The Crusades of Cesar Chavez

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The Crusades of Cesar Chavez Page 62

by Miriam Pawel


  28 “over-played and over-bluffed” Mahony to bishops’ committee, Jul. 23, 1970

  29 Chavez became angry Levy notes on negotiations, JEL, Box 41, Folder 783

  30 “You are a new union” Transcript of contract signing and press conference, JEL, Box 2, Folder 149

  Chapter 19

  Sources: Court records and transcripts, Superior Court of Monterey County; records of the bishops’ committee and Mahony notes; Levy notes, tapes, and interviews; Cohen journals; author interviews with Carder, Cohen, Ganz, Hartmire, Lopez, Medina, and Valdez.

  1 “feel out the Teamsters” Cal Watkins declaration, Aug. 31, 1970, in Mann Packing v. Cesar Chavez, Superior Court of Monterey County files

  2 “Above all, the workers want” El Malcriado, Aug. 1, 1970

  3 “Two Anglos got together” Levy tape, Jul. 28, 1970, JEL, Box 2, Folder 148

  4 Levy noted Levy notes, Jul. 29, 1970, JEL, Box 2, Folder 148

  5 “time has passed” El Malcriado, Aug. 1, 1970

  6 “we all signed cards” Declaration of Mann Packing workers, n.d., in Mann Packing v. Cesar Chavez, Superior Court of Monterey County files

  7 enough money for six weeks Levy notes, Aug. 2, 1970, JEL, Box 2, Folder 149

  8 wedding reception Chavez, JEL, Box 4, Folder 165

  9 called Monsignor Roger Mahony Mahony to Ad-hoc Committee on Farm Labor, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Aug. 26, 1970, AALA, Folder 1970

  10 Higgins’s discretion Higgins press conference, Aug. 12, 1970, and Levy notes, JEL, Box 2 Folder 149

  11 never announced the vote Higgins, Apr. 11, 1994, JEL, Box 37, Folder 743

  12 “not like a spiritual fast” Chavez, JEL, Box 4, Folder 165

  13 “a totally new ball game” Driscoll, Sep. 10, 1970, JEL, Box 3, Folder 153

  14 “a monastery in Tibet” “Judge Calls Chavez ‘Star of Radio, TV,’” Los Angeles Herald Examiner, Sep. 11, 1970

  15 “call a boycott” Levy tape, Sep. 15, 1970, JEL, Box 3, Folder 153

  16 “They were unafraid” Govea journal, in possession of author

  17 “there will be retaliation” Cohen diary, Sep. 24, 1970, Cohen papers, Box 1, Folder 5

  18 “Dolores has mismanaged” Higgins to Mahony, Sep. 24, 1970, AALA, Folder 1970

  19 “A confession?” Cohen diary, Sep. 28, 1970, Cohen papers, Box 1, Folder 5

  20 roughed-up Dolores Bruce Perry interviews with Cynthia Bell, Aug. 22, 1993, and Daneen Montoya

  21 fighting Chavez in court Bud Antle vs. UFWOC, Complaint for Injunction and Damages, Aug. 24, 1970, Superior Court of Monterey County files

  22 “we are being persecuted” Chavez deposition, Nov. 23, 1970, ADMIN3, Box 70, Folder 3

  23 “essence of Christ’s teaching” “Chavez asks lettuce boycott support,” New York Times, Nov. 30, 1970

  24 Inside Judge Campbell’s chambers Transcript of court proceeding, Dec. 4, 1970, ADMIN3, Box 69

  25 booked him Monterey County Sheriff booking sheet, OOP1, Box 5, Folder 1

  26 “Jail is a small price” Levy tape, Dec. 5, 1970, JEL, Box 7, Folder 256

  27 “brown and black workers” Levy tape, Dec. 1, 1970, JEL, Box 86, Tape 2

  28 Ethel Kennedy marched Levy tape, Dec. 6, 1970, JEL, Box 86, Tape 4

  29 “with you till the end” Petition, Calexico, Dec. 8, 1970, OOP1, Box 5, Folder 1

  30 Letters to Chavez Ibid.

  31 “hearing aid battery” George Nelson to Chavez, Dec. 8, 1970, courtesy of Bill Carder

  32 “my husband had great admiration” Levy tape, Dec. 19, 1970, JEL, Box 86, Tape 5

  33 Helen wrote Cesar Letters in UFW archives, Wayne State, accessed at http://chavez.cde.ca.gov/researchcenter

  34 “My spirit was never in jail” “State Court Lets Chavez Out of Jail,” Salinas Californian, Dec. 24, 1970

  Chapter 20

  Sources: Hartmire papers; Levy tapes; author interviews with Cohen, Hartmire, Murguia, and Smith.

  1 averaged seventy visits Tape of conference NYC, Nov. 19, 1971, UFWA

  2 he questioned Lewis Lewis interview, http://www.jayvigon.com/portfo lio/DesignStudio-Videos-Chavez-LaPaz.html

  3 bought the parcel Deed, Kern County Recorder’s Office

  4 named the complex with care Chavez, JEL, Box 2, Folder 141

  5 lists of items Minutes of NFWM meeting, May 2–4, 1971, Hartmire papers

  6 Chavez had big plans Hartmire notes, Hartmire papers

  7 “we call that education” Tape of Chavez with students at La Paz, Jan. 1973, UFWA

  8 “If the workers are not liberated” Tape of conference, La Paz, Dec. 2, 1971, UFWA

  9 “the important qualities” Tape with students, Jan. 1973

  10 “national union of the poor” Transcript of meeting, Jun. 5, 1970, Hartmire papers

  11 “When people sacrifice” Chavez remarks, “On Money and Organizing,” Oct. 4, 1971, Hartmire papers

  12 “very difficult question” Ibid.

  13 “The moment we stop sacrificing” Ibid.

  14 “at heart an experimenter” Tape of Chavez with students, n.d., UFWA

  15 “Power also comes out of credit” Chavez, Jun. 24, 1970, JEL, Box 2, Folder 143

  16 restart El Malcriado Levy tape of meeting Sep. 17, 1971, La Paz, JEL, Tape 10

  17 “The whole game” Tape of Dec. 73 NEB meeting, UFWA

  18 $90,000 loan Tape of conference, Dec. 2, 1971

  19 “it may seem artificial” Dunbar to Chavez, Aug. 6, 1969, Field Foundation, Box 2T143

  20 Chavez assured Dunbar Chavez to Dunbar, Aug. 28, 1969, Field Foundation, Box 2T143

  21 “a lot of problems” Tape of Chavez with students, Feb. 10, 1978, UFWA

  22 “a mystic bit” Kircher interview, Oct. 19, 1973, TAY, Box 9, Folder 16

  23 “slight bit of trauma” Moyer to Drake, Mar. 22, 1971, OOP1, Box 47, Folder 25

  24 an assassination plot Account drawn from extensive files on the Shears case in UFW archives, including Cohen memos, copies of affidavits by ATF officials in ADMIN3, Box 32, Folder 5; Levy notes, JEL Tape 119; and FBI files

  25 “Cesar objected to paying” Cohen to file, Feb. 3, 1972, ADMIN3, Box 32, Folder 5

  26 patrolled the perimeter Interview with Dave Smith

  27 “On her birthday” Chavez to Anna Puharich, Jan. 29, 1971, OOP2, Box 48

  28 “eat honey” Jan. 13, 1974, TAY, Box 9, Folder 1

  29 “built sort of a community” Tape with students, La Paz, Jan. 1973, UFWA

  Chapter 21

  Sources: Levy daily journals of negotiations; Mahony reports to bishops’ committee; author interviews with Chatfield, Cohen, Eggers, Gutierrez, Hartmire, Moses, Rutkowski, and Washburn.

  1 no evidence Interview with Gutierrez

  2 “show our love” Tape of rally, May 12, 1972, UFWA

  3 “pretty stubborn guy” Associated Press story, May 28, 1972

  4 Chavez told Hartmire Hartmire notes, Hartmire papers

  5 “they have caught the fire” Hartmire to boycotters, May 19, 1972, Hartmire papers

  6 “brings tears to my eyes” Levy tape, Jun. 4, 1972, JEL, Box 86, Tape 14

  7 “He went to Delano” Ibid.

  8 prevailed on a 14-5 vote Minutes of NFWM meeting, May 2–4, 1971, Hartmire papers

  9 “a miserable performance” Higgins to John Cosgrove, Jan. 15, 1971, in AALA, Folder 1971

  10 “The myth is shattered” Taylor interview, Apr. 3, 1971, TAY, Box 8, Folder 13

  11 “it’s been my life” Transcript of Chavez talk, Jan. 3, 1970, UFW Archives, accessed at http://chavez.cde.ca.gov/researchcenter

  12 Thirteen labor bills Mahony to bishops’ committee, Jun. 4 and Jul. 20, 1972, AALA Folder 1972

  13 “There’s no limit” Tape of conference, La Paz, Dec. 2, 1971, UFWA

  14 “pretty realistic view” Cohen, Nov. 1971, JEL, Box 4, Folder 165

  15 “at a crossroads” Cohen journal, Cohen papers, Box 1, Folder 5

  16 Cohen looked for p
laintiffs Levy notes, Jun. 11, 1971, JEL, Box 3, Folder 160

  17 the bulletin board clause Tape of conference, Dec. 2, 1971

  18 “guy named Nixon” Ibid.

  19 “we’re in trouble” Transcript of conference, Aug. 5–6, 1972, CENT, Box 4, Folder 51

  20 “you know he’s special” “The Anglo Army Behind Cesar Chavez,” Los Angeles Times, Apr. 6, 1972

  21 “Cesar spoke very softly” Chatfield, Cesar 1968, courtesy of Bruce Perry

  22 “a guy who starts juggling” Tape of conference, NYC, Nov. 19, 1971, UFWA

  Chapter 22

  Sources: Levy files and tapes; Mahony files in Farm Labor Collection; Cohen papers; author interviews with Bricca, Cohen, Medina, and Marguleas.

  1 “the most terrible two weeks” Quotes and description of Richard Chavez’s experience come from Jun. 14, 1974, interview by Levy, JEL, Box 4, Folder 173 unless otherwise indicated

  2 “a gentle intimidator” Cohen diary, Sep. 10, 1970, Cohen papers, Box 1, Folder 5

  3 “we were in a bind” Tape of conference, La Paz, Dec. 2, 1971, UFWA

  4 “a step above” Ibid.

  5 “We never educated them” Tape of conference, NYC, Nov. 19, 1971, UFWA

  6 “we must not be afraid” Minutes of Sep. 19, 1970, meeting, INFO, Box 51, Folder 59

  7 “they react against the union” Tape of conference, Dec. 2, 1971

  8 “the vegetable people began to make us understand” Ibid.

  9 “increasing animosity towards the UFWOC” Mahony to Chavez, Nov. 15, 1971, AALA, Folder 1971

  10 “I have your letter” Chavez to Mahony, Nov. 27, 1971, OOP1, Box 47, Folder 9

  11 long lists of complaints Mahony to Ad-Hoc Farm Labor Committee, Jun. 4, 1972, AALA, Folder 1972

  12 Chavez responded Chavez to Mahony, Jun. 14, 1972, AALA, Folder 1972

  13 “Something has to be done” Mahony to Kircher, Jul. 3, 1972, AALA, Folder 1972,

  14 “Why is there such hostility” D’Arrigo to Richard Chavez, Jun. 14, 1972, AALA, Folder 1972

  15 “unreasonable, capricious, and hostile” Larson to Chavez, Apr. 24, 1972, AALA, Folder 1972

  16 “destroying all the good work” Steinberg to Chavez, Mahony, May 16, 1972, AALA, Folder 1972

  17 “never been so disgusted” Marguleas, Jun. 7, 1972, JEL, Box 42, Folder 811

  18 he had no crews Roberts, Marguleas telegrams to Mahony, Oct. 3, 1972, AALA, Folder 1972

  19 “According to the report” Tape of conference, Dec. 2, 1971

  20 “let me know if you’re quitting” Chavez to Huerta, Dec. 15, 1972, ADMIN, Box 11, Folder 5

  21 “the decision had been made” Mahony to bishops’ committee, Feb. 5, 1973, report, AALA, Folder 1973

  22 “it’s going to be a great miracle” Chavez with students, Jan. 1973, La Paz, UFWA

  23 “we’ll come beat their brains out” Chavez memos, ADMIN, Box 11, Folder 18

  24 they met on April 5 Transcript of meeting, ADMIN3, Box 28, Folder 56

  25 only passages that Cesar censored Tape of Dec. 16–23, 1974, NEB, UFWA

  Chapter 23

  Sources: Documents and audiotapes, UFW archives; Fighting for Our Lives; Levy daily journal and tapes; Farm Labor Collection; FBI Files; Byrd papers; author interviews with Byrd, Carder, Cohen, Dalzell, Hartmire, Moyer, and Nathan.

  1 “we have the villain” Chavez, Mar. 17, 1974, JEL, Box 4, Folder 169

  2 “justice for farmworkers” Fighting for Our Lives

  3 bulges under their jackets Lt. Yoksimer to Deputy Sheriff Cois Byrd, Apr. 12, 1973, Byrd papers

  4 overtime bill Records of Riverside sheriff department, Byrd papers

  5 “You rotten bum!” Fighting for Our Lives

  6 “We’ve got this great villain” Chavez, Mar. 17, 1974, JEL, Box 4, Folder 169

  7 “They had to pick on something” Chavez, JEL, Box 4, Folder 168

  8 “a non-white union” Interview with Gerard Sherry, NC News Service, Jun. 1973, AALA, Folder 1973

  9 “Things have really escalated” Tapes of Jun. 25, 1973, in UFWA and JEL Tape 84

  10 “Organizing is a gamble” “Interview with Cesar Chavez,” by John Moyer, Impact, Aug. 1971

  11 “Must gamble daily” Cohen diary, Box 1, Folder 5 Vol. 2, Cohen papers

  12 “The crippling injunction is dissolved” Cassette tape, n.d., UFWA

  13 increased pay to $90 Tape of Jun. 13–18, 1975, NEB meeting, UFWA

  14 “This is our entire life” “Chavez Vows to Continue Fight,” Los Angeles Times, Jul. 22, 1973

  15 olive-green jailhouse dress Gerard Sherry, “Dorothy Day Speaks from Jail,” Aug. 10, 1973, Catholic News Service

  16 Chavez was suddenly optimistic Levy diary, Jul. 20–30, 1970, JEL Tape 120

  17 “learned more about concern and solidarity” Tape of Cleveland rally, Jun. 29, 1973, UFWA

  18 “it’s our strike too” Tape of Chavez speech, Jun. 25, 1973, UFWA

  19 “It’s not that serious” Interview with Sherry, Jun. 1973

  20 “whores in the camps” Levy notes and diary of negotiations, JEL Tape 120

  21 “make them feel small” Quigley, Dec. 9, 1973, TAY, Box 9, Folder 10

  22 “arming of the strikebreakers” Fighting for Our Lives

  23 “series of beatings” Ibid.

  24 died at 1:00 a.m. FBI report, in Stanley Pottinger papers, Folder 126b, Ford Library

  25 Daifullah wrote home Daifullah letters, Hartmire papers

  26 “We are going to win” De la Cruz eulogy, Hartmire papers

  27 Chavez was out of money Pottinger papers, Ford Library

  28 “the cops were behind it” Tape of Chavez interviewed by Winthrop Griffith, n.d., UFWA

  29 “how can I be discouraged?” Jan. 13, 1974, TAY, Box 9, Folder 1

  30 spent more than $5 million UFW LM2 report to U.S. Department of Labor, 1973

  31 “This is our work” Tape of press conference in Salinas, 1973, UFWA

  Chapter 24

  Sources: Transcript and tapes of 1973 founding convention; UFW Constitution; tapes of NEB meetings, Dec.17–23, 1973, Mar. 27–Apr. 1, Oct. 12–15, and Dec. 16–23, 1974, and Mar. 25–28, 1975; Levy tapes and notes; Taylor files; author interviews with Dalzell, Ganz, Medina, Orendain, and Padilla.

  1 sown the seeds Levy notes, Sep. 23, 1973, JEL, Box 6, Folder 205

  2 16-by-24-foot mural Almaraz explanation of mural, on FMDP website

  3 “win or lose” Sep. 21, 1973, JEL Tape 17b

  4 “they believed that power corrupts” Tape of Chavez with students, Feb. 10, 1978, UFWA

  5 crafted the brief preamble Ibid.

  6 “Some of the best people” Levy tape, Sep. 23, 1973, JEL, Tape 18A

  7 “All colors, all shapes, all sizes” Transcript of convention proceeding, in possession of author

  8 more than eighty budgets Quigley interview, Dec. 9, 1973, TAY, Box 9, Folder 10

  9 “you deal with the problem” Chavez, May 15, 1969, JEL, Box 1, Folder 133

  10 “he must get control” Levy notes, Nov. 13, 1973, JEL, Box 4, Folder 164

  11 Quigley made decisions Quigley interview, Dec. 9, 1973

  12 “whole idea of administration” Chavez with boycotters, Mar. 16, 1974, JEL, Box 4, Folder 168

  13 “they knew all these things” Tape of Mar. 25–28, 1974, NEB, UFWA

  14 “biggest problem is car and telephone” Tape of Dec. 1973 staff meeting, UFWA

  15 “making you guys responsible” Tape of Dec. 17–23, 1973, NEB, UFWA

  16 “This week is my week” Ibid.

  17 “We’ll know what to do” Tape of Dec. 16–23, 1974, NEB, UFWA

  18 “give me some time to be in La Paz” Ibid.

  19 Ross chastised Chavez Tape of Oct. 12–15, 1974, NEB, UFWA

  20 “nobody is going to work against you” Richard Chavez to Levy, Jun. 1974, JEL, Box 4, Folder 173

  21 “unity is more important” Tape of Mar. 25–28, 1975, NEB, UFWA

  Cha
pter 25

  Sources: Maricopa County Organizing Project archives; Yuma Daily Sun; Levy tapes of European tour; tapes of NEB meetings, Mar. 27–Apr. 1, Jun. 11–14, Oct. 12–15, and Dec. 16–23, 1974; author interviews with Barry, Devereux, Gutierrez, Liza Hirsch Medina, and Padilla.

  1 the headline Winthrop Griffith, “Is Chavez Beaten?” New York Times, Sep. 15, 1974

  2 “that didn’t indicate much support” Sacramento Bee, Feb. 23, 1974

  3 “We bought a goddamn strike” Tape of Mar.27–Apr. 1, 1974, NEB, UFWA

  4 “I don’t ever get tired” Chuck Powers, “Chavez and the State of his Union,” Los Angeles Times, Jun. 23, 1974

  5 “I kidded myself” Levy tape, Oct. 9, 1974, JEL Tape 112

  6 In a dozen speeches Levy tapes, Sep. 16–24, 1974, JEL Tapes 108–9

  7 “there stood Monsignor Higgins” Chavez report to NEB, Dec. 1974, Hartmire papers

  8 “We were overjoyed” Levy tape, Sep. 27, 1974, JEL Tape 110

  9 “It was recognition for us” Levy tape, Oct. 9 1974, JEL Tape 113

  10 spent $80,000 a week Details of wet line from tapes of Oct. and Dec. 1974 NEB, UFWA

  11 denounced the wet line “UFW Expects to Hear,” Yuma Daily Sun, Nov. 18, 1974

  12 “They bought off the police” Stories by Tom Barry, MCOP, Accession 1994-1302, Box 4

  13 the simple mechanism Riverside Sheriff department reports, Byrd papers

  14 Manuel provided entertaining accounts Tape of Dec. 16–23, 1974, NEB, UFWA

  15 “activity has got to stop” “3 Convicted UFW Members,” Yuma Daily Sun, Jan. 14, 1975

  16 Manuel and Cesar tacitly acknowledged Tape of Dec. 16–23, 1974, NEB

  17 held him in jail Ibid.

  18 “he started buying everybody off” Barry stories, MCOP papers

  19 “some mind-boggling stuff” Hartmire to Chavez, Dec. 24, 1974, OOP2, Box 44, Folder 10

  20 “It’s like playing poker” Tape of Dec.16–23, 1974, NEB

  21 “all sorts of grief” Ibid.

  22 “Cesar forgives Manuel” Matthiessen, 332

  23 “don’t make people any better” American Labor Magazine, Feb. 1971

  24 He dismissed questions “Chavez Offers Olive Branch,” Yuma Daily Sun, Oct. 17, 1974

 

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