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Biker Gangs cut/paste url to see web site Hell's Angels M.C. "Three can keep a secret, if two are dead" Hell's Angels.Com <http://www.hells-angels.com/> Big Red Machine <http://www.bigredmachine.com> Hell's Angels Forever <http://www.hellsangelsforever.com/> Free Wheels <http://www.free-wheels.com/> Hell's Angels Daly City <http://www.hamcdc.com/> Hell's Angels Alaska <http://www.hamcaa.50megs.com/> Hell's Angels Sweden <http://www.hells-angels.se/> Hell's Angels Denmark <http://www.hells-angels.dk/> Hell's Angels Germany <http://hells-angels.de/> Outlaws "God Forgives, Outlaws Don't" Outlaws M.C. (dot com) <http://www.outlawsmc.com/> Outlaws Buffalo <http://www.outlawsmc.com/buffalo.htm> Outlaws Chicago <http://www.outlawsmc.com/chicago.html> Outlaws Indianapolis <http://www.indianapolisoutlaws.com/> Outlaws Daytona <http://www.outlawsdaytona.com/> Outlaws Jacksonville <http://www.outlawsjacksonville.com/> Outlaws Dayton <http://www.outlawsdayton.com/> Outlaws Massachusetts <http://www.outlaws-massachusetts.com/> Outlaws Australia <http://www.outlawsmc.com.au/> Outlaws Europe <http://www.outlawsmc.co.uk/> Rock Machine M.C. Rock Machine M.C. <http://www.rockmachinemc.net/> Bandidos "We are the people that our parents warned us about." Bandidos U.S.A. <http://www.bandidosmc.cc/USA/ushome.htm> Bandidos Australia <http://www.bandidosmc.dk/AUSTRALIA/auhome.htm> Bandidos Europe <http://www.bandidosmc.dk/EUROPE/euhome.html> Satan's Choice M.C. Your Side, My Side & The Truth <http://www.welcome.to/bernieguindonthebook>
The Manson Girl Info Center Cut and paste to see web site This site was set up as a source of information about the group of people known as the "Manson girls." Many people who know Charles Manson is, but the women who followed him are often depicted as nameless, faceless zombies. I have set up this site to try to establish their identities and perhaps shed some light on why they chose to pledge their allegiance to such a man. Please note that this site is not "pro-Manson" nor is it out to condemn anyone. It is simply here as a source of information. Susan Atkins <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/sadie.htm> Ella Jo Bailey <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/ella.html> Susan Bartell <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/sue.html> Mary Brunner <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/mary.html> Madaline Cottage <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/patty.html> Lynette Fromme <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/squeaky.html> Catherine Gillies <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/cappy.html> Sandra Good <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/sandy.html> Barbara Hoyt <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/barbara.html> Linda Kasabian <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/linda.html> Patricia Krenwinkel <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/katie.html> Diane Lake <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/snake.html> Kathryn Lutesinger <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/kitty.html> Ruth Ann Moorehouse <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/ouisch.html> Nancy Pitman <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/brenda.html> Barbara Rosenberg <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/bo.html> Stephanie Schram <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/stephanie.html> Catherine Share <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/gypsy.html> Leslie Van Houten <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/leslie.html> Charlie makes the medical journals <http://charliesfamily.tripod.com/journal.html>
Manson�s Right-Hand Man Speaks Out! A riveting, 200-question interview With X-Manson family member Charles "Tex" Watson Dedication This book is dedicated to Kristin Watson, my darling friend, lover, and wife. Thank you for dedicating your life to God and for laying down your life as my partner in the gospel. Because of your trust in God, He has used you to patiently minister to my life through all of our painful trials. You have been an example of God�s love through sacrificial living, while sharing my vision that God�s plan is greater than my past. Acknowledgments We would like to thank those of you who have participated in this project. Many people have helped to make it successful. First, the many clergymen, radio personalities, video interviewers, and others who have helped to generate the questions for the following interview; we are deeply grateful for your stand that everyone�s life has redeeming value. Our thanks to the many high school and college students who due to assigned reports, have had to ask us countless questions about the Manson family and the murders. Hopefully this interview will be of help to you. We did it with you in mind. God�s best to you. Lastly, our thanks to Pat, Cheryl, and Karen who have spent many hours at the computer editing this project. May God�s richest blessings be upon you all for your commitment to the work of the ministry. Preface It was the summer of love, 1967, when a young, 21 year-old All-American Texas kid dropped out of college and left his family for California. Two years later his name and participation in the Manson murders would make headlines around the world, Charles "Tex" Watson, Mass-Murderer. Stories are often told of young people in rebellion who run away from their families, not able to deal with their pain in a positive way. Sadly, many of these youngsters don�t live to tell their stories as Charles Watson has, so their lives can�t be a lesson for the families of other rebellious children. The life of Charles Watson was a failure in California. He enrolled in college to finish his senior year, but dropped out in order to make a living instead. Soon he allowed rebellion to take over. When he accidentally met up with Manson, his life went downhill fast. The effects of his sin - drugs, illicit sex, and joining the Manson family - were not his root problem, rather his own willful, deluded self-rebellion. Charles Manson was a loser many times over. He was the son of a prostitute. He lacked a proper education, but was self-taught in many subjects during his years in prison. He was a master of disguise. He learned how to manipulate people with his charismatic personality. Slowly, he gathered his followers, mostly girls, along with a few faithful men. Charles Watson became one of these followers in 1968 - Manson�s right-hand man. Manson used a cult mentality, drugs, music, psychology, Scientology, sorcery and a combination of mystical skills to beguile his followers so that they would be willing to kill, and give their lives for him. To this day, Manson has followers around the world who carry his message of hate, deception and destruction forward. After the murders in 1969, Watson turned from Manson and returned to his family as a prodigal son. He has used his many years in prison productively. The interview you are about to read is one project in which he felt it necessary to be involved. Never attempting to shift blame from himself, he hopes to share new insights into the Manson madness, and to share positive solutions to problems in society, including victim mentality, the death penalty, prison reform and forgiveness. He prays that many will learn and be touched by these efforts. Table of Contents Chapter 1 Manson 1 Chapter 2 The Cult 11 Chapter 3 The Drugs 22 Chapter 4 The Music 33 Chapter 5 The Crime 51 Chapter 6 The Victims 65 Chapter 7 The Death Penalty 76 Chapter 8 Forgiveness 94 Chapter 9 Prisoners 111 Chapter 10 Salvation 128 Epilogue 141 Apendix 146 Chapter 1 MANSON Q: Would you rather be called Tex or Charles? Charles will be okay. I was only called �Tex� for the year I was with the Manson family, then the news media picked it up and it stuck. When people call me that, it�s like they�re talking to someone else. Not me! People recognize the name �Tex� Watson, so the nickname is used only as a testimony. Q: Why did you agree to this interview? Well, usually when people ask questions, I just tell them to read my book, Will You Die For Me? or Bugliosi�s book Helter Skelter. A person can get a lot of answers that way, but by giving this interview, I think I can probably offer some new insights after three decades. I still get letters all the time from students doing research and from inquiring minds. But whatever the motive, I feel an obligation to offer some explanation for these senseless crimes. I can possibly offer some answers so others won�t end up like me, following some cult leader as a way to find approval, acceptance and appreciation. You�re right. I was raised in a fine famQ: Is Bugliosi�s book, Helter Skelter, fairly accurate? Yeah, 85%, for what it covers, especially on Manson�s philosophy, since he interviewed so many people close to Manson. But I feel my book gives a better inside account of what was going on, not strictly from the prosecution�s point of view. Q: How did you meet Manson? I�m sure most people have heard of the group, the Beach Boys. Well, in 1968, I picked up their drummer, Dennis Wilson. He was hitchhiking on Sunset Boulevard because he had wrecked both of his cars. He introduced himself, and of course, I was starry-eyed; a 22-year-old greenhorn from Texas who couldn�t believe one of the Beach Boys was asking me to come into his house for a cup of coffee. It didn�t take me long to say, �Groovy, man!� I walked into Dennis� log cabin-style mansion and I was very impressed. Dennis introduced me to an old white-bearded man named Dean, who smiled and said, �You�ve got to meet Charlie!� It seemed like everybody I met who knew Charlie, worshipped him! Dean showed me into the living room. Dennis had already relaxed on the couch and was listening to Charlie�s music. So, Dean and I joined them as a couple of the girls served us sandwiches and coffee. It was like the girls were slaves, and the men were kings meant to be served. There was this big chunk of hashish on the coffee table. As we smoked it and listened to Manson�s love songs, I began to see why people looked up to Charlie. As he smiled at me, it seemed he could see right into me. It was like love filled the air. I left that night on cloud nine. I�m sure the hash had a great deal to do with it, but I couldn�t believe what had just happened and couldn�t wait to come back. Sure enough, Dennis asked me to come back anytime. I don�t know if I was more impressed with Charlie or Dennis. Q: What was Manson really like back then? He was much different back then, than he is today. If I met him back then, as he is today, I�d run from him, scared for my life. Back then, he was much younger of course, with deceptive charisma. In my book, I think I described him as �always changing�; his movements, his appearance, his dress, becoming someone new everyday - rock star, guru, devil, son of God, even a child. He was a magician and a charmer. He was aware, almost catlike. His eyes were hypnotic having the ability to psyche you out immediately. I feel it was because of the drugs and the philosophies he had studied, but he was much more �aware� than we were. In reality, we empowered him by giving him our lives. We were young, rebellious, and even angry inside. I blamed my parents for everything going wrong instead of taking responsibility for my own choices. I was looking for love, identity, direction and acceptance. At the same time I was very na�ve, a �people-pleaser,� in fear of failure with no sound belief system. He seemed to have the answers in some strange way. But believe me, he was just as lost as the rest of us. We were deceived! Q: What drew you to Manson, and what kept you there? Of course, we�ve already touched on this a little, but it seemed the more we gave of ourselves to Manson and his philosophy, and the more we invested, the harder it was to leave. I did leave the family once, thinking I was losing my mind, and not willing to give up my life for him. This happened on December 1, 1968. I�d been trying to prove myself to Manson for a couple of months, with little success. He made it hard. We went to Topanga Canyon Lane to see a friend, where we heard the Beatles� �White Album� for the first time. His interpretation of the album took off. I had already made up my mind to run away from him while in town, so I called a friend to come and pick me up. I sneaked away and stayed gone for at least 3 months, then something drew me back. It�s a long story, but while I was away, he came up with the Helter Skelter philosophy. What drew me to him? I�m not sure. It had everything to do with my own weaknesses. I think the world of psychiatry would call it codependency. In reality, I had needs that only God could meet. When I left Manson, it seemed like I was running from the answer for my life, because Charlie seemed to know all my weaknesses and the things I needed to give up. Charlie desired our very life, laying it down for him. Only, I was not willing to give it up. I could have chosen to return to Texas or go back to Hollywood and live with my friend, but my pride wouldn�t let me. And it seems like I was blinded, taken in and surrounded by some strange force desiring my very soul. The more drugs I took and the more I totally gave myself to Manson�s beliefs, the more it seemed I was getting somewhere. For sure, there was something evil about it all. The vocabulary seemed to be centered around a very dark reality: dying, death and destruction. Q: How long were you with Manson? I was only with Manson for nine months. In late August 1968, I didn�t have a place to live, so Dean and I moved to Spahn�s Ranch, alongside a dry creek bed in a tent. This is where we started earning our way into the family. Dean didn�t make it because he was too old. I stayed for three months until December, then ran away for three months. I then went back to the family for the six months before the crime, in August. Shortly after the murders, while living in the desert, I ran away from Manson again in a state of confusion, shock and disbelief. Finally, I went back to Texas, extremely depressed. It was like going into another world. Q: Charles, you were raised a lot differently than Manson. Can you tell me about your upbringing? ily with lofty goals. I was raised going to church, only it didn�t take. I don�t like to blow my own horn, but I was an honor student, a star athlete and almost a college graduate. But at the same time, I had this void in my life that I�ve spoken about, a need that could only be satisfied spiritually. I was mixed up. I wasn�t in my right mind and I feared failure, running from my wonderful parents and family. I traded them for a bunch of lost, mischievous souls. Q: How did Manson manipulate his followers? Manson simply played on our weaknesses. It was like he could see through you with the all-encompassing eye of God. For example, if we had an acceptance hang-up and he could see that we did not feel accepted in the family, he and longstanding members would make it harder for us to be accepted. This way we would try harder, even murder. There was much peer pressure among family members and at the same time, none of us had good identities, so he gave us new ones. That�s when I became �Tex.� Even though his music only sounded good while on drugs, it and the drugs were used to charm us; programming us with his philosophy, turning us from any previous values to very evil ones. Manson�s goal was to free us from our past, all sexual inhibitions, all ego and fear, and turn us into his image of love. Drugs such as LSD made us extremely open to suggestions and the force of a stronger personality. I didn�t realize it until later, but Charlie was actually a sorcerer, using drugs to gain power, and using that power to manipulate us. Acid, combined with Charlie�s diabolical personality and insight, turned us from rebellious kids to pliant slaves. I�d suggest reading my book Will You Die For Me? for greater insight on Manson�s manipulation. Q: Why did Manson�s cult teachings demand that murder be committed? See, part of Manson�s philosophy pertained to a black-white race war. He thought the blacks would start it with a Hollywood slaughter, like the Tate-LaBianca murders. He said the blacks would be blamed for the murders, get mad and start a race war in the cities. And not only that, to Charlie, the Beatles were telling him to start it, through their songs. Also, Manson thought he had to take things into his own hands when he saw that his prophetic philosophy, Helter Skelter, wasn�t happening on its own. He needed money to finance Helter Skelter, you know, for guns, knives, dune buggies and the like. He tried to get money from musician Gary Hinman, but ended up having him killed instead. When one of the family members, Bobby Beausoleil, was arrested for the murder, I was shocked! Then, a few days later, when Helter Skelter still wasn�t �coming down,� Manson thought a copycat murder would spring Bobby and bring down Helter Skelter at the same time. He had built this philosophy, and when Helter Skelter didn�t happen, the copycat murder idea just gave him an excuse to start it. And at the same time, he thought the police would think the real killers of Hinman were still free to commit the Tate-LaBianca murders. Therefore, they would let Bobby go. Q: Did Manson believe this Helter Skelter Philosophy, or was he just into controlling people? Yeah, he believed it, but also, we let him control us. Remember, I ran from Manson on December 1, 1968, the day we listened to the White Album together. That day he began to formulate part of his philosophy from the Beatles, because to him their music confirmed his black-white revolution theory. For the next three months, while I was away from the family, he brainwashed the hard-core family members with this madness. So much so, that when I was drawn back to the family at the end of February, all they could talk about was Helter Skelter coming down fast. To them, I was ignorant and blind and had a lot of catching up to do. I didn�t know what they were talking about. My head was spinning from all this new insight. Not only did Manson believe his philosophy with strong conviction, but also he took pride in it. He didn�t tell us where he was borrowing it from, but to him the Beatles were confirming all he believed. Others believe he was a false prophet, �For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great miraculous signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God�s chosen ones� (Matthew 24:24 NLT). See, Manson was looking for answers all his life. He studied Scientology in prison, and claimed to have reached �theta clear.� It�s a shame he never saw the simple truth of God sending Jesus Christ for his sins, to give true love and peace. He was looking for love, something I think he lacked as a child and never accepted from God. Also, he wanted to be recognized for his music. We chose to follow him, thinking he had the answer. But in reality, we empowered him to form a cult. Really, he wanted to be God, Christ Himself, carrying out his own will, much like Lucifer (Isaiah 14). Q: Should we be afraid of Manson? No, not at all; he�ll never get out of prison. And to fear Manson empowers him. That is, it gives him power over your life. It seems the reason people fear him is because the Manson murders have taken on a life of their own. The movie is shown many times each year. You can even rent it. The media bombards your thoughts with the possibility that it could happen to you. As a result, there is this built-up fear of Manson. Yeah, we should caution our children about him and the like, so they too don�t get deceived. But to fear him gives him too much power. We made a monster out of Manson, and that plays right into his hands. His game is to make you fear him so he can control your mind. For myself, I remember this Scripture to keep things in perspective: �For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind� (II Timothy 1:7). Q: What are your feelings about Manson today? It seems most people expect me to hate him. But the more I�ve taken responsibility for my part in the crime, I�ve blamed Manson less. Even though I feel I was used by Manson, I forgive him for the deception. I even pray for him. Manson is easy to hate. We are to hate what he stands for, but should we hate the individual? Again, to do so would be giving Manson power over our lives. I�ve chosen not to do that any longer, but rather to forgive. Q: So do you think anyone exposed to Manson�s philosophy could fall under his spell and do the things that he demanded, even murder? No, not particularly. It was designed for my deception. I do believe it�s possible for almost anyone to fall under a similar spell or philosophy in a situation designed for them. No one knows exactly what that would be for them. It would be different for everyone, depending on that person�s weaknesses. Of course, we have power over these deceptions by faith in Christ. Q: So what situations transpired in your life to cause you to fall under Manson�s spell? Well, even though there were a lot of factors that came together at one time in my life to cause me to fall, I want you to know that I take full responsibility for my part in these crimes. As you know, I was slowly dropping out of society when I went to live with Manson, who had a strong personality, verses my weak personality. I felt like a failure, fearful of failing my family, and thinking that the love of the Manson family was what was missing. My spiritual identity was null and void and at the mercy of Manson�s concepts. The isolation from society was a catalyst, combined with Manson�s anger against society and my growing anger at my parents. But bottom line, the cause was my own sin - disobedience and rebellion against God and family. The signs of the time, anti-war protest, race riots and the rebellious atmosphere of the flower children were things I could identify with. Physically, we were all lacking a good diet and proper sleep. Peer pressure was tremendous in the family; that is, to be accepted and recognized by Charlie and the members. This, Charlie�s brainwashing, the misinterpretation of the Beatles� music and drugs, took me over the edge. Q: Do you think there�s something innately wrong with someone who could commit such a horrible crime? I believe there is something innately wrong with all of us by nature of being born. As a Christian, I believe sin passed upon all mankind through Adam and Eve�s fall in the Garden of Eden. This is why we need to be born-again. We all have a heart problem that causes us to trust in ourselves instead of God. But I understand your question. I think you are asking if some of us are born naturally as murderers and some not. I�d say no, we don�t inherit it; it�s acquired as we grow up, through the circumstances of our lives and the choices we make. In my case, I believe that during my childhood, feelings for others and their cares and concerns were not taken into consideration, because of my selfishness. I was self-centered. My life was based on looking good, feeling good, being right, and in control - idolatry. Furthermore, I think through the use of drugs, I got to the place of being �past feeling,� until my conscience sort of shut down. So, what I would normally do, I didn�t do, and what I wouldn�t normally do, I did. I had no idea that I would reap what I was sowing. Q: What do you think you would be doing today, if you had never met Manson? Today, I could be dead. But I think God had a great future planned for me. I believe I had a call on my life for the work of the ministry. I just got in the way of it. I came from a great family who had lofty goals in mind for me. If I had been obedient to my parents instead of rebellious, things would have gone well for me! I wanted to be successful and have a family. I failed so miserably. But despite my grotesque sin and failure, God gave me a second chance. He has restored life to me, even though I�m in prison. My family still loves me, and I am now blessed with a family of my own and a wonderful ministry to others. Chapter 2 THE CULT Q: Charles, we�ve talked about Manson�s philosophy, but didn�t you know that the Manson family was a cult? I thought it was a commune. What was a cult in 1969? I think we were all ignorant about cults back then. I don�t mean to plead ignorance, but I was never taught about cults. Today, we need to educate ourselves and our children. Everyone should start by looking in the dictionary at the definition of a cult. It speaks of the charismatic leader, extremist views, a colony of people and total devotion to each other. These things we should watch out for, and always compare with mainstream Christianity where our total devotion is to God, our Heavenly Father, not man. It has been said, �If you want to know the counterfeit, get to know the real thing.� Cashiers in banks are taught how real money feels, not how counterfeit money feels. As we get to know the feel of the real bill, it is easy to spot the counterfeit when it comes along. Q: What was life like with the Manson Family? Life with the Manson family was lived on several levels: life on the surface; that which you could see, then, there was the level right under the surface; how we lived behind the scenes, and lastly, was what was going on spiritually; that which none of us could see. On the surface, we were living a �Magical Mystery Tour,� like the Beatles sang. We even had a place called �Yellow Submarine.� We lived in an old, run-down cowboy movie ranch living a different fancy every day. We shared a huge pile of clothes and would change roles constantly. At the same time, we put up a good show running the ranch, renting horses and doing other odd jobs to earn our keep. The hard-core members were used to trap new members with sex and by sharing Manson�s philosophy. Q: So what was it like under the surface? Well, under the surface, what people couldn�t see was that we were living an isolated life in shacks and living hungry, on food foraged from dumpsters. Of course, there were the drugs we all took together and the lack of sleep that made us extremely open to suggestions, and the force of a stronger personality. The sex in the Manson family has really been exaggerated by the media. Several nights a week, we�d take LSD and get together in a big circle with Charlie playing the guitar. It became a time used for brainwashing us against our families and toward his philosophy. This would become what some call a folie a deux or folie a familial, which is a shared madness between two or more intimately related people. We slowly became one with each other, so much so, that we could see ourselves in the faces of one another. Life on the deepest level was very demonic, and we didn�t even know it. Several members of the family had experience in Satanism and Scientology. The use of drugs opened up our very souls not only to these philosophies, but to demonic forces. There was something very evil slowly capturing our souls. Q: Were the members scared of him? Charlie would simply look at members, and immediately they would fall silent. But at the same time, some were almost willing to die for him. Everyone wanted to please Charlie and was fearful of his opinion of them. Myself, I ran from him several times in fear. Q: How many members were there at any one time? There were about twenty-five at the most, but I�d say there were sixteen who were the most committed. What scares me more is how many there are today. It�s been reported that Manson gets stacks of letters from those desiring to join his cult. Many agree with his anti-establishment hatred, almost making him into some sort of folk hero. I feel responsible for helping make him into this �hero.� Q: How did you view society? Well, superficially, I had taken on many of Manson�s views. In my mind, those views were constantly being challenged. I was double-minded between my past views and his. I felt I had failed to make it in society. On looking back, it was partially because of my own laziness, and no fault of society. Q: What were Manson�s views toward society? To Manson, society was the enemy: pigs, establishment and materialists who worshipped houses, cars, and money. They were mainly composed of whites whom the blacks would rise up against. Manson�s thing was to manipulate not only us, but the blacks to carry out his anger against society. Our minds were slowly poisoned as we shared his madness. Q: When did you realize your beliefs were wrong? I realized my beliefs were wrong when it was too late. After the murders, my mind was racing, not knowing if what Charlie was saying was true or false. It didn�t seem to be unfolding like he said it would. We�d moved to the desert and were unable to find the bottomless pit. I then began to question Manson�s beliefs. Q: How did you break away from Manson�s false beliefs? Well, there was an older man named Crockett, who was deprogramming a couple of long-standing family members in the desert. When Charlie met him, Crockett stood up against him. Manson could see that Crockett was a threat. I started to question Manson�s beliefs in my head, and besides, Helter Skelter just wasn�t coming down like Charlie had said it would. Eventually, I would run from Manson and the family in panic, not knowing what to believe, realizing I had made a terrible mistake. Q: But didn�t you try to go back to the family one last time? Yes, I did! I fled to Texas to see my family, ran to Mexico and Hawaii, but still couldn�t find a way to escape. So I decided to go back, walking fifty miles across the desert looking for Charlie. But at the last moment, I turned away, fearing him, and returned to Texas. Q: Did Manson ever teach the beliefs of Friedrich Nietzsche and Adolf Hitler? Strange as it may seem, I never heard Manson mention Nietzsche or Hitler. Again I was away from the family for three months when Charlie laid out his take on Helter Skelter. I�ve heard that magazines were found in a bus we left in the desert, all having articles on Hitler and even Rommel and his Desert Corps. I faintly remember those magazines. Family members who were close to Manson during the months I was gone, knew all too well his views on Hitler. I�ve heard about that. I never heard Manson give credit to anyone for his philosophy. I have wondered if Manson got his dune buggy escape-to-the-desert idea from Rommel, the German field Marshall of WWII. And Manson must have gotten the idea of those swastikas the family members carved on their foreheads during their trial from Hitler. That really surprised me, but I was watching from a distance in a Texas jail. Q: Well, do you know about Manson�s view concerning Nietzsche and Hitler? Supposedly, Manson studied Nietzsche, and like Hitler, he believed in a master white race. Maybe he thought the family would become the master race after coming up from the bottomless pit. Others have said Manson felt Hitler was a tuned-in guy who had leveled the karma of the Jews. I don�t know. I never heard him say that. I do remember in the book Helter Skelter, Vincent Bugliosi had a shocking parallel between Hitler and Manson. He wrote that both men were influenced by Nietsche, had similar statures and wounded pasts, and were illegitimate children. Also, he stated that they were racist, both having a hatred for society, using slaves to commit their murders for them. They used repetitive programming and fear to their full advantage. With their charismatic and hypnotic eyes, Hitler and Manson could easily influence others. I find it hard to believe that Manson was emulating Hitler without my knowing it. If he was, I was just blind to it. Q: How could you have been so blind? I was less programmed with Manson�s philosophy because I was gone for those three months. When I came back, I got caught up in the whirlwind, blindly following the fervor of the others. Two hard-core members, Brooks Poston and Paul Watkins, uncovered Manson�s philosophy more than anyone. And at that time, they feared what was to come. If I had heard this crazy Nietzsche/Hitler philosophy, I think I would have taken off again myself. I feel that Manson avoided sharing his beliefs with me in fear that I wouldn�t fall for them. The Apostle Paul wrote, in II Corinthians 4:4, �Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don�t believe [in God].� Of course, my own rebellion, disobedience and ignorance were to blame. The drugs were a stimulant making me gullible, to believe what I wouldn�t normally believe. This took me into a death spiral downward to greater rebellion, emotional pain, drug consumption and worldly, fleshly pleasures. Q: How about the beliefs of Scientology and The Process Church? I never heard Manson mention Scientology or The Process Church. He did meet up with a Scientologist named Crockett in the desert. Crockett was instrumental in deprogramming Poston and Watkins, and stood toe-to-toe with Manson. This was the only mention of Scientology. I remember them arguing back and forth for hours. Manson was reportedly studying Scientology in prison, and he could have been in contact with The Process Church at that time. An ex-Scientologist started the Process Church, and its members worship both Satan and Christ. I find that interesting because I felt Manson was both at times. Q: Do you think Manson was influenced by these cults? Maybe Manson was influenced by these, maybe not, who knows? There is a lot of evidence for it. I know he was into mind control and good at programming us with his beliefs, and some of those beliefs seem to have been very close to those of The Process Church, which is a satanic cult. They were called The Church of the Final Judgment. Like Manson, they believed a chosen few would be left after the final judgment, that motorcycle gangs would help to bring it down and that Christ and Satan would come together to judge the world. They also shared a hatred for the blacks and used fear for their benefit. The Process Church even had a church symbol similar to the swastika and believed in a bottomless void. Manson had similar teachings to all this, but he acted like everything he taught was his own personal revelation. So how all this fits together as part of the Manson cult, God only knows, and possibly Manson. One thing is sure, he never told the truth, only lies. Q: So it sounds like Manson took beliefs from here and there to design his own philosophy. Is that true? That�s right, he has been accused of borrowing philosophies. There�s nothing new under the sun. Since the fall of man in Genesis Chapter 3, man has always desired to be God, to have the best answers for everything, and to pridefully exalt himself above the stars. We see this depicted in Manson today. In short, he was deceived by Lucifer who is out to steal, kill, and destroy everything in his path. Manson�s perverted knowledge and the demonic force behind him made him a very powerful demonic influence. He was much older and much more aware than we were; all part of the reason we were so easily entrapped by him. Q: What similarities do you see between Manson�s beliefs and those of Jim Jones, David Koresh, and Marshall Applewhite? These charismatic leaders were lawmakers. Charlie�s word was law. His law condemned us, so we tried that much harder to please him. He wrote the rules, and so did Jones, Koresh and Applewhite. Charlie even said to Geraldo Rivera, �I make the laws. I�m the lawmaker.� All these men were lawmakers, and their laws ended in death. Although their beliefs differed greatly, the means to achieve a destructive result were the same. They all believed a lie, and were able to persuade and take their followers with them to wherever the lie dictated, including murder and suicide. Their beliefs differed, but they had many similarities as cult leaders. They were charismatic leaders and thought they were the �chosen ones� with a great revelation or the key to a higher plane. They believed in a holy war with an end-of-the-age teaching. Their philosophies were unreliable and weird, even strange and bizarre. There was a oneness of the followers, who so wanted the philosophy to be true. There was group power and accountability. It was expected that each member give up material possessions, relationships and all earthly attachments. Weaker and stronger members were paired up. There was complete isolation, and an exchange of our real families for the cult family. Q: How can cult leaders, such as Manson and Applewhite, convince people to blindly follow them and commit murder or suicide? Well, cults go after weak people. In my case, I was lacking a strong identity as well as direction and goals. I had no spiritual meaning; that is, a sound belief system and a feeling of acceptance. I was also na�ve and gullible, a people-pleaser. I was empty, lonely, angry and rebellious. I allowed myself to slowly be governed by my own self-will, circumstances and people. Manson was a charismatic leader who slowly charmed us with lies and a warped, demonic philosophy. He filled a need for each of us until there was a deadly hold. The drugs made it easier for us to be charmed and impressed with his mystical power of sorcery. There was manipulation, mind control, hypnotic messages and a loss of critical thinking on our part, as our wills were given over to Manson. He used his music to bring family members closer to one another. This all resulted in an extreme devotion and oneness of purpose. Obedience became a badge of honor in the family. Q: What�s the difference between Manson�s beliefs and what you believe today? It�s like the difference between night and day, darkness and light. As we�ve talked, I think you can easily see how distorted Manson�s beliefs were. Today, my beliefs line up with mainstream Christianity. I believe that God, the Creator of the world, loved us so much that He sent Jesus Christ, His Son, to die on the cross to pay for the sins of all mankind; and that believing this, we will have eternal life. That�s the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which I believe in and trust in for my salvation. My life is governed by God�s promises and a Godly vision for life, regardless of the circumstances. God is in control of my life, not Manson. Manson�s deception is a thing of the past. Q: Why do others remain ardent followers of Manson today? For many of the reasons we just talked about. Those who follow Manson today are individuals with a false or weak spiritual identity. These people are lost with little, if any direction. They are looking for something to identify with and believe, and they find acceptance with the Mansonites. Many are very empty, lonely and angry people, blaming others for their own wrong choices. It�s sad that they are blinded to the true joys of family and church relationships. We need to reach out to them in love rather than condemnation. I�m deeply concerned about the Marilyn Manson following, and feel somewhat responsible for helping to make Charles Manson the hero he has become in the eyes of these children. They attach themselves to the Manson spirit through Marilyn Manson�s satanic rock band, who took his name from Charles Manson. I pray they wake up before the results become deadly. These children seem to be worshipping sex, drugs and death. We hope to reach some of them before it is too late! Q: What would you say to or ask Manson today? I believe he has read my book. If so, that says a lot to him. I don�t think that he hears much because of his pride, but I�d let him know that I�m praying he one day will hear the truth, and humble himself to the cross of Jesus Christ. I think I�d ask him the same questions you�re asking, such as whether or not he got his philosophy from The Process Church, and where the Nietzche/Hitler philosophy fits in. I think I could come up with a lot of questions to help put the puzzle together, but I don�t think I could believe his answers. I don�t think he even knows the truth any longer. Q: Are you in touch with other former Manson family members? No, I�m not. I do hear things about them through the media and through the grapevine, but I have no direct contact with them. Bugliosi did a great job following-up on former members in his updated version of Helter Skelter. I hear that many have become Christians and truly love the Lord. Some have died in accidents and some from natural causes. Others are in hiding, trying to go on with ordinary lives. Only a couple of the girls still follow Manson. I pray their eyes open up to the truth that is found only in Jesus Christ. Chapter 3 THE DRUGS Q: When did you first start using drugs and what kind were they? I took my first drink of alcohol at the age of fourteen. That first drink escalated to heavier drinking over the next nine years. I smoked by first marijuana joint in Dallas when I was twenty-one, before moving to California. This led to hallucinogens (psychedelic drugs) and methamphetimines for about two years until I went to jail for murder at age twenty-three. Q: Why did you feel the need to take drugs? I was lacking a strong personal identity, and felt an older football team member would accept me if I drank with him. Later, drinking became the way I dealt with the pressures of school and the emotional pain I was experiencing; that is, the fear of not meeting the expectations placed upon me. Of course, this is hindsight; I didn�t realize that then. This behavior continued into college and on into my life with the Manson Family. Like me, drug users start off with light use and move to stronger drugs as their emotional pain increases. Q: Many people relate drugs with sorcery, shamans, witchcraft, and the demonic. Do you? I believe drugs are the gateway to the occult. The magic arts come from the original word pharmakia, from which we get the word pharmacy. Those involved in sorcery get high on drugs in order to make it easier to contact demons, and they are soon possessed by them. Charles Manson is a typical example of one who became possessed by evil spirits through drugs. Today, millions of young people are in bondage to Satan through the use of drugs without even knowing it. Most people using drugs claim there aren�t any harmful effects from drugs. But drugs act as a tool to open the mind, and leave you defenseless against evil spirits entering in and taking possession. Ninety percent of those who belong to the Church of Satan started on drugs. Q: Did Satanism play a part in the Manson family? We didn�t know it, but there was an invisible battle going on for our souls. Manson was a sorcerer, a false prophet. He was a charismatic leader who used magic, rituals and drugs to entice people and enslave their minds. We opened ourselves up to satanic power and believed there were no consequences for our actions. As far as the actual practice of Satanism and witchcraft, we were not involved in that. Underneath though, things were being influenced by the power of spells, charms and magic. The girls did witchy things, and at least one girl, I believe, had experience with Satanism. But overall, we were not practicing it in the classical sense. Q: Did Manson know Anton LaVey? I do believe there has been speculation in this direction, but I never heard Manson mention LaVey. One of the girls was apparently involved with LaVey for several months. Also, one of the men had experience in Satanism. Manson could have met LaVey through them, in San Francisco. I did find it interesting that LaVey started the San Francisco-based First Church of Satan in 1969, the year our crime was committed. He also came out with the Satanic Bible that same year. Q: Was Manson using drugs, or were only the members using them? I�m asked this question a lot. People seem to think that Manson had all of us drugged out, while he remained sober so he could easily manipulate our minds. This may be true, but a sorcerer such as Manson uses mind-altering drugs himself in order to contact spiritual beings, and gain supernatural powers. We chose to take the drugs, and Manson took his share as well. He did use drugs to manipulate and control us, and the more drugs we took, the easier it was for him to manipulate us with his philosophy. Q: Earlier you mentioned that alcohol was the first drug you took. Some people don�t consider it a drug. Can you comment on that? Most people don�t look at alcohol as being a drug, but it is. It�s one of the most dangerous drugs. There are as many alcohol-related deaths among teenagers as there are suicides. Most of these deaths are driving related, but now we�re seeing binge-drinking deaths on college campuses and the mixing of alcohol with other drugs causing death. All of this is an attempt to kill emotional pain, but they�re killing themselves instead. Like I was in the �60s, young people are filled with fears, obsessions, anxieties and feelings of inadequacy. They are saying, �I want to belong at any cost.� For me, my behavior ended up destroying many lives. I regret taking my first drink. It was the start of a destructive path that separated me from the most precious people in my life, my family. Q: How did marijuana affect your mind and actions? I had no idea that marijuana, when smoked, quickly enters the bloodstream and acts on the brain and nervous system. It�s a hallucinogen. It beats a path to the brain and accumulates in the liver. I think knowing this would help users to understand why it affects their moods and thinking. It affected me in many ways. My eyes became bloodshot, it stimulated my appetite and I became more talkative and outgoing. My mood would vary from a state of depression, to a feeling of excitement. I slowly became lazy and found it harder to make decisions that required clear thinking. Colors seemed brighter, and hearing became keener. My reflexes and thinking were definitely affected by both alcohol and marijuana. I could easily have harmed someone while driving under the influence. Q: About the other hallucinogens you�ve taken, how did they affect you? My first experience with hallucinogens involved my chewing-up rosewood seeds. In reality, I was poisoning myself with strychnine, which is found in certain plants. In small doses, it stimulates the nervous system, but these plants can kill you. I also had a near-death experience with belladonna. Recently, several children died in an attempt to get high on belladonna. I highly recommend people stay away from these poisonous plants. These were definitely two extremely bad experiences for me. I had hallucinations, illusions and delusions. I became dehydrated and even blacked out. I became uneasy. I felt panic, fear, anger and confusion, and was afraid of what I saw inside myself. I stepped into a dark, evil world where I could see the spirits of the dead. This world became threatening and I wanted to fight back. I felt this violence, rage and anger flare up inside me. As I reflect back, I realize these drugs were turning my already emotionally disturbed world upside down. I was experiencing hallucinations, but the effect they had on my behavior was mind-boggling. That�s the last time I ever took those. Q: When we talk about hallucinogens, we think of LSD. Didn�t LSD affect you greatly? Yes it did, more than any other drug. I guess I was trying to understand myself better and to find a quick way to escape from reality. I didn�t like myself or the way things were turning out. LSD causes bizarre mental reactions and distortions in every physical sense � sight, touch, taste, smell and hearing. What I remember most, was having dilated pupils and the ability to see into the pores of my skin. I still don�t know if what I saw in my skin was real or not. I do know that as a result, I became a vegetarian. LSD is not really physically addictive, but I guess I liked the psychological effects. It was a way to escape what was really going on in my mind. Walls appeared to move, colors seemed stronger and more brilliant, with unusual patterns unfolding before my eyes. Flat objects seemed to stand out in three dimensions. My senses seemed more acute, one merging into another; for example, music appeared as colors, and colors seemed to have taste. One of the most confusing reactions was the feeling of two strong and opposite emotions at the same time. I felt both happy and sad at once, or depressed and elated, or relaxed and tense. Sometimes I even lost the normal feeling of boundaries between body and space. There is a sensation that you can do everything better, but in reality things are done poorer than before. I did panic at times, and experienced extreme paranoia. I�m just thankful that I didn�t have flashbacks from drugs. My choice to take them resulted in something far worse though; they helped ruin my life, and more than this, to destroy the lives of others. Q: What kind of drugs were you on during your crime? I was on methamphetamines. When I tell people that, they say, �I knew it!� It�s commonly called �speed, the drug of violence� by users, and even the police, who use the term �cranker violence.� Crystal meth was blamed by one national magazine for ending San Francisco�s psychedelic scene in 1969, by turning the Haight from weeds and beads to crystals and pistols. Those on the stuff tend to be very erratic and violent. They do crazy and stupid things, including murder, like I did. The choice to take this, or any drug, only ends in destruction and death. Q: Tell me more about your moods on meth. What were the physical effects? Methamphetamines or �speed,� affects the central nervous system. It made me feel alert and self-confident. On the other hand, it caused me to feel jittery and irritable. It made my speech unclear. Afterwards, I felt let down and depressed. What I remember most is that my emotions were dulled. I realize now that I was medicating my emotional pain, and as a result, the feelings of others meant nothing. As far as the physical effects, my heart rate increased, my pupils dilated and my appetite disappeared. Meth is definitely addictive, and the more you take, the more you need. Meth is very dangerous. It exhausts you, causes mental derangement, hallucinations and even suicidal depression. I snorted meth, but those who inject it with unsanitary needles can contract hepatitis B or C, or HIV. Also, people have been known to die from an overdose. Q: What part did meth play in the crimes? I only took meth for a month, but in that short period of time, it took me over the edge. I believe it was a major contributing factor in my crime. I had been using it constantly for three weeks before the crime. During the murders, I felt like a mechanical man, a programmed machine out of control, like a malfunctioned robot unable to stop the brutality. It was like being on another planet; electricity filled the air. I was without restraint, empowered by the drug and without my normal inhibitions and personhood. Q: Can you add to why you feel children use drugs today? And why they shouldn�t? There are several reasons why children experiment with drugs; pressure from friends is one. Children urge their friends to try drugs. Wishing to keep in good standing with their group and fearing ridicule if they refuse, they go along. Another reason is the desire to rise above the feelings of inadequacy that are common among teens. This is why we must give our children recognition at home and let them know that their parents accept them. This way they won�t need drugs to medicate their feelings of inadequacy and emotional pain. Also, children are curious. Teenagers are inherently curious and aggressive in their desire to explore the unknown. They may have heard warnings about the dangers of drug abuse, but they have heard another side of the story too. They have heard that this is the way to immediate pleasure. Drugs are a quick way to get a euphoric high, but it�s not real and only lasts until the drugs wear off. My life should be a testimony as to why a person should not use drugs. Drugs destroy your life. There is nothing good that can come from using drugs. They destroy your future and your family, and they steal your most valuable possession � an abundant life. Q: What can parents do to keep their children free from drugs? The quality of the parent-child relationship has an important bearing on children�s vulnerability. When a home reflects unconditional love, our children�s approval and acceptance is not based upon performance. They receive a good personal and spiritual identity as parents spend time with them in companionship. Our children then won�t have feelings of inadequacy, frustration, rebellion and anger that tempt them to experiment with drugs. They�ll prefer to please God and their parents, knowing they�re loved and accepted by them. They will emulate their parents� way of life, rather than giving in to temptations and peer pressure. Children who are brought up in Christian homes have a greater stability than others. Unless there�s deadly legalism in the home, they�re not so prone to allow their curiosity to lead them astray. The church becomes a place not only to worship, but also to find role models and peers who are less likely to lead our children astray. They�ll receive direction for discovering their gifts and talents, and help in making goals for life. As parents who are primarily interested in our children�s� welfare, we must talk to them about the dangers that surround them without legalistically putting them in a box. Otherwise, they will explode in anger, blaming their parents for making all their choices. We must explain that the only real and safe way to live is to avoid all forms of experimentation with chemicals or drugs. Even glue sniffing can have a damaging effect on the liver, kidneys and brain. Some children have died from sniffing or �huffing� glue. Q: What do you say to people who think it�s okay to use drugs in moderation? It�s practically impossible to continue using drugs in moderation. Alcohol and marijuana are the first steps on a ladder that can lead quickly to more dangerous drugs, such as LSD, methamphetamines and heroin. I�d suggest a person thinking he or she can take drugs in moderation seek help immediately! Q: What can we do to war against drugs? We must demonstrate to those around us that there are better and more lasting ways to experience fullness and depth, variety and the richness of life than by ingesting psychoactive chemicals. I believe this fullness is found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The momentary euphoric high on drugs does not compare with God�s love, and light and life dwelling in our hearts. This truth is �caught� by our children, rather than �taught.� We need to be good listeners. Our children need much affirmation of God�s love, His righteousness, peace and joy demonstrated to them, not our anger. A person considering drug use needs someone to listen to their problems, someone who knows what they�re talking about. Few things make a young person a candidate for the �drug scene� faster than adults who refuse to listen. Drug abuse is a symptom, merely the tip of the iceberg. We must be able to get to the root cause. When our children turn to marijuana and LSD, are they out for �kicks�? Rebelling against the system? Surrendering to peer pressure? Under the tensions of academic competition? All these were part of my iceberg. I needed help, but I kept telling myself that the answer to my pain was drugs. As a result, my twisted life destroyed the lives of many others. I abhor what I did and how I brought unbearable pain to their remaining loved ones. I can never undo my past. And oh, how I wish I could! I pray that many will learn from my life that using drugs is a dead-end road. Open Letter from Lynette Fromme He has been requesting a tape recorder since he was first incarcerated in 1969. That is the only way that any of us can get a clear picture of MANSON and what he has to say. His sight and awareness is and has always been far ahead of mass consciousness, and for this he, like many KNOWN historical geniuses, is forced to suffer for what others do not understand. He broke NO LAW! Imagine how it feels to be living under all the people who are free to walk, swim, and fly the space, but do not know how to keep it free, clean and in balance. Let me put that another way. Say you have been sitting for thirty years thinking through a problem--not necessarily straining, but concentrating diligently on not what you want or hope for, but what IS. Say that you have come to understand the problem in depth and have, in effect, become it, and know how solve the problem. Now you watch the parades and processions of hopeful and despairing people walking outside your tomb. They are all looking for the answer to the problem you know so well. They are all celebrating the search, or mourning the problem, analyzing or disguising it. You wave but they don't look to see you, even as they proceed by to their own funerals. When you have exhausted yourself yelling, and felt the deaths of millions for not having heard, and watched those who think they are too good to look at you, push their own children in the graves before them, and watched the children grow angrier, the land more destroyed, the air and water more poisoned, the men, women, politicians and gurus vying for positions of power over something rather than the God-given grace to love and care for what supports life--and much more sight than I could ever write on paper--then you see what Charles Manson sees, alone. Everyone in this family put our life's faith there. The balance of the Christian mind is different than that of the Hindu. You say that you are impressed that I am articulate. Every one in this family is articulate, and exceptionally bright. Reports to the contrary are part of a people's need to look down on something and someone, be it a criminal, a different class or race of people, or a simple child. It is also a result of the standard of sophistication measured by one's ambition and finesse for acquiring money. The murders themselves were mean and purposeful. They were respondent. They needed not be sensationalized. But rather than listening to the defendants themselves, lies, distortion, perversion and other of the public's own cravings were substituted for the truth. At that time they were forced to accept attorneys as if they were forced to wear disguises. They were forced to remain silent while a parade of charaders marched around the courtroom talking about things they little understood--The Bible, sex orgies, Christ and the Devil, LSD, E.S.P., the "Manson Family" and the murders themselves. The Supreme Court later handed down a decision interpreting the U.S. Constitution as giving defendants the undeniable right to represent themselves in court as long as they conduct themselves within a reasonable accordance of court procedure. When I say they were "forced", I mean that they were required, and under that requirement in a situation determining the balance of their lives and the lives of many others, there was a tremendous amount of pressure. I do not appreciate crying injustices and dramatizing much of what the soft American public consider to be hardships. At the same time, I can empathize. While sympathy toward a problem can often make weakness, empathy can call up strength. The public here could not even face their own children, let alone empathize with them. They did not even ask to understand the young people in the so-called "Manson Family" who they were sending to the gas chamber. Rather, they blamed one man who was not even raised in the society which fostered those killings. I walked out of my trial; Sandra Good and Susan Murphy walked out of their trial; we did not put on our defenses because until all the family gets a chance to explain, none of us will. As a family, we can see a new money system where the money can work like a god for the people rather than people working like dogs for the money and not receiving the balance of healthful, experience-full life that the money exchange is supposed to buy. Until then, this country runs itself to the ground from what it refuses to face; just as you, yourself, can see no solution to WORLD problems and can see no one who does see. When Nixon points a gun at Ford, someone may see that Manson's mind is miles over the U.N. and Rome, and that the United States Government has been sold nine times already. I could take more time with this letter to be academic but that is not my concern. From what I have seen, most journalists would sell their own Lord's or child's heartbeat rather than come down to the love and soul in themselves, rather than getting on your knees to another of your own mankind, rather than conceding that you don't really know the connection between life and Death and why people are intent in moving toward self- destruction in their air, water, land, food and thoughts. It is by no means only journalists and media people who demonstrate this, and I am not condemning you. Everyone has done that for themselves. Interview with Red Regarding September 5, 1975 Q: What was your intention when you took the gun and went out to meet President Ford? A: It was my intention to be a voice for the Earth, to say that before all political ways of life, before class and race and gender, the earth needs to be seen and heard and fought for. The earth comes first in importance. This was a time in history when a terrible war had just ended, when people had been in the streets all over the country protesting the war, racial injustice, gender discrimination and poverty. I saw that underneath all these social problems, the source of all life was being destroyed. The San Jose mountains were almost totally obscured by smog; you couldn't see six blocks away in L.A. Workers were shown on TV with tremors due to neurological damage sustained in chemical companies after they had been assured that the stuff was safe. Their wives stood next to them weeping because the husbands had been rendered sterile. The head of the Natural Resources Department for California had announced that in Redwood Park the tallest trees on the planet -- some as tall as a football field is long -- were in danger of falling due to erosion caused by the over- logging of adjacent private lands. met with condescending contempt. There was a war going on for Christsake! There was political upheaval! Money and jobs were in the balance. I felt that we humans were allowing the destruction of the land which had always given us life. I felt a personal responsibility for the air, trees, water and animals. Q: Why, in particular, President Ford? A: In a sense he came to me. I had been feeling an increasing urgency. This wasn't something that came on without thought, or -- as was later implied -- a drug-induced impulse, or mental illness, or on orders from Manson. This was in response to a spiritual calling which was beyond life and considerations of death. We had already appealed to the heads of environmental groups, corporate CEO's, an Army Corps of Engineers general and several judges -- to no avail. Who more logically next than the head of the country? It wasn't Gerald Ford as an individual that I was approaching with my request or threat -- whichever was necessary -- but the chain of command. The very evening that I returned from San Francisco after speaking with the general, I saw President Ford on TV, getting off the plane in Sacramento. His visit was to address about 2000 area businessmen about enhancing their economic opportunities. Basically he was beginning his 1976 campaign. Ford had never before been elected. He had been chosen for the job by President Nixon in 1973 when the Vice President, Spiro Agnew, was forced to resign after criminal wrong-doing. Then, in 1974, Nixon had resigned the presidency, also after criminal wrong-doing, and Ford had been given that job. Q: You were convicted of attempted assassination. Was that, in fact, what you were trying to do? A: No, it wasn't. I took the gun with me but had not decided whether to use it. I was not philosophically opposed to physical force, and had I felt it was necessary I was prepared to use it. I had decided to proceed by perception, and standing in the crowd as the President approached, I had a sense of the faith that the people as a whole invest in their leaders, and a sense of myself as simply a member of that greater body. I also knew that after an assassination, no one sees the issues or problems leading to that act. The whole focus is upon mourning, upon the martyrdom of the slain individual. For safety reasons I had not put a bullet into the chamber, but I knew how to do it. <http://web.archive.org/web/20010405083849/www.atwa.com/45y.jpg> Instead, I simply stepped through the crowd to the President and raised the gun to his midsection between his heart and stomach at about two feet distance. I was quickly bowled over, and I experienced the panic of the Secret Service agents as they repeatedly dove for the weapon that had already been confiscated. I felt completely calm and relieved, but I realized that in order to cause the necessary change I would need to allow business people to believe that there were people everywhere willing to give their lives and take the lives of others, if necessary, for the life of the planet. It is 25 years later, and I am still satisfied that I did the right thing. Q: What role, if any, did CM play in your decision or your action? A: Manson is the most absolute environmentalist that I've ever witnessed, and he had told the women around him that the Earth came before us and anything else in his list of priorities. Blue and I had been doing everything we knew to obtain visiting rights with him and, at the same time, to find a way of getting a new trial that would exonerate him. He began exhorting us in letters to quit trying to make him a good guy, to understand that people want and need a bad guy, and to use his bad reputation for some good. He said we could use his name in whatever way would be effective for the protection of Earth. We did. But Charlie did not plan or order or even conspire with us about our activities on behalf of ATWA. He just gave us his faith to do what we believed was right. HAIL SATAN
Charles manson While waiting to be tried for the Tate and LaBianca murders, his court-appointed attorney Brian Reese remarked that Manson was an example of the "total failure of modern society..." As the leader of the Family he said he was Christ and Satan simultaneously. As a jailhouse psychotic and media star, Charlie has appeared dancing and wisecracking on Geraldo. Once he is released on parole he plans to go to Sri Lanka and New Delhi where he has his "own mahatma" and will radiate "like the sun." Charlie's girls "We were all called Charlie's girls, but Charlie often told us, in fact every day he told us, 'You people do not belong to me, you belong to yourself.' But I personally thought that I belonged to Charlie. He had sexual intercourse with all of us girls. In the begining I was jealous until I came to an understanding that he was only making love to the girls for the purpose of love and also to give them back to themselves. We-- the girls-- had sexual relations with each other. There was no limit to what I'd do for him. I was in love with the reflection and the reflection I speak of is Charles Manson." Susan atkins a.k.a. sadie mae Sadie really enjoyed killing Sharon Tate. She later claimed that it was the most exciting sexual experience in her life. She recalled how she felt an urge to drink her blood. "It was slick and I brought my hand to my face and I could smell the blood. I opened my mouth and licked it on my fingers..." She thought of carving out Tate's unborn child and bringing it to Charlie wrapped in a towel. "How proud Charlie would be if I presented him with the baby cut from the womb of the woman." She also considered cutting out the heart and eating it, and skewering the baby and roasting it in a bonfire. leslie van houten A friend of Leslie who saw her in court, said: "I could hardly believe it was her. And I talked to her for a moment-- she remembered me and was very cheerful and everything, but it wasn't the girl I'd known all those years... Something's drastically wrong... She's like a comedienne or mentally unbalanced." Patricia krenwinkel Katie AS she was known in the Family, was part of the death squads sent to Cielo Drive and the LaBianca house in Los Feliz. After butchering Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, Katie, in a stroke of evil brilliance, carved the word "WAR" on the stomach of the dead man using a fork. When police discovered his body the next day the fork was still protruding from his gut. Squeaky fromme In September 4, 1975, Family member Squeaky Fromme managed to approach President Ford while he was visiting Sacramento and lunged at him with a gun. Fortunately a Secret Service agent was able to wedge his thumb between the hammer and the firing pin. Squeaky and president ford My Aunt Cheryl Ford just happened to be President Ford's personal secretary at the time of this god-awful episode in our history. She was approximately 5-12 feet away from him as Squeaky was in her realm of Mansonism. I am very fortunate to have been able to witness this as I also was in the crowd. Fortunate you may say is an awkward word for me to use to identify my feelings toward this event yet to learn firsthand the absolute power and reign that Manson had when our own heads of state and policing agencies cannot contain are interesting to perceive as well as study. I hope, of course, that we have no problems in this type of a situation again. It would not be tolerable in the least. Tex watson When Charles "Tex" Watson entered the Cierlo Drive home of Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski he said, "I'm the devil. I'm here to do the devil's business." And that's exactly what he did. All victims died of gunshots and multiple stab wounds coming mainly from Tex's knife. Abigail Folger was stabbed 21 times. Voityck Frykowski was shot once and stabbed 51 times. Jay Seebring was shot twice and stabbed six times. Steven Parent was shot three times. Sharon Tate was stabbed 16 times. When the heat came down Tex ran to his home in Texas. There he was arrested and extradited to California. While awaiting trial he lost fifty pounds and was unable to communicate or feed himself. He reached an acute state of psychosis and was sent to the Atascadero State Hospital. Once his health improved he was tried, found guilty and sentenced to death. A year later the Supreme Court abolished the death penalty and Tex's mental instability improved rapidly. He found God and devoted himself to praising the lord with the same fervor he once wallowed in the blood of his victims. A changed man, Tex has become a preacher, a husband and a father (thanks to conjugal visiting rights). He hopes to be released soon on parole so he can preach the word of the law. Bobbie beausoleil Bobbie played Lucifer in Kenneth Anger's seminal film Scorpio Rising. Anger, a filmmaker of esoteric taste, introduced Bobby to the world of Devil worship. Flying on Owsley tabs of acid Beausoleil metamorphosed from the Lone Eagle to the Angel of Disobedience. "Kenneth brought it all to a head. He made me the star of Lucifer Rising, and I was rising, and he made me believe that I had this power inside me and it radiated out of me... Each acid trip became more and more an earth-shattering experience. I was experiencing Lucifer, 'the angel on earth.' I believed that during the rituals, Kenneth was showing me myself, that this reflection of who I was and what I was doing was because of who I was." While in jail, Bobbie, covered with Nazi tattoos, became part of the Aryan Brotherhood. "The men and women of this family, my brothers and sisters, have followed me through the killings, to the jails, the courts, to prison, and to Death Row for the love they have for me..." Danny decarlo Danny, a member of the outlaw biker gang the Straight Satans, moved to the ranch to fix Charlie's three-wheeler motorcycle. Like Bobbie, he stayed at the ranch because of all the pretty girls. After working on the three-wheeler he converted several cars into dune buggies. Charlie wanted to align himself with the Straight Satans to keep the public away from the ranch. However the Straight Satans didn't like Charlie and wanted to claim Danny back to their club. Once they rolled into the ranch and threatened to rape and kill everyone if Danny didn't return to Venice with them. Charlie offered his life in exchange for them to leave. The bikers were so freaked out by Charlie's death wish they left the ranch without raising hell. Dennis wilson Charlie planned to launch his stellar career as a folk singer with the help of his friend Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys. Before moving to the Spahn Ranch Charlie was a permanent fixture at Dennis' Malibu home. When too many freaky people started showing up, Dennis asked Charlie to leave. Nonetheless, they remained good friends. Dennis thought Charlie was very talented and bought one of his songs, Cease to Exist. The Beach Boys released the it as Never Learn Not to Love in their album 20/20 and as a B-side to the single Blue Birds Flew Over the Mountain. Spahn ranch An old western set, the Family found it by chance while driving their bus through the mountains. It's junked up state reflected the gang of misfits and rejects that Charlie had been collecting in his black bus. The Family settled in the ranch rent free after Charlie talked to the owner, George Spahn, and arranged for the girls to take care of him. At the ranch the Family fucked and sucked to their hearts content and Charlie became the resident midwife after delivering three babies. The garbage people "Where does the garbage go, as we have tins and garbage alongside the road, and oil slicks in the water, so you have people, and I am one of your garbage people." The Family subsisted by scavenging food from dumpsters behind supermarkets. Manson also scavenged unwanted people whom he took to his " garbage dump" and told them, "that in love there is no wrong." lsd The Family took LSD on a regular basis. According to Charlie, "When you take LSD enough times you reach a state of nothing, of no thought." Linda Kasabian, who became the prosecution's star witness against the Family in exchange for total inmunity, allegedly took over 300 trips of acid and could not distinguish "fact from fantasy." Helter skelter Manson 's odd interpretation of the Beatles' song "Helter Skelter" warned of a coming race war in which "blackie" would win. Charlie didn't like the Beatles song, but he did "hear what it relates... It says rise-- it says kill." Helter Skelter was to be the last war on earth: "It would be all the wars that have been fought built one on top of the other, something that no man could concieve of in his imagination. You can't concieve of what it would be like to see every man judge himself and then take it out on every other man all over the face of the earth." Death valley Charlie and the Family relocated to the Barker ranch in Goler Wash in the outskirts of Death Valley where they "tried to get as close as we could to all the animals, try to learn from them how to live." Charlie told his minions to let scorpions crawl on them: "You have to learn from them. They are the same as you. We're all here together..." The dogs In Goler Wash the women were treated like dirt and the dogs were treated special. Charlie would say: "Don't treat the dogs like people. Treat the dogs like dogs. They are better than people." The dogs would eat first; then humans would eat the dog left overs. The bottomless pit As Charlie's attempts at recognition by the music industry failed, his philosophy of oneness and love became dark and apocalyptic. He would quote from the Book of Revelations: "From the shaft of the bottomless pit... came locusts on earth, and they were given the power of scorpions. They were told not to harm any green growth or any tree, but only those who have not the seal of God on their foreheads."
Open Letter from Lynette Fromme He has been requesting a tape recorder since he was first incarcerated in 1969. That is the only way that any of us can get a clear picture of MANSON and what he has to say. His sight and awareness is and has always been far ahead of mass consciousness, and for this he, like many KNOWN historical geniuses, is forced to suffer for what others do not understand. He broke NO LAW! Imagine how it feels to be living under all the people who are free to walk, swim, and fly the space, but do not know how to keep it free, clean and in balance. Let me put that another way. Say you have been sitting for thirty years thinking through a problem--not necessarily straining, but concentrating diligently on not what you want or hope for, but what IS. Say that you have come to understand the problem in depth and have, in effect, become it, and know how solve the problem. Now you watch the parades and processions of hopeful and despairing people walking outside your tomb. They are all looking for the answer to the problem you know so well. They are all celebrating the search, or mourning the problem, analyzing or disguising it. You wave but they don't look to see you, even as they proceed by to their own funerals. When you have exhausted yourself yelling, and felt the deaths of millions for not having heard, and watched those who think they are too good to look at you, push their own children in the graves before them, and watched the children grow angrier, the land more destroyed, the air and water more poisoned, the men, women, politicians and gurus vying for positions of power over something rather than the God-given grace to love and care for what supports life--and much more sight than I could ever write on paper--then you see what Charles Manson sees, alone. Everyone in this family put our life's faith there. The balance of the Christian mind is different than that of the Hindu. You say that you are impressed that I am articulate. Every one in this family is articulate, and exceptionally bright. Reports to the contrary are part of a people's need to look down on something and someone, be it a criminal, a different class or race of people, or a simple child. It is also a result of the standard of sophistication measured by one's ambition and finesse for acquiring money. The murders themselves were mean and purposeful. They were respondent. They needed not be sensationalized. But rather than listening to the defendants themselves, lies, distortion, perversion and other of the public's own cravings were substituted for the truth. At that time they were forced to accept attorneys as if they were forced to wear disguises. They were forced to remain silent while a parade of charaders marched around the courtroom talking about things they little understood--The Bible, sex orgies, Christ and the Devil, LSD, E.S.P., the "Manson Family" and the murders themselves. The Supreme Court later handed down a decision interpreting the U.S. Constitution as giving defendants the undeniable right to represent themselves in court as long as they conduct themselves within a reasonable accordance of court procedure. When I say they were "forced", I mean that they were required, and under that requirement in a situation determining the balance of their lives and the lives of many others, there was a tremendous amount of pressure. I do not appreciate crying injustices and dramatizing much of what the soft American public consider to be hardships. At the same time, I can empathize. While sympathy toward a problem can often make weakness, empathy can call up strength. The public here could not even face their own children, let alone empathize with them. They did not even ask to understand the young people in the so-called "Manson Family" who they were sending to the gas chamber. Rather, they blamed one man who was not even raised in the society which fostered those killings. I walked out of my trial; Sandra Good and Susan Murphy walked out of their trial; we did not put on our defenses because until all the family gets a chance to explain, none of us will. As a family, we can see a new money system where the money can work like a god for the people rather than people working like dogs for the money and not receiving the balance of healthful, experience-full life that the money exchange is supposed to buy. Until then, this country runs itself to the ground from what it refuses to face; just as you, yourself, can see no solution to WORLD problems and can see no one who does see. When Nixon points a gun at Ford, someone may see that Manson's mind is miles over the U.N. and Rome, and that the United States Government has been sold nine times already. I could take more time with this letter to be academic but that is not my concern. From what I have seen, most journalists would sell their own Lord's or child's heartbeat rather than come down to the love and soul in themselves, rather than getting on your knees to another of your own mankind, rather than conceding that you don't really know the connection between life and Death and why people are intent in moving toward self- destruction in their air, water, land, food and thoughts. It is by no means only journalists and media people who demonstrate this, and I am not condemning you. Everyone has done that for themselves. Interview with Red Regarding September 5, 1975 Q: What was your intention when you took the gun and went out to meet President Ford? A: It was my intention to be a voice for the Earth, to say that before all political ways of life, before class and race and gender, the earth needs to be seen and heard and fought for. The earth comes first in importance. This was a time in history when a terrible war had just ended, when people had been in the streets all over the country protesting the war, racial injustice, gender discrimination and poverty. I saw that underneath all these social problems, the source of all life was being destroyed. The San Jose mountains were almost totally obscured by smog; you couldn't see six blocks away in L.A. Workers were shown on TV with tremors due to neurological damage sustained in chemical companies after they had been assured that the stuff was safe. Their wives stood next to them weeping because the husbands had been rendered sterile. The head of the Natural Resources Department for California had announced that in Redwood Park the tallest trees on the planet -- some as tall as a football field is long -- were in danger of falling due to erosion caused by the over- logging of adjacent private lands. met with condescending contempt. There was a war going on for Christsake! There was political upheaval! Money and jobs were in the balance. I felt that we humans were allowing the destruction of the land which had always given us life. I felt a personal responsibility for the air, trees, water and animals. Q: Why, in particular, President Ford? A: In a sense he came to me. I had been feeling an increasing urgency. This wasn't something that came on without thought, or -- as was later implied -- a drug-induced impulse, or mental illness, or on orders from Manson. This was in response to a spiritual calling which was beyond life and considerations of death. We had already appealed to the heads of environmental groups, corporate CEO's, an Army Corps of Engineers general and several judges -- to no avail. Who more logically next than the head of the country? It wasn't Gerald Ford as an individual that I was approaching with my request or threat -- whichever was necessary -- but the chain of command. The very evening that I returned from San Francisco after speaking with the general, I saw President Ford on TV, getting off the plane in Sacramento. His visit was to address about 2000 area businessmen about enhancing their economic opportunities. Basically he was beginning his 1976 campaign. Ford had never before been elected. He had been chosen for the job by President Nixon in 1973 when the Vice President, Spiro Agnew, was forced to resign after criminal wrong-doing. Then, in 1974, Nixon had resigned the presidency, also after criminal wrong-doing, and Ford had been given that job. Q: You were convicted of attempted assassination. Was that, in fact, what you were trying to do? A: No, it wasn't. I took the gun with me but had not decided whether to use it. I was not philosophically opposed to physical force, and had I felt it was necessary I was prepared to use it. I had decided to proceed by perception, and standing in the crowd as the President approached, I had a sense of the faith that the people as a whole invest in their leaders, and a sense of myself as simply a member of that greater body. I also knew that after an assassination, no one sees the issues or problems leading to that act. The whole focus is upon mourning, upon the martyrdom of the slain individual. For safety reasons I had not put a bullet into the chamber, but I knew how to do it. Instead, I simply stepped through the crowd to the President and raised the gun to his midsection between his heart and stomach at about two feet distance. I was quickly bowled over, and I experienced the panic of the Secret Service agents as they repeatedly dove for the weapon that had already been confiscated. I felt completely calm and relieved, but I realized that in order to cause the necessary change I would need to allow business people to believe that there were people everywhere willing to give their lives and take the lives of others, if necessary, for the life of the planet. It is 25 years later, and I am still satisfied that I did the right thing. Q: What role, if any, did CM play in your decision or your action? A: Manson is the most absolute environmentalist that I've ever witnessed, and he had told the women around him that the Earth came before us and anything else in his list of priorities. Blue and I had been doing everything we knew to obtain visiting rights with him and, at the same time, to find a way of getting a new trial that would exonerate him. He began exhorting us in letters to quit trying to make him a good guy, to understand that people want and need a bad guy, and to use his bad reputation for some good. He said we could use his name in whatever way would be effective for the protection of Earth. We did. But Charlie did not plan or order or even conspire with us about our activities on behalf of ATWA. He just gave us his faith to do what we believed was right. Any other questions? Proposed Introduction to an Unpublished Book by Lynette Fromme, 1977 As long as the man is tucked away in asylum/prison/grave, you can say anything you want about him. Anything. You can lie in more movies and bogus books for money. You can pretend to play like him. You can orgy with your awkward paws and dance your frantic feet off, joke about his suffering, draw your very life from his blood. But you have not the soul to face him. He's a genius you don't recognize, in a ragged coat, with no tails for you to ride--or in secret, his majesty could blind you. The first time I saw him dance, I ran out of the room. He's in motions and sounds, not words, and he's hidden because he gave everything he was asked for. People said that I was Manson's main woman, people who didn't know that Manson treated all women around him as one. His main woman is the truth. She comes before anyone and anything and he's always with her in life or death. He married her in a dark hole. He knew alone. Three grades of school. Thirty years in a cage. Pulled out of solitary confinement dead--or a reflection and the balance of whatever group he's in. Born into this imbalanced world of women's law in 1967, carrying Truth over the threshold, he met thousands of young in the streets. I was one of them. He stood our words up in Truth. He never broke our wills. We put up our lives, and the symbol of one finger as alternative to anarchy. He knew what anarchy would do to the Earth. She has been treated like he has, by people too proud to look and too scared to see. He was thinking Earth-balance before I was born, and in the 50s he set the thought for International People's Court of Retribution so that everyone will know what they've done to air, land, water and the soul of the Earth. Everyone has wanted to make him small. Yet a monster. Stupid. With hypnotic powers. A fascist. And a Commie. And prejudiced nigger-lover. A macho punk. Both Christ and the Devil. Or, on the opposite side of everything. We told the world Manson is a reflection, yet even President Nixon, a lawyer, publicly declared Manson "guilty, directly or indirectly" before the trial was over, and set his own downfall. Believe it or not, Rome stumbled over the truth in one bastard. Three Excerpts from Lynette Fromme's Unpublished Book We all came from houses with doors, doors that were supposed to be closed when there were things going on that we weren't supposed to see, and when our pants were down. Making love was never shown to us. It was explained, as if a chore and a duty, hidden behind those doors. And little by little, action by action, we learned not to believe in anything, and that the word "Love" was not understandable, so, therefore, not to be discussed often. In essence, we learned all the guilt, the heavy guilt, that makes bad out of feeling good. Out from under we popped, to get away from those doors, and the chore of it, and find something exciting, and do something that felt good. My father had kicked me out of his house at the height of an argument over an opinion difference. He had become so enraged. He told me never to come back, and that was all the severance it took. I had no place to go. I stuck out my thumb on a freeway entrance, going through all my tears to Venice, where I remembered beatniks lived. Afraid, with all my books, my dictionary, my eye makeup clutched to me, I sat on a bench staring at the ocean. Suddenly, an elfish, dirty little creature in a little cap hopped over the low wall, grinning, saying "What's the problem?" He was either old, or very young. I couldn't tell. He had a two-day beard and reminded me of a fancy hobo--rather elegant, but my fear was up. "How did you know?" I started to say, and he smiled really bright, and I had the strangest feeling that he knew my thoughts. "Up in the Haight I'm called the gardener," he said. "I tend to all the flower children." My mind was struck with the thought . . . that a gardener plants seeds, and I became more afraid and clenched my legs together. "It's alright," he told me, and I could feel in his voice that it was. He had the most delicate, quick motion, like magic, as if glided along by air, and a smile that went from warm daddy to twinkely devil. I couldn't tell what he was. I was enchanted and afraid all at once, and I put my head down and wished he would go away, and when I looked up, really he was gone! And I turned my head, wanting to talk to him now with urgency. And as soon as I turned back around, there he was again, sitting on the wall, grinning at me. I had only conceived of such things in fairy tales. "So your father kicked you out," he said with certainty, and once again my mind went with the wind, and I laughed and relaxed . . . We talked and I felt very good with him and freer, much freer. "The way out of a room is not through the door," he said, laughing. "Just don't want out and you're free." Then he unfolded a tale of the 20 years he's spent behind bars, of the struggle and the giving up and the loving of himself. We came back to the fact that I didn't have any place to go. He told me that he was on his way to the woods up north and that I could come with him if I wished. I declined, having obligations to fulfill, having three weeks of my first college semester left. Then I looked at him, wanting to get up, crunching up my face in thought. "Well," he said, moving down the walk, "I can't make up your mind for you." He smiled a soft feeling and was on his way. I grabbed my books, running to catch up with him. I don't know why--I didn't care--and I never left. I felt close to him and layed on his shoulder, wanting a daddy to hold me . . . I hoped that he would pursue me or touch me, or rape me or anything good really, yet without me giving up to it. It was a little girl-game I wanted to play. But instead he told me: "So, you've been hurt and now you've locked yourself up. You've got all your love tied up in the past, and associated with bad or sad experiences. You wanted your daddy to hit you, didn't you?" It was so and I nodded. As all daughters, I had wanted all the attention I could get from my daddy . . . Day by day, we became more aware of Charlie, who was ever aware of us, and each tree and each branch and each leaf. The way he explained it was this: "What's happened, see, is me not adjusting to the 'Free World'. I've made up my own world. In other words, I didn't and wouldn't adjust to society and their reality of things. Statement from Lynette Fromme There were many women around. We all had a relationship with each other that was very strong. And all of our minds kind of hooked up. We rejected the society. We rejected marriage because we didn't like what our parents had. We looked at our parents' marriages and we said "You know, if I'm going to say I pledge my life to you till death, then I'm not going to leave." We rejected paying taxes when we didn't know where those tax dollars were going. We wanted to know what is it being used for? I know lots of young people felt that way. They wanted to know what is this war for? When the circumstances are right, everything becomes a dance. And then, there's this communication that happens on earth between the animals and the people. And when you're in the woods, when you're some place like the redwoods -- when you are in the presence of a thousand year old, or three thousand year old tree that's as big as a house, it puts you in your place. When it came to animals, he wanted to know "What are you and what do you do? He didn't say those words, but more or less, he looked at each animal as an interesting creature and he wanted to know how it lived and what it was here for. And everything has that purpose, that nice, circular balance of plant life, of animal life. We have a planet that needs all the help it can get and people are not number one, you know. I wanted a courtroom. I wanted to put my people in court and let them say what they did. Bugliosi, the district attorney on the Tate-LaBianca cases, had put out a book. There were a lot of falsehoods in that book and it was a distorted view of our purposes, helter skelter and all... wanting to start a race war - that's a joke. A race war's been coming for years and years. So for them to put it all on Manson is criminal. But the other people, the other races of people know. And all that I say, with regard to that, is I believe it's natural. I believe that it is natural to like yourself, to look to others that look like you. And it's good. Other races should not be looking to white people for images. I have no respect for people who don't have respect for what gives them life. And that's earth. You know, earth first. That's Manson's first woman. He can get right up to you and affect you in a way that maybe you've never been affected before. Because he can scare the shit out of you, turn around, walk away, and turn back and be somebody else. And he can show you a way to become connected with birds and animals and trees and things like that. He shows you by his actions. He doesn't tell you. He doesn't preach it. He wasn't a preacher. He didn't teach us these things. He just lived them . And that was more than we had seen from anyone else. And as far as leaders go, I'll go with that, you know. He didn't ask me to call him God. We thought that was really funny. You think we'd be with somebody we had to call God? People want evil. In order for there to be a good, there has to be evil. People want it. I don't happen to need scary things chasing me around. I don't want my dreams full of that. I want to see what's here. I want to discover the country. I want to take a look at it. .... it was a unanimous type of a decision. And it was... we didn't vote on it or anything. We had become one mind. And it wasn't Manson's mind . We had become another, something that goes beyond the individual, I don't know what to call it. And I will explain that this way. I picked up a pair of scissors in the ranch house and I'm thinking "I don't need these" so I put them down. I walk in circles. Finally, I pick up the scissors and leave. And I get down where the movie set is and one of the girls stepped out of a saloon. She said, "Thank you". It was not abnormal for us to understand and know each other's thoughts from a distance. Then we realized this is what human beings can do. All of us, you know. And we weren't sure we were worthy of it. And we had to deal with religion and you know, were we worthy, Religions teach otherwise. Well, why not? What else would God have us be but worthy? So then, to accept this and to go on, we saw so many things that I don't talk about them. He can dance. He likes to dance. And it comes from feeling. And if he touches you, then it spreads. And then, people start behaving differently . And they become more, I guess, just poised. I think it's coming back around again. I think kids are dissatisfied and they're... they all, kids are always dissatisfied, but I think that they're coming back to natural things again, It's hard because half of it's been taken away from you already. Kids tell me all the time, "Well, you know, it may not be here by the time I'm an adult" They say, "I don't know if I'm gonna have children or not." We're a continuum. As human beings, we' re supposed to see into the future. When you hear those Indians down in Brazil talking about their kids and their grandkids, it's warming. I want them to win. I don't want them to be slaughtered. I want them to win. I was sitting behind lots and lots of people when Charlie walked into the courtroom and he was asking the judge to be able to retain his voice. He wanted to defend himself and not have someone else up there talking for him who didn't know him. And the people were wanting to see what he was about, what he had to say. They were on the edge of the seats, and the reporters were writing down things and suddenly, very suddenly, the judge banged the gavel and he said, "This is my courtroom, Mr. Manson, and I make the rules here." And it was obviously an attempt to gain back the attention of the people 'cause everybody jumped. Everybody felt like they had been reprimanded . And that's supposed to be the "big dad" up there. I'll give him that respect if he gives my land and water and air that respect. I mean, there should be judges, like Solomon, wise people to be in the middle of disputes. But don't take my attention and then just point me toward money and tell me that's the only thing that's right. I mean, when people kill, they have to be willing to be killed. And the women involved in this, and the men at the time, they were. They were. So whatever they say about Charlie, it can be a reaction to something. I don't know. They are under much more pressure than I have ever been. I just know that there are a lot of young people who want to follow him, so they follow what they read in the books. It's not right. We didn't take heroin. No way. You won't get me to touch that. Or Cocaine. And I've had to write letters to young people saying we didn't do that because they wrote me and they tell me, "Yeah, it's cool. I take these drugs and all. . . " How could you let an elephant be extinct? How could we allow elephants to be taken off the earth? We can't do that. Write to Lynette This is Lynette Fromme's current address. Remember that she likes to read articles from nature magazines (no staples, paper clips, entire magazines, or Poloroid photos). Lynette Fromme 06075-180 FMC Carswell PO Box 27137 Admin. Unit Ft. Worth, Texas 76127
