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==Jones' appointment as Chairman of the San Francisco Housing Authority Commission== |
==Jones' appointment as Chairman of the San Francisco Housing Authority Commission== |
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[[Image:SFHA logo145x145.gif|thumb|200px|Seal of the San Francisco Housing Authority]] |
[[Image:SFHA logo145x145.gif|thumb|200px|Seal of the San Francisco Housing Authority]] |
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In March of 1976, Moscone appointed Jones to the Human Rights Commission. <ref>Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. ''[[Raven (book)| Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People]]''. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 268-69.</ref> Without telling his aides, Jones declined the appointment, feeling it was a lateral move since he had served on such a commission in Indiana in the 1960s.<ref>Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. ''[[Raven (book)| Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People]]''. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 268-69.</ref> The aides of Moscone and Jones then scrambled to tell the media that Jones and Moscone were working on an alternative appointment.<ref>Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. ''[[Raven (book)| Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People]]''. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 268-69.</ref> |
In March of 1976, Moscone appointed Jones to the Human Rights Commission. <ref>Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. ''[[Raven (book)| Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People]]''. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 268-69.</ref> Without telling his aides, just minutes before being sworn in, Jones declined the appointment, feeling it was a lateral move since he had served on such a commission in Indiana in the 1960s.<ref>Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. ''[[Raven (book)| Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People]]''. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 268-69.</ref> The aides of Moscone and Jones then scrambled to tell the media that Jones and Moscone were working on an alternative appointment.<ref>Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. ''[[Raven (book)| Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People]]''. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 268-69.</ref> |
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Thereafter, Moscone appointed Jones as a member of the San Francisco Housing Authority Commission.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/jonestown/filmmore/pt.html ''Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple'']. PBS.org.</ref> After Jones' name appeared on the appointment list, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors requested that all potential appointees should receive background checks.<ref name="kinsolving"/> Moscone then turned the matter over to a nominating committee that included Temple member Michael Prokes and Temple supporter Dr. Carlton Goodlett.<ref>Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. ''[[Raven (book)| Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People]]''. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 268-69.</ref><ref name="kinsolving"/> The committee approved Jones' appointment.<ref name="kinsolving"/> When potential resistance arose to Jones appointment, Willie Brown introduced legislation that would have stripped the Board of Supervisors of its power over the appointment.<ref name="kinsolving"/> Wishing to maintain the status quo, the Board unanimously approved Jones' appointment.<ref name="kinsolving"/> |
Thereafter, Moscone appointed Jones as a member of the San Francisco Housing Authority Commission.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/jonestown/filmmore/pt.html ''Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple'']. PBS.org.</ref> After Jones' name appeared on the appointment list, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors requested that all potential appointees should receive background checks.<ref name="kinsolving"/> Moscone then turned the matter over to a nominating committee that included Temple member Michael Prokes and Temple supporter Dr. Carlton Goodlett.<ref>Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. ''[[Raven (book)| Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People]]''. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 268-69.</ref><ref name="kinsolving"/> The committee approved Jones' appointment.<ref name="kinsolving"/> When potential resistance arose to Jones appointment, Willie Brown introduced legislation that would have stripped the Board of Supervisors of its power over the appointment.<ref name="kinsolving"/> Wishing to maintain the status quo, the Board unanimously approved Jones' appointment.<ref name="kinsolving"/> |
Revision as of 05:44, 20 September 2008
The Peoples Temple is best known for the purported mass suicide of over 900 of its members in Jonestown, the greatest single loss of American civilian life in a non-natural disaster until the incidents of September 11, 2001. Those events included the murder of, among others, Congressman Leo Ryan, the first and only Congressman murdered in the line of duty in the history of the United States.
In response to investigations, leader Jim Jones claimed that the defectors were lying, and the outside world was conspiring to destroy the Temple because it followed a communist philosophy. In July of 1977, Jones fled with almost 1,000 Temple members to Jonestown, Guyana
Unlike most cults, the Temple maintained significant political alliances at local, national and international levels in the years before its ultimate demise. While support waned after investigations began into Temple activities and unfavorable news stories were published, the Temple continued to enjoy some political support.
Peoples Temple background
The Peoples Temple was an organization founded in 1955 by Reverend James Warren Jones (Jim Jones) that, by the mid-1970s, possessed over a dozen locations in California, including in San Francisco and Los Angeles.[1][2] It practiced what it called "apostolic socialism."[1]
The Temple distinguished itself from most cults with its overtly political message. [3] It participated in political processes and formed political alliances, not just for the sake of expediency, but also out of genuine political sympathies.[3] As the social direction of the Temple became more openly socialist, it depended more upon the political world.[3] Jones made it known that he was interested in politics and former press secretary to Mayor George Moscone Corey Buscher stated that Jones "made his followers available to support progressive democratic candidates,"[4] though Jones had earlier also had supported at least some local Mendocino County Republicans.[5] However, like other leftist organizations of the time, the Temple played a double game of working underground among progressive circles, assuming the political establishment consisted of "corrupt enemies", while working publicly in traditional channels to advance its own cause.[5]
The Temple had 3,000 registered members, though it regularly drew 3,000 members to its San Francisco services alone, whether or not these were registered members.[6][7] Some more recent accounts state the effective membership numbered perhaps 8,000.[8] Of particular interest to politicians was the Temple's ability to produce 2,000 people for work or attendance in San Francisco with only six hours notice.[9]
In that regard, Buscher explained that, soon after the San Francisco office of the Temple opened, it "became common knowledge that if you were going to run for office in San Francisco, and your constituency included the black, the young or the poor, you'd better have Jones in your corner."[10] Buscher stated that Jones offered thousands of "foot soldiers" willing to walk precincts and get out the vote, which was "an offer no politician in his right mind could refuse."[11] Similarly, San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos stated that "If you were having a rally for a presidential candidate, you needed to fill up the crowd, you could always get busloads from Jim Jones' church." [12] Agar Jaicks, who was chairman of the county Democratic Central Committee, the governing body of the Democratic Party in San Francisco, referred to the Temple as a "a ready-made volunteer workforce." [8] Jaicks further explained that Jones was "a man who touched a component of the consensus power forces in the city, such as labor and ethnicity groups, and he was very strong in the Western Addition. So here was a guy who could provide workers for causes progressives cared about."[8]
Introductions
Former California State Assemblyman Willie Brown first met Jones at Bardellis in Union Square.[13] Later, Jones sent Temple member Michael Prokes to Brown's office to interview Brown, future Distirct Attorney Joseph Freitas and future Sheriff Richard Hongisto for a documentary the Temple was making called "Miracles."[14]
Those political connections would help further Jones' political career. In 1975, Brown helped to bring together Mayor George Moscone and the Peoples Temple, which later led to Jones appointment as chairman of the San Francisco Housing Authority Commission.[15]
Involvement in Moscone's 1975 mayoral race
George Moscone faced a tough mayoral race against John Barbagelata. During the election, Moscone held a meeting with Jones and Peoples Temple member Michael Prokes requesting Temple volunteers for campaign work.[16][note 1] Temple members also saturated San Francisco neighborhoods, distributing slate cards for Moscone, Joseph Freitas, who was running for district attorney and Richard Hongisto, who was running for Sheriff.[8] All three won, with Moscone winning a close runoff by under two percent of the vote.[17][8]
After the election, Moscone and others believed that votes and campaign efforts by Temple members were instrumental in Moscone's close victory. [18] Barbagelata and others suspected election fraud, including that from alleged voting by Temple members that were not San Francisco citizens.[7] He died in 1994 believing that Moscone's victory had been the work of Peoples Temple members bussed in from out of town. [18]
After the tragedy at Jonestown, Temple members revealed to the New York Times that the Temple arranged for "busloads" of members to be bussed from Redwood Valley to San Francisco to vote in the election.[19] A former Temple member stated that many of those members were not registered to vote in San Francisco, while another former member said "Jones swayed elections."[19] Another former Temple member stated of Jones that "he told us how to vote." [19] She stated that Temple members were required to produce booth stubs to prove that they voted, and members that could not produce such stubs were "pushed around, shoved and physically abused."[19] When asked how Jones could know for whom they voted, the member responded "You don't understand, we wanted to do what he told us to."[19]
San Francisco District Attorney Freitas set up a special unit to investigate election fraud charges. He named Temple member Timothy Stoen, whom he had hired as a Assistant District Attorney, to lead the unit.[20][16] Stoen employed Temple members as volunteers to help with work on the investigation.[21] The Temple was not mentioned in the proceedings that followed.[16] After the tragedy, Stoen, who turned against the Temple in 1977, stated that he was not aware at the time of voter fraud but that it could have happened without his knowledge because "Jim Jones kept a lot of things from me."[19] A transcription of a phone conversation with Prokes one month later stated "Moscone acknowledges in essence that we won him the election" and that "he promises J. an appointment."[16]
Help with Milk's 1976 race for the California State Assembly
Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Harvey Milk first became acquainted with the Temple while running for a seat in the California State Assembly against Art Agnos. Jim Jones initially telephoned a Milk campaign worker and stated that he wished to back Milk, apologized for earlier backing Agnos and said he would "make up for it" by sending volunteers to work on Milk's campaign.[22] When told by friend Michael Wong of Jones' earlier backing of Agnos, Milk retorted "Well, fuck him. I'll take his workers, but that's the game Jim Jones plays."[23] Temple member Sharon Amos organized the Temple's leafletting campaign for Milk. [24] Amos requested the delivery of 30,000 pamphlets and Milk's campaign delivered them to the Temple.[23]
Jones' appointment as Chairman of the San Francisco Housing Authority Commission
In March of 1976, Moscone appointed Jones to the Human Rights Commission. [25] Without telling his aides, just minutes before being sworn in, Jones declined the appointment, feeling it was a lateral move since he had served on such a commission in Indiana in the 1960s.[26] The aides of Moscone and Jones then scrambled to tell the media that Jones and Moscone were working on an alternative appointment.[27]
Thereafter, Moscone appointed Jones as a member of the San Francisco Housing Authority Commission.[28] After Jones' name appeared on the appointment list, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors requested that all potential appointees should receive background checks.[16] Moscone then turned the matter over to a nominating committee that included Temple member Michael Prokes and Temple supporter Dr. Carlton Goodlett.[29][16] The committee approved Jones' appointment.[16] When potential resistance arose to Jones appointment, Willie Brown introduced legislation that would have stripped the Board of Supervisors of its power over the appointment.[16] Wishing to maintain the status quo, the Board unanimously approved Jones' appointment.[16]
After lobbying by Moscone's office, Jones was soon named Chairman of the Commission.[30] At the time, Moscone stated that Jones was a "peacemaker . . . who had the ability to work with people." [31] In July of 1977, after investigations into the Temple had begun, Moscone defended the appointment stating Jones was "both sensitive and realistic. From everything I've seen, he's been a good chairman." [32]
Jones' most notable accomplishment on the Commission was to lead the fight for a period against the eviction by the Four Seas Corporation of impoverished residents of the famous International Hotel. [33] With Jones as Chairman, the Housing Authority voted to acquire the building using $1.3 million in federal funds and then to turn the it over to tenants rights groups.[33] When a court rejected that plan and ordered the evictions in January of 1977, the Temple provided two thousand of the five thousand people surrounding the building, barricading the doors and chanting "No, no, no evictions!"[33] Sheriff Richard Hongisto, a political ally of Jones, refused to execute the eviction order, which resulted in Hongisto being held in contempt and serving five days in his own jail.[33]
Activities at the Peoples Temple
George Moscone
In addition to receiving assistance during his 1975 election, Moscone also attended functions at the Peoples Temple, including a 1976 testimonial dinner for Jim Jones.[34] At another testimonial dinner when Jones garnered huge applause from the thousands attending, Moscone stated "you know I’m smarter than to give a speech after listening to Reverend Jim Jones" and "there are two people I’m glad I’m not running against, Cecil Williams and Jim Jones".[35]
Jones used his relationship with Moscone to intimidate potentially disagreeable Temple members. For example, former Temple member Deborah Layton stated that her thoughts of running away were quashed by Jones' threats, including his statement: "Don't think you can get away with bad-mouthing this church. Mayor Moscone is my friend and he'll support my efforts to seek you out and destroy you."[36]
Harvey Milk
After Harvey Milk's initial introduction to the Temple during his 1976 state assembly race, Milk felt that Temple members were odd and dangerous. When a Milk aide became wary of the Temple's large and imposing security force following a delivery of election pamphlets, Milk cautioned the aide "Make sure you're always nice to the Peoples Temple. If they ask you to do something, do it, and then send them a note thanking them for asking you to do it. They're weird and they're dangerous, and you never want to be on their bad side."[23][note 2] Jim Rivaldo, a political consultant and associate of Milk's said that, after later meetings at the Temple, he and Milk agreed that "there was something creepy about it."[37]
Milk did speak at political rallies at the Temple.[38] Rivaldo, who attended Temple meetings with Milk , explained that, until Jonestown, the church "was a community of people who appeared to be looking out for each other, improving their lives."[37]
Milk was enthusiastically received at the Temple several times during his visits, and he always sent glowing thank-you notes to Jones after visits.[37] For example, following one visit, Milk wrote to Jones: "Rev Jim, It may take me many a day to come back down from the high that I reach today. I found something dear today. I found a sense of being that makes up for all the hours and energy placed in a fight. I found what you wanted me to find. I shall be back. For I can never leave."[37][39] In a hand-written note, Milk wrote to Jones "my name is cut into stone in support of you - and your people."[16]
Willie Brown
By mid-1977, Willie Brown had visited the Temple perhaps a dozen times, some by invitation and some on his own.[40][41] In an interview of Jim Jones by Willie Brown for a television show about the Peoples Temple, Brown stated "You've managed to make the many peoples associated with the Peoples Temple a part of a family. If you're in need of health care, you GET health care. If you're in need of legal assistance of some sort, you get that. If you're in need of transportation, you get that."[42]
Willie Brown, Governor Jerry Brown, Lieutenant Governor Mervyn Dymally, District Attorney Joseph Freitas and Republican State Senator Milton Marks, among others, attended a large testimonial dinner in Jim Jones' honor in September of 1976.[43][44] Brown served as master of ceremonies and introduced Jones, stating "Let me present to you what you should see every day when you look in the mirror in the early morning hours ... Let me present to you a combination of Martin King, Angela Davis, Albert Einstein ... Chairman Mao."[45][46][47] At another testimonial dinner, Brown introduced Jones, referring to him as "a young man came upon the scene, became an inspiration for a whole lot of people. He’s done fantastic things."[48]
While Brown praised Jones, socialist Jones detested Brown for his sports cars, clothes and women.[49] During one of Brown's addresses at the Temple, Jones sat behind Brown and flipped his middle finger into the air.[49]
Investigation
In 1977, the Temple came under increasing media scrutiny. In July of 1977, just before New West Magazine published an investigatory piece alleging criminal activity by the Temple, Mayor Moscone urged an ally that was the Chairman of the Board of a large department store to call friends at the magazine to inquire about the contents of the article.[50] Jones fled to Guyana the night that the contents of the article to be published were read to Jones over the phone.[51][52]
After Jones' flight to Jonestown amidst the allegations of criminal wrongdoing, San Francisco Supervisor Quentin Kopp demanded that Moscone and District Attorney Joseph Freitas launch an investigation into the Temple's activities.[53] Moscone's office issued a press release stating "The Mayor's Office does not and will not conduct any investigation" because the article was "a series of allegations with absolutely no hard evidence that the Rev. Jones has violated any laws, either local, state or federal."[54][55]
District Attorney Freitas stated that his investigation turned up "no evidence of criminal wrongdoing."[56] Previously, Freitas had visited the Temple multiple times and, after his 1975 election, had hired Temple member Timothy Stoen as an assistant district attorney.[57] Following the publication of media reports alleging criminal wrongdoing, Guyanese Minister of State Kit Nasciemento contacted Freitas and was told that the case against Jones was closed. [58]
After the exodus
Most politicians broke ties with Jones in July of 1977 after allegations of criminal wrongdoing and cult activity, and Jones' flight to Jonestown.[59] Harvey Milk and Willie Brown did not. Brown stated that the attacks were "a measure of the church’s effectiveness."[60]
On July 31, 1977, just after Jones had fled to Guyana, the Temple conducted a rally against political opponents attended by Willie Brown, Harvey Milk and Art Agnos, among others.[61] At that rally, Brown stated "When somebody like Jim Jones comes on the scene...and constantly stresses the need for freedom of speech and equal justice under law for all people, that absolutely scares the hell out of most everybody...I will be here when you are under attack, because what you are about is what the whole system ought to be about!"[62][16] Brown also stated of Jones at the rally that "[h]e is a rare human being" and "he cares about people...Rev. Jim Jones is that person who can be helpful when all appears to be lost and hope is just about gone."[49][16]
On February 19, 1978, nine months before the tragedy at Jonestown, Milk wrote a letter to President Jimmy Carter supporting Jones and making statements about Timothy and Grace Stoen, the leaders of those attempting to extricate relatives from Jonestown, including six year old John Stoen, about whom a custody dispute arisen.[63][64][65][66] Milk wrote "Rev. Jones is widely known in the minority communities and elsewhere as a man of the highest character."[63] Regarding the Stoens, Milk wrote "Timothy and Grace Stoen, the parties attempting to damage Rev. Jones reputation". Milk also wrote "[i]t is outrageous that Timothy Stoen could even think of flaunting this situation in front of Congressman with apparent bold-faced lies."[63] The letter ended with "Mr. President, the actions of Mr. Stoen need to be brought to a halt. It is offensive to most in the San Francisco community and all those who know Rev. Jones to see this kind of outrage taking place."[63][note 3]
Milk remained popular among temple members.[37] Two months before the tragedy Temple members sent over fifty letters of sympathy to Milk following the death of Milk's lover, Jack Lira. [24] The letters were formulaic and one typical letter ended, "You have our deepest sympathy in your loss and we would be glad to have you with us [in Jonestown], even for only a short visit."[37] Temple member Sharon Amos wrote "I had the opportunity in San Francisco when we were there to get to know you and thought very highly of your commitment to social actions and the betterment of your community." [24] She also wrote "I hope you will be able to visit us here sometime in Jonestown. Believe it or not, it is a tremendously sophisticated community, though it is in a jungle." [24][note 4]
Milk spoke at a service at the Temple for the last time in October 1978.[37]
After Congressman Leo Ryan announced that he would investigate Jonestown following the November 1978 elections, Willie Brown was still planning a fundraising dinner for the Temple that was to be held on December 2 1978.[67]
Aftermath
After the tragedy at Jonestown in November of 1978, Moscone defended his appointment of Jones, stating that, in 1975, Jones' reputation was that of a man who believed in social justice and racial equality, and that there was evidence that the Peoples Temple had initiated programs for drug and alcohol rehabilitation. [68] When asked by a reporter whether he felt in any way culpable for the events, Moscone became angry at the reporter and stated "I'm not taking any responsibility, it's not mine to shoulder."[69]
Milk stated that "Guyana was a great experiment that didn't work. I don't know, maybe it did." [70]
Because Milk and Moscone were both killed by Dan White nine days after the Jonestown tragedy and rumors persisted of purported Temple hit squads seeking to assassinate political figures, many in San Francisco initially believed that the murders of Moscone and Milk were connected to the Temple.[71] No evidence exists that White acted at the behest of Jones or the Temple.
Unlike most other politicians, Brown continued to praise Jones, feeling that attacks on Jones were attacks on the black community.[72] Brown initially stated he had "no regrets" over his past association the Temple and that he would not dissociate himself from it like other politicians. [73] "They all like to say, 'Forgive me, I was wrong', but that's bulls—t. It doesn't mean a thing now, it just isn't relevant."[74][72] Brown stated that his decision to speak at the Temple was "not a faulty decision at the time it was made, based on all the object factors at that time."[75] Brown later said "If we knew then he was mad, clearly we wouldn't have appeared with him."[8]
Others
Carter Administration
After Jones' rise to political prominence in San Francisco, the Temple began to establish contact with members of the administration of President Jimmy Carter before the 1976 United States presidential campaign. During that campaign, Jones and George Moscone met privately with Vice Presidential Candidate Walter Mondale on his campaign plane.[76][77] Likewise, First Lady Rosalynn Carter met Jones for a private dinner at the Stanford Court Hotel.[78] Mrs. Carter later called Jones personally.[79]
Jones and Mrs. Carter also both spoke at the 1976 grand opening of the San Francisco Democratic Party Headquarters.[80] Temple members packed the audience and Jones garnered louder applause when he spoke than Mrs. Carter.[80]
In 1976, Walter Mondale stated regarding the Temple that "knowing the congregations deep involvement in the major social and constitutional issues of our country . . . is a great inspiration to me."[81] Welfare Secretary Joseph Califano stated "your humanitarian principles and your interest in protecting individual liberty and freedom have made an outstanding contribution to furthering the cause of human dignity."[82] President Carter also sent a representative to a dinner at the Temple at which Jones and then Governor Jerry Brown spoke. [83]
In March of 1977, Jones dined with Rosalyn Carter at the head table at the Democratic National Convention.[84] Thereafter, Jones and Carter exchanged letters. [85] In a March 17, 1977 letter from Jones to Carter, Jones requested more aid for Cuba, then headed by Fidel Castro, whom Jones had earlier met with in Cuba.[86]
In a handwritten reply to Jones on White House stationary, Carter wrote "Your comments on Cuba have been helpful. I hope your suggestion can be acted on in the near future." [87] Carter also wrote that "I enjoyed being with you during the campaign -- and do hope you can meet Ruth soon", referring to her sister Ruth Stapleton.[88]
After the tragedy, both the House Committee on foreign Affairs and the State Department itself criticized the State Department's handling of the Temple.[89]
The Government of Guyana
Jones began cultivating relationships with Guyanese officials before the Temple created its settlement at Jonestown. In 1974, Government officials gave the Temple permission to import certain items "duty free." [90] Later payoffs to Guyanese customs officials helped safeguard shipments of firearms and drugs through Guyanese customs. [91] The large number of immigrants to Guyana overwhelmed the Guyanese government's small but stringent immigration infrastructure in a country where most people wanted to leave.[92] Jones worked out a deal to guarantee that Guyana would permit Temple members' mass migration. To do so, he stated that Temple members were "skilled and progressive", showed off an envelope he claimed had $500,000 and stated that he would invest most of the church's assets in Guyana.[92]
After the tragedy at Jonestown, Guyana's Prime Minister Forbes Burnham stated that Guyana allowed the Temple to operate in the manner it did on the references of Vice President Mondale, Rosalyn Carter and Mayor Moscone. [93] Burnham also said that when Deputy Minister Ptolemy Reid traveled to Washington in September of 1977 to sign the Panama Treaties, Mondale asked him "How's Jim?", which indicated to Reid that Mondale had a personal interest in Jones' well being.[93]
In 1976, Temple member Michael Prokes requested that Burnham receive Jones as a foreign dignitary along with other "high ranking U.S. officials."[94] Jones traveled to Guyana with Lieutenant Governor Mervyn Dymally, and met with Burhnam and Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Willis. [94] In that meeting, Dymally agreed to pass on the message to to the U.S. State Department that socialist Guyana wanted to keep an open door to cooperation with the United States.[94]
Temple members took pains to stress their loyalty to Burnham's Peoples National Congress Party.[95] Temple member Paula Adams was involved in a romantic relationship with Guyana's Ambassador to the United States, Laurence "Bonny" Mann.[96] [note 5]
After the tragedy at Jonestown, political opposition to Burnham seized the opportunity to embarrass Burnham by establishing an inquest which concluded that Burnham was responsible for the deaths at Jonestown. [97]
The Soviet Union, Cuba, North Korea and Yugoslavia
The Peoples Temple established ties with several counties that were communist in the 1960s and 1970s. Jones first traveled to Cuba in 1960.[98] Jones traveled there again in 1977, where he met with Huey Newton, who was teaching then at the University of Havanna.[94]
The Temple conducted frequent meetings with the embassies of the Soviet Union, North Korea, Yugoslavia and Cuba in Guyana.[99] Their negotiations with the Soviet Union included extensive discussions of possible resettlement there.[99][100] Amos, Prokes and other Temple members took active roles in the "Guyana-Korea Friendship Society", which sponsored two seminars on revolutionary concepts of North Korean leader Kim Il Sung.[101]
On October 2 1978, Feodor Timofeyev from the Soviet Union embassy in Guyana visited Jonestown for two days and gave a speech.[102] Jones stated before the speech that "For many years, we have let our sympathies be quite publicly known, that the United States government was not our mother, but that the Soviet Union was our spiritual motherland," which was followed by extended cheers and applause from the Jonestown crowd.[102][103] Timofeyev opened the speech stating that the USSR would like to send "our deepest and the most sincere greetings to the people of this first socialist and communist community of the United States of America, in Guyana and in the world," followed by cheers and applause from the crowd.[102][103]
On the day of the mass suicides in Jonestown, Jones directed Michael Prokes and two other Temple members to deliver to the Soviet Union embassy in Georgetown over $500,000 in cash and letters directing over $7 million of funds in bank accounts to be distributed to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. [104][105]. Some Temple members left wills stating that their property should be given to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, including Jones' wife Marceline.[106][107][108]
Mervyn Dymally
Former California Lieutenant Governor Mervyn Dymally both supported the Peoples Temple and flew to Jonestown in December of 1976. [109][80] One source told the Los Angeles Times that concerned relatives had approached Dymally to intercede on their behalf but that the Lieutenant Governor refused to do so. [110]
At a 1976 dinner thrown in Jim Jones honor attended by Governor Jerry Brown and others, Dymally stated that Jones was bringing together all ages and races and stated that "I am grateful he is showing an example not only in the U.S. but also in my former home territory, the Caribbean."[111] After a visit to Guyana in 1976, in a letter to Guyana President Forbes Burnham, Dymally wrote that Jones was "one of the finest human beings" and that Dymmally was "tremendously impressed" by his visit to Jonestown.[94] After the tragedy, Dymally stated that "the Jonestown project was just beginning and showed signs of hope."[112]
Jerry Brown
Former Governor Jerry Brown attended Temple events and spoke at the Temple. [113][8] Diane Feinstein, Moscone and a representative of President Jimmy Carter also attended that event at the Temple.[114] Before Jones' flight to Jonestown, preliminary consideration was given by the Brown administration to a statewide post for Jones. [115]
Jesse Jackson
Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson had met with Jones on several occasions.[116] Even after the tragedy Jackson refused to disparage Jones, stating that he still considered Jones to be a man that "worked for the people."[117] Jackson also stated "I would hope that all of the good he did will not be discounted because of this tremendous tragedy." [118]
Jackson praised Moscone for "not going on a diatribe against the Peoples Temple" and "blowing the whole thing out of proportion."[119]
Notes
- ^ Three months after the tragedy, Prokes fatally shot himself at a press conference he called in Modesto, California. ("Statement of Michael Prokes." Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple. San Diego State University: Jonestown Project. Accessed 22 September 2007)
- ^ The statements of Milk would be foreboding. Members of the Temple's security force, which Jones called the "Red Brigade", would later kill four people, including Congressman Leo Ryan and NBC reporter Don Harris, with rifles and shotguns at an airstrip just outside of Jonestown. (Hall, John R. Gone from the Promised Land: Jonestown in American Cultural History. 1989. ISBN 978-0887388019. p. 278). Several others, including future member of Congress Jackie Speier, were also wounded in that attack. (Reiterman, Tim and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. p. 525-32).
- ^ At Jonestown, John Stoen was found poisoned in Jim Jones' cabin. (Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1)
- ^ Amos later murdered her children with a knife at the behest of Jones in Georgetown, Guyana and subsequently committed suicide.(Tim Reiterman (1982) " Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People" ISBN 0-525-24136-1 pp. 544-5)
- ^ After the tragedy at Jonestown, Adams married Mann. (Weingarten, Gene. "The Peekaboo Paradox." The Washington Post. January 22, 2006). On October 24, 1983, Mann fatally shot both Adams and the couple's child, and then fatally shot himself.(Weingarten, Gene. "The Peekaboo Paradox." The Washington Post. January 22, 2006).
References
- ^ a b Wessinger, Catherine. How the Millennium Comes Violently: From Jonestown to Heaven's Gate. Seven Bridges Press, 2000. ISBN 978-1889119243.
- ^ Reiterman, Tim and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. p. 163-4.
- ^ a b c Reiterman, Tim and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. p. 280.
- ^ Los Angeles Herald Examiner, "The Political Pull of Jim Jones", November 21, 1978
- ^ a b Hall, John R. (1987). Gone from the Promised Land: Jonestown in American Cultural History. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. ISBN 0-88738-124-3. page 165
- ^ Hall, John R. "The Impact of Apostates on the Trajectory of Religious Movement: The Case of the Peoples Temple", in David G. Bromley (ed.) Falling from the Faith: Causes and Consequences of Religious Apostasy. Sage Publications, 1988. ISBN 0-8039-3188-3. page 234.
- ^ a b Hall, John R. (1987). Gone from the Promised Land: Jonestown in American Cultural History. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. ISBN 0-88738-124-3. page 166
- ^ a b c d e f g Taylor, Michael, "Jones Captivated S.F.'s Liberal Elite", San Francisco Chronicle, November 12, 1998
- ^ Lindsay, Robert. "How Rev. Jim Jones Gained His Power Over Followers." New York Times. 26 November 1978.
- ^ Los Angeles Herald Examiner, "The Political Pull of Jim Jones", November 21, 1978
- ^ Los Angeles Herald Examiner, "The Political Pull of Jim Jones", November 21, 1978
- ^ Richardson, James, Willie Brown A Biography, University of California Press, 1996, p. 250
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 269.
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 269.
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 266.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Kinsolving, Kathleen and Tom. "Madman in Our Midst: Jim Jones and the California Cover Up." 1998.
- ^ Hall, John R. (1987). Gone from the Promised Land: Jonestown in American Cultural History. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. ISBN 0-88738-124-3. page 167
- ^ a b Rapaport, Richard, Jonestown and City Hall slayings eerily linked in time and memory, San Francisco Chronicle, November 16, 2003
- ^ a b c d e f Crewdson, John, "Followers Say Jim Jones Directed Voting Frauds", New York Times, December 16, 1978
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 270.
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 270.
- ^ Shilts, Randy, The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk, St. Martin's Press. 1982 ISBN 0312523300, page 139
- ^ a b c Shilts, Randy, The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk, St. Martin's Press. 1982 ISBN 0312523300, page 139
- ^ a b c d Shilts, Randy, The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk, St. Martin's Press. 1982 ISBN 0312523300, page 234
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 268-69.
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 268-69.
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 268-69.
- ^ Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple. PBS.org.
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 268-69.
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 268-69.
- ^ Liebert, Larry, "What Politicians Say Now About Jones", San Francisco Chronicle, November 20, 1978
- ^ Johnson, Tom, "Politicians Try to Explain Ties To Jones, Washington Star Ledger (Time-Life News Service), November 23, 1978
- ^ a b c d Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 282-3.
- ^ Deborah Layton (1998) "Seductive Poison" ISBN 0-3854-8984-6 page 105
- ^ Transcript of Recovered FBI tape Q 784
- ^ Layton, Deborah. Seductive Poison. Anchor, 1999. ISBN 0-3854-8984-6. p. 65.
- ^ a b c d e f g VanDeCarr, Paul "Death of dreams: in November 1978, Harvey Milk's murder and the mass suicides at Jonestown nearly broke San Francisco's spirit.", The Advocate, November 25, 2003
- ^ "Another Day of Death." Time Magazine. 11 December 1978.
- ^ Sawyer, Mary My Lord, What a Mourning:’ Twenty Years Since Jonestown, Jonestown Institute at SDSU
- ^ Nancy Dooley & Tim Reiterman, "Jim Jones: Power Broker", San Francisco Examiner, August 7, 1977
- ^ Layton, Deborah. Seductive Poison. Anchor, 1999. ISBN 0-3854-8984-6. p. 105.
- ^ PBS, Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple, 2007
- ^ Layton, Deborah. Seductive Poison. Anchor, 1999. ISBN 0-3854-8984-6. page 105.
- ^ Tim Reiterman (1982) " Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People" ISBN 0-525-24136-1 page 307
- ^ Tim Reiterman (1982) " Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People" ISBN 0-525-24136-1 page 308
- ^ Layton, Deborah. Seductive Poison. Anchor, 1999. ISBN 0-3854-8984-6. p. 105.
- ^ Kinsolving, Kathleen and Tom. "Madman in Our Midst: Jim Jones and the California Cover Up." RickRoss.com. 1998.
- ^ Transcript of Recovered FBI tape Q 784
- ^ a b c Richardson, James, Willie Brown A Biography, University of California Press, 1996, p. 251
- ^ Los Angeles Herald Examiner, "The Political Pull of Jim Jones", November 21, 1978
- ^ Layton, Deborah. (1998) Seductive Poison. Anchor, 1999. ISBN 0-3854-8984-6. p. 113.
- ^ Kilduff, Marshall and Phil Tracy. "Inside Peoples Temple." Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple. Jonestown Project: San Diego State University. August 1, 1977.
- ^ Jacobs, John, "S.F's Leaders Recall Jones the Politician, San Francisco Examiner, November 20, 1978
- ^ Moore, Rebecca. A Sympathetic History of Jonestown. Lewiston: E. Mellen Press. ISBN 0-8894-6860-5. p. 143.
- ^ Los Angeles Herald Examiner, "The Political Pull of Jim Jones", November 21, 1978
- ^ Jacobs, John, "S.F's Leaders Recall Jones the Politician, San Francisco Examiner, November 20, 1978
- ^ Jacobs, John, "S.F's Leaders Recall Jones the Politician, San Francisco Examiner, November 20, 1978
- ^ Horrock, Nicholas M., "Mass Migration Violated Jones Agreement With Guyana", December 24, 1978
- ^ Liebert, Larry, "What Politicians Say Now About Jones", San Francisco Chronicle, November 20, 1978
- ^ Gelb, Leslie, "California Temple Under Fire", New York Times, October 17, 1977
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 327
- ^ Tim Reiterman (1982) " Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People" ISBN 0-525-24136-1 page 327
- ^ a b c d Milk, Harvey Letter Addressed to President Jimmy Carter, Dated February 19, 1978
- ^ Coleman, Loren, "The Copycat Effect", Simon & Schuster, 2004, page 68
- ^ Fishwick, Marshall, "Great Awakenings: Popular Religion and Popular Culture", Routledge, 1994, page 73
- ^ Reiterman, Tim and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1, page 315-16, 378-79 and 415-16
- ^ Richardson, James (1997). Willie Brown: A Biography. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0585249857.
- ^ Johnson, Tom, "Politicians Try to Explain Ties To Jones, Washington Star Ledger (Time-Life News Service), November 23, 1978
- ^ Burns, Jerry, "Willie Brown Defends Former Ties to Rev. Jones", San Francisco Chronicle, November 21, 1978
- ^ Crewdson, John, "Harvey Milk, Led Coast Homosexual Right Fight", New York Times, November 28, 1978
- ^ Rapaport, Richard, Jonestown and City Hall slayings eerily linked in time and memory, San Francisco Chronicle, November 16, 2003
- ^ a b Richardson, James, Willie Brown A Biography, University of California Press, 1996, p. 252
- ^ Johnson, Tom, "Politicians Try to Explain Ties To Jones, Washington Star Ledger (Time-Life News Service), November 23, 1978
- ^ Burns, Jerry, "Willie Brown Defends Former Ties to Rev. Jones", San Francisco Chronicle, November 21, 1978
- ^ Burns, Jerry, "Willie Brown Defends Former Ties to Rev. Jones", San Francisco Chronicle, November 21, 1978
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 302.
- ^ Deborah Layton (1998) "Seductive Poison" ISBN 0-3854-8984-6 page 103
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 304.
- ^ Jim Jones, "Transcript of Recovered FBI tape Q 799." Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple. Jonestown Project: San Diego State University.
- ^ a b c Kilduff, Marshall and Phil Tracy. "Inside Peoples Temple." New West Magazine. 1 August 1977 (hosted at Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple. Jonestown Project: San Diego State University).
- ^ Los Angeles Times, "First Lady Among Cult's References; Mondale and Califano also listed", November 21, 1978
- ^ Los Angeles Times, "First Lady Among Cult's References; Mondale and Califano also listed", November 21, 1978
- ^ Mehren, Elizabeth, "Politicians Defend Associations With Jones", Oakland Tribune, November 21, 1978
- ^ Layton, Deborah. Seductive Poison. Anchor, 1999. ISBN 0-3854-8984-6. p. 53.
- ^ Los Angeles Times, "Mrs. Carter Reveals Jim Jones Letters", November 21, 1978
- ^ Los Angeles Times, "Mrs. Carter Reveals Jim Jones Letters", November 21, 1978
- ^ Los Angeles Times, "Mrs. Carter Reveals Jim Jones Letters", November 21, 1978
- ^ Los Angeles Times, "Mrs. Carter Reveals Jim Jones Letters", November 21, 1978
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 576.
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 275.
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 418.
- ^ a b Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 337.
- ^ a b Moore, Rebecca. A Sympathetic History of Jonestown. Lewiston: E. Mellen Press. ISBN 0-8894-6860-5. p. 173-4.
- ^ a b c d e Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 285.
- ^ Hall, John R. (1987). Gone from the Promised Land: Jonestown in American Cultural History. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. ISBN 0-88738-124-3. page 195
- ^ Reiterman, Tim and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. pages 274-5 & 418.
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 576.
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 62.
- ^ a b Moore, Rebecca. A Sympathetic History of Jonestown. Lewiston: E. Mellen Press. ISBN 0-8894-6860-5. p. 165.
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 423.
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 416.
- ^ a b c Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 446.
- ^ a b Jones, Jim. "Transcript of Recovered FBI tape Q 352." Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple. Jonestown Project: San Diego State University.
- ^ Reiterman, Tim and John Jacobs, Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People, Dutton, 1982, ISBN 0-525-24136-1, pp 561-580
- ^ "Letter to Feodor Timofeyev." Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple, Jonestown Project: San Diego State University
- ^ "Letter from Marceline Jones." Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple. Jonestown Project: San Diego State University.
- ^ "Letter from Maria Katsaris." Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple. Jonestown Project: San Diego State University.
- ^ "Letter from Carolyn Layton." Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple. Jonestown Project: San Diego State University.
- ^ Los Angeles Times, "S.F. Temple Active in Politics", November 21, 1978
- ^ Los Angeles Times, "S.F. Temple Active in Politics", November 21, 1978
- ^ Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. page 306-8.
- ^ Los Angeles Times, "S.F. Temple Active in Politics", November 21, 1978
- ^ Johnson, Tom, "Politicians Try to Explain Ties To Jones, Washington Star Ledger (Time-Life News Service), November 23, 1978
- ^ Mehren, Elizabeth, "Politicians Defend Associations With Jones", Oakland Tribune, November 21, 1978
- ^ Los Angeles Times, "S.F. Temple Active in Politics", November 21, 1978
- ^ Los Angeles Times, "Jones 'Concern For The Despaired' Cited", November 21, 1978
- ^ Los Angeles Times, "Jones 'Concern For The Despaired' Cited", November 21, 1978
- ^ Los Angeles Times, "Jones 'Concern For The Despaired' Cited", November 21, 1978
- ^ Los Angeles Times, "Jones 'Concern For The Despaired' Cited", November 21, 1978