the course of answering a question about care for animals, he segues into a description of Temple health care services for all people.<\/p>\n

Speaking about the Peoples Temple \u201cagricultural mission,\u201d Jones says the government of Guyana has granted the Temple \u201cseveral thousand acres,\u201d and that the Temple is already bringing in tons of food to feed the local population and help alleviate poverty. He also says the project is employing about 200 people, implying \u2013 although not saying specifically \u2013 that the employed are Guyanese.<\/p>\n

The two men talk about the \u201chealing ministry\u201d \u2013 something they share \u2013 and the cures they have seen in their congregations. \u201cWe\u2019ve had similar remissions,\u201d Jones says. \u201cThere\u2019s a tremendous dimension that we\u2019re unfamiliar with\u2026 undoubtedly there\u2019s a dimension there that the responsible<\/i> church does take over.\u201d At the same time, Jones emphasizes the need for professional medical care. \u201cThere\u2019s a place indeed for a responsible and sane spiritual healing. It must be in conjunction with medical science, because we know there\u2019s no panacea\u2026 When we find someone who thinks they have a healing, we say, get<\/i> to the doctor and verify it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Near the end of the interview, Williams asks Jones about the Temple\u2019s money. Jones replies that people are generous when they see the results of the Temple\u2019s work.<\/p>\n

Much of the interview, though, consists of Williams praising Jones as \u201cunique,\u201d \u201cindescribable,\u201d and \u201cvery important.\u201d He describes himself as \u201camazed\u201d by the work that Jones and his church has done. The Methodist minister concludes the interview lauding Jones with these words: \u201cHere\u2019s a man, I have to tell you, that I think is \u2026 a genius, I think he\u2019s a prophet. He\u2019s charismatic. He\u2019s one of our great leaders. I\u2019m glad to be associated with you. Brother, we gone stay together, \u2018cause I know, if I stay with you, we gone make it. We\u2019ll bring about justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Part 5<\/b>, Jones and a number of other Temple leaders \u2013 most of them unidentified \u2013 prepare for a news conference by discussing which person will say what about their religious faith and how the Temple has responded to that faith. While the purpose is to show the diversity of beliefs within the Temple, the assigned positions for various members become more of a script. \u201cWe need a belief for Larry Schacht,\u201d one woman says, referring to the Temple\u2019s doctor. Even the word choices \u2013 and whether people can pronounce the words that Jones wants them to say \u2013 become a subject of debate.<\/p>\n

In keeping with the scripted aspects of the Temple\u2019s presentation, Jones tries to anticipate how the press will respond. After helping one woman formulate her belief, Jones comments, \u201cThat\u2019s a new twist.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jones also coaches people what not to say. When someone introduces the concept of karma \u2013 often discussed in Temple services \u2013 Jones vetoes it immediately. \u201cNo, fuck, no karma. Don\u2019t get no karma, don\u2019t get no karma. Don\u2019t you mention that word, karma\u2026 Stay away from that karma, reincarnation, all that shit.\u201d Later, when another man proposes a position of disbelief in a loving God that would let children die \u2013\u00a0again, a recurring theme in Jones\u2019 sermons \u2013 there are cries of dissent and vehement opposition from Jones.<\/p>\n

The group tailors the various messages according to the profession of the person who will speak of his or her belief. Speaking of one person who is in law enforcement, Jones says he should say, \u201cI believe everybody should live by the teachings of Jesus Christ. You got that? That sounds typical law and order. Everybody should live by the teachings of Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jones also sets up points of discussion to highlight the work of the Temple and its success stories. \u201cDifferent ones of you ought to have drug problems,\u201d Jones advises. \u201cSay, \u2026 \u2018I\u2019d end up in crime, though, if it hadn\u2019t been for this church.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

In Part 7<\/b>, Mike Prokes talks to an unknown reporter about various activities the Temple is doing and various causes it assists, such as local food banks and hunger groups. Prokes also talks about the Temple\u2019s relationships with different religious groups, including the Nation of Islam.<\/p>\n

The conversation turns more animated \u2013 at least for the reporter \u2013 when they talk about Peoples Forum<\/i>. When Prokes says the circulation of the Temple\u2019s newspaper is 600,000, the reporter excitedly asks if he can contribute an article, and inquires about the next deadline (since, according to Prokes, he has just missed one). Prokes doesn\u2019t immediately commit \u2013 \u201cWe\u2019re asking for any kind of contributions like that, and whatever space will allow, we\u2019ll print\u201d \u2013 and his tone is hesitant. He does not reveal the reasons for his apparent reluctance.<\/p>\n

In the final segment, Part 9<\/b>, the president of the board for a local free\/low-cost health clinic speaks with Mike Prokes about the clinic\u2019s financial crisis and asks for assistance from the Temple. Prokes says he\u2019ll pass the request along.<\/p>\n

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

Date of transcription: 3\/23\/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 March 20, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B62 #115, and nothing was contained thereon which was considered to be of evidentiary nature or beneficial to the investigation of Congressman RYAN.<\/p>\n

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

There is nothing to compare the two summaries, since the FBI did not write anything for this, or 64 other tapes which bear the notation \u201cTapes Not Summarized.\u201d These tapes seems to have little on them which the FBI could use for its purposes of investigating crimes arising from the Jonestown tragedy, but then again, that describes many other tapes as well. The difference seems to be that one or two FBI agents catalogued this set of tapes \u2013 as evidenced by the typewriter used in writing the reports \u2013 and that generally, the transcriptions were made early in the process, before someone may have asked for greater detail in the reports.<\/p>\n

Tape originally posted February 2003<\/b><\/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. To listen to MP3, click here. To return to the Tape Index, click here. FBI Catalogue: Tapes Not Summarized FBI preliminary tape identification note: One Tracs 90\/ “Cecil Williams […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":27996,"menu_order":454,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-28243","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28243","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\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28243"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28243\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":128926,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28243\/revisions\/128926"}],"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=28243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}