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Peoples Temple Collection; Box 8, Virtual item 12, Q158-Part 1- News and commentary (late August, 1978)

 Digital Record
Identifier: ms-0183_8.12 Part 1

Dates

  • Digitized: late August, 1978

Creator

Summary Note

In connection with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 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. On May 24, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B68-8. This tape was found to contain the following: JIM JONES broadcasting the morning news to include topics such as the revolution in Iran, a spy ring in Germany, ghettos, PATRICIA HEARST, Rhodesia, and Prime Minister BURNHAM. This tape was reviewed, and nothing was contained thereon which was considered to be of evidentiary nature or beneficial to the investigation of Congressman RYAN. Jones begins the broadcast with the observation that this is “the only news that we get,” an observation which allows him to insert comments which cannot be challenged by any other news source. It also allows him to focus on the news on nuclear weapons-related issues which correspond with his vision of an approaching holocaust. In discussing the upcoming talks between Egypt and Israel at Camp David, for example, he quotes King Hussein of Jordan as saying “a failure at the Camp David talks will lead to Arab government failures and leftists takeover,” then adds more ominously, “What happens in Camp David … could very well affect whether or not the war will have nuclear World War III.” Full summary of the recording available at Alternative Considerations of Jonestown website, along with the tape transcript.

Rights Statement Note

The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine.  Requests for permission to publish must be submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.

Physical Description Note

Original audio cassette tape recording digitized and made available as .mp3 audio file.

Publisher Note

Publisher: The Jonestown Institute

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections & University Archives Repository

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