Blood in the Water

by Thompson, Heather Ann

  39. “N.Y. Guards Threaten to Lock Cells.” Washington Post, September 23, 1971.

  40. Russell G. Oswald, Commissioner, Department of Correctional Services, Memorandum to Nelson A. Rockefeller, Governor, Subject: “Activities Report—December 16, 1971–January 14, 1972,” Rockefeller Archive Center.

  41. Russell G. Oswald to Nelson A. Rockefeller, January 19, 1972.

  42. Joseph Lelyveld, “Black Prison Guards Deplore Racial Imbalance in Penal Chain of Command,” New York Times, October 24, 1971.

  43. Ibid.

  44. Ibid.

  45. “Fact Sheet #2 from Attica,” September 16, 1971, Lieutenant H. Steinbaugh Papers.

  46. Ragged spiral bound notebook with handwritten notes and addresses where to send word. Found in a cell that was dismantled by guards and subsequently taken as evidence by New York State Police. Part of collection of materials handed over to New York State Museum in 2011. Author viewed these artifacts in warehouse of New York State Museum, October 2011.

  47. Ibid.

  48. Goldman Panel to Protect Prisoners’ Constitutional Rights, Report, New York State Archives.

  49. John Stainthorp, Attica Brothers Legal Defense, “National Guard and Medical Workers,” January 8, 1975, 12.

  50. Goldman Panel to Protect Prisoners’ Constitutional Rights, Report, New York State Archives.

  51. Vincent R. Mancusi, Letter to James D. Bradley, M.D., November 10, 1971, Investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, Box 84, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

  52. James D. Bradley, M.D., Correction Medical Director, Memorandum to Walter Dunbar, Executive Deputy Commissioner, Subject: “Inspection at Attica Facility,” November 23, 1971, Investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, Box 84, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

  53. Ibid.

  54. Eric Pace, “Visiting Day at Attica Stirs New Charges of Brutality,” New York Times, September 30, 1971.

  55. “Fact Sheet #2 from Attica.”

  56. Ibid.

  57. Transferee Lists, undated, Investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, Box 9, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

  58. Memorandum, Subject: “Status of Attica Riot Transfers,” September 23, 1971, Investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, Box 9, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

  59. “Institution Status Report—Attica Inmates 9/30/71,” Investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, Box 9, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

  60. Fred Ferretti, “Legal Aid Files Suit on Behalf of Clinton Inmates,” New York Times, October 30, 1971.

  61. Ibid.

  29. DUCKS IN A ROW

  1. Joseph Persico, Speech, Draft, September 22, 1971, Nelson A. Rockefeller gubernatorial records, Speeches, Series 33, New York (State), Governor (1959–1973: Rockefeller), Rockefeller, Nelson A. (Nelson Aldrich), Record Group 15, Box 85, Rockefeller Archive Center, Sleepy Hollow, New York.

  2. Hugh Morrow, Statement for Nelson Rockefeller, Draft, September 17, 1971, Nelson A. Rockefeller gubernatorial records, Speeches, Series 33, New York (State), Governor (1959–1973: Rockefeller), Rockefeller, Nelson A. (Nelson Aldrich), Record Group 15, Box 85, Sleepy Hollow, New York.

  3. Conversation #571-1, September 13, 1971, 12:37 p.m.–2:58 p.m., Oval Office, Present: Richard Nixon, Robert Dole, Alexander Haig Jr., H. R. Haldeman, Nixon Tapes.

  4. Spiro T. Agnew, “The ‘Root Causes’ of Attica,” New York Times, September 17, 1971.

  5. John N. Mitchell, Attorney General, Statement Concerning Campus Disorders, Special Subcommittee on Education, Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, May 20, 1969.

  6. Morrow, Statement for Nelson Rockefeller, Draft, September 17, 1971.

  7. Rockefeller, Deposition, Lynda Jones v. State of New York et al. (Claim No. 54555) and Elizabeth M. Hardie v. State of New York et al. (Claim No. 54684), State of New York Court of Claims, April 22, 1977, 47. Also see: Robert Douglass, Testimony, Meyer Commission, June 20, 1975, FOIA request #110818 of the New York State Attorney General’s Office, FOIA p. 000295.

  8. Whiteman, Testimony, Meyer Commission, June 12, 1975, 1726, FOIA request #110818, FOIA p. 000710.

  9. Ibid., FOIA p. 000691.

  10. Rockefeller, Deposition, Lynda Jones v. State of New York et al. (Claim No. 54555) and Elizabeth M. Hardie v. State of New York et al. (Claim No. 54684), State of New York Court of Claims, April 22, 1977, 47.

  11. Rockefeller, Deposition, Meyer Commission, August 8, 1975, 8746, FOIA request #110818, FOIA p. 000468.

  12. Douglass, Testimony, Meyer Commission, June 20, 1975, FOIA request #110818, FOIA p. 000349.

  13. Harry Albright Jr. and Eliot Vestner Jr., Memorandum to the Governor, Subject: “Sources of Attica Chronology,” in: Rockefeller Administration, Appendix 3, Confidential Memo, “Events at Attica: September 8–13, 1971.”

  14. Ibid.

  15. Whiteman, Testimony, Meyer Commission, June 12, 1975, 1619, FOIA request #110818, FOIA p. 000642.

  PART VI · INQUIRIES AND DIVERSIONS

  30. DIGGING MORE DEEPLY

  1. John Darnton, “Nixon Repeats Support for Governor’s Action,” New York Times, September 17, 1971.

  2. John Darnton, “Protests Mount, Prayers Offered,” New York Times, September 18, 1971.

  3. Marilynn Bailey, “Statewide Coalition Urged to Support Prison Reform,” Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York), November 12, 1971.

  4. Fred Ferretti, “Congressional Committee Also Plans Investigation,” New York Times, September 16, 1971, Senator Jacob A. Javits Collection, Box 50, Special Collections and University Archives, Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York.

  5. Arthur Eve, Memorandum to Members of the Attica Observers Committee, Subject: “Next Meeting,” October 12, 1971, Franklin Florence Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, University of Rochester Library, Rochester, New York.

  6. Ibid.

  7. These included: Arthur Eve, Herman Badillo, Robert Garcia, and some other prison reformers who decided to join this group such as David Rothenberg. Naomi Burns, Letter to Members of the Observers Committee, May 11, 1972, Franklin Florence Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, University of Rochester Library, Rochester, New York.

  8. John Dunne, Testimony, U.S. House Select Committee on Crime, September 27, 1971, 33522.

  9. State of New York Select Committee on Correctional Institutions and Programs, New York City, February 11, 1972.

  10. Russell G. Oswald, Memorandum to Superintendents of Correctional Facilities and State Institutions and Directors of State Hospitals, Subject: “List of Committees,” October 28, 1971, Attica uprising–related documents kept at the Attica Correctional Facility, Attica, New York.

  11. Hugh R. Jones, Report Number One, investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, Box 90, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

  12. Eric Pace, “Attica Inmates Tell of Running a ‘Gauntlet,’ ” New York Times, September 19, 1971.

  13. Hugh R. Jones, Report Number One.

  14. Ibid.

  15. Ibid.

  16. Russell G. Oswald, Commissioner, Department of Correctional Services, Memorandum to Nelson A. Rockefeller, Governor, Subject: “Activities Report, August 23, 1972–September 20, 1972,” Central subject and correspondence files, 1959–1973, New York (State), Governor (1959–1973: Rockefeller), Record Group 15, Box 2, Folder 32, Rockefeller Archives, New York State Archives, Sleepy Hollow, New York.

  17. Ibid.

  18. William Ferrell, “House Committee Confers with Rockefeller on Attica,” New York Times, September 18, 1971.

&
nbsp; 19. Ibid.

  20. Congressmen Claude Pepper and Frank Brasco, Interview, Attica Aftermath, NBC News, Attica, New York, September 18, 1971, NBCUniversal Archives, Clip #5112474568_s05, Roll 3.

  21. Ibid.

  22. Ferretti, “Congressional Committee Also Plans Investigation.”

  23. Pace, “Attica Inmates Tell of Running a ‘Gauntlet.’ ”

  24. Select Committee on Crime, Hearings, House of Representatives, 92nd Cong., 1st sess. (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1972), November 20, 30, December 1, 2, and 3, 1971.

  25. Ibid.

  26. “2 Inmates to Testify in Attica Court Room,” Courier Express (Buffalo, New York), December 9, 1971; Investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

  27. William Ringle, “House Crime Unit to Visit Attica to Quiz Prisoners,” Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York), December 3, 1971.

  28. Select Committee on Crime, Hearings, House of Representatives, 92nd Cong., 1st sess. (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1972), November 20, 30, December 1,2, and 3, 1971.

  29. Morton Minz, “NY Prisons Official Finds No Red Conspiracy at Attica,” Washington Post, undated, Senator Jacob A. Javits Collection, Box 50, Special Collections and University Archives, Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York.

  30. Michael Whiteman, Testimony, Meyer Commission, June 12, 1975, 1809, FOIA request #110818, FOIA p. 000793.

  31. Commissioner Oswald, Address to the Select Committee on Crime, House of Representatives, Congress of the United States, November 30, 1971, Washington, D.C., Attica Correctional Facility Archive.

  32. Fred Ferretti, “Badillo Decries Attica ‘Inaction’: Tells House Panel Promises Have Not Been Honored,” New York Times, December 2, 1971, 61.

  33. Paul L. Montgomery, “2 Attica Inmates Tell U.S. Panel Brutality and Harassing Persist,” New York Times, February 26, 1972, 59.

  34. Ibid.

  35. Appendix C: “Continuing Questions About Nelson Rockefeller,” as contained in: Nelson A. Rockefeller Vice Presidential Confirmation Hearings, House of Representatives, 93rd Cong., 2nd sess., Congressional Record 120 (November 26, 1974), 1090; “Two Groups Term the State’s Attica Panels ‘Whitewash’ Units,” New York Times, October 4, 1971.

  36. Nelson A. Rockefeller, Governor, and Ronald Maiorana, Press Secretary, Press Release, September 16, 1971, State of New York, Executive Chamber, Senator Jacob A. Javits Collection, Box 6, Attica Prison Riot, 1971–1972, Special Collections and University Archives, Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York.

  37. Nelson Rockefeller, Speech, International Downtown Executives Association, Hilton Hotel, New York City, New York, September 21, 1971, Nelson A. Rockefeller gubernatorial records, Speeches, Series 33, New York (State), Governor (1959–1973: Rockefeller), Rockefeller, Nelson A. (Nelson Aldrich), Record Group 15, Box 85, Folder 3466, Rockefeller Archive Center, Sleepy Hollow, New York.

  38. Ibid.

  39. Arthur Liman, Attica Diary, Draft, January 13, 1972, Arthur L. Liman Papers (MS 1762), Group 1762, Series 1, Box 1, Folder 5, Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library, New Haven, Connecticut, 1–2.

  40. New York State Special Commission on Attica, Press Release: “Attica Commission Completes Investigation: To Release Report to Public September 13th,” Investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, Box 88, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

  41. Ludington Daily News (Ludington, Michigan), October 21, 1971.

  42. McKay Report, xvi.

  43. Whiteman, Testimony, Meyer Commission, June 12, 1975, 1822, FOIA request #110818, FOIA p. 000806.

  44. New York State Special Commission on Attica, Meeting Minutes, Present: McKay, Marshall, Carter, Rothschild, Broderick, Wadsworth, Wilbanks, Henix, and Rossbacher, November 1971, Investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, Box 88, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

  45. Ibid.

  46. Ibid.

  47. Commissioner Oswald, Letter to Mancusi, January 7, 1972, Attica Correctional Facility Archive.

  48. Liman, Attica Diary, January 13, 1972, 13.

  49. Prisoner-written document found in Lieutenant H. Steinbaugh Papers, in author’s possession.

  50. Ibid.

  51. Ibid.

  52. Tom Wicker, Notes from interview with Roger Champen, undated, 24, Tom Wicker Papers.

  53. Ibid.

  54. Michael T. Kaufman, “Leader in Attica Revolt Calls Inquiry ‘Whitewash,’ ” New York Times, April 20, 1972.

  55. Ibid.

  56. Jim McAvey, “Effort Made to Prevent Probe by Special Panel,” Courier Express (Buffalo, New York), December 23, 1971, Investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, New York State Archives, Albany, New York; “Suit Seeks Halt to Attica Probe,” Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York), December 23, 1971.

  57. Liman, Attica Diary, January 13, 1972, 16.

  58. Ibid.

  59. New York State Coalition for Criminal Justice Records, 1971–1986, Series 9: Issues File, Box 1: Attica Aftermath, 1971–1974, Folder 1, M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, State University of New York, Albany, New York; New York State Special Commission on Attica, Press Release, “Attica Commission Completes Investigation: To Release Report to Public September 13th,” New York State Archives.

  60. New York State Coalition for Criminal Justice Records, 1971–1986, Series 9: Issues File, Box 1: Attica Aftermath, 1971–1974, Folder 1, M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, State University of New York, Albany, New York; New York State Special Commission on Attica, Press Release: “Attica Commission Completes Investigation: To Release Report to Public September 13th,” New York State Archives.

  61. New York State Special Commission on Attica, Press Release: “Attica Commission Completes Investigation: To Release Report to Public September 13th,” New York State Archives.

  62. Robert McKay, Letter to Nelson Rockefeller, April 1, 1972, Nelson A. Rockefeller gubernatorial records, Ann C. Whitman, Gubernatorial, Series 35, Whitman, Ann, New York (State), Governor (1959–1973: Rockefeller), Record Group 4, Box 13, Folder 305, Rockefeller Archive Center, Sleepy Hollow, New York.

  63. Ibid.

  64. New York State Special Commission on Attica, Press Release: “Attica Commission Completes Investigation: to Release Report to Public September 13th,” New York State Archives.

  65. Whiteman, Testimony, Meyer Commission, June 12, 1975, 1783, FOIA request #110818, FOIA p. 000767.

  66. Michael T. Kaufman, “Doctor Testifies on Attica Abuses,” New York Times, April 28, 1971. Also see: Dr. John W. Cudmore, Testimony, McKay Transcript, April 27, 1972, 2181–2250; John Cudmore, Louis Futterman, Ronal Dill, and James O’Day, McKay Transcript, April 27, 1972, 2250–2349.

  67. Cudmore, Testimony, McKay Transcript, April 27, 1972, 2313–14.

  68. New York State Special Commission on Attica, Press Release: “Attica Commission Completes Investigation: To Release Report to Public September 13th,” New York State Archives.

  69. Ibid.

  70. McKay Commission, Press Conference Statement, September 13, 1972, New York University School of Law, Investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, Box 88, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

  71. McKay Report, 329.

  72. Senator Javits, Statement on McKay Commission Report on Attica, undated, Senator Jacob A. Javits Collection, Box 6, Special Collections and University Archives, Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York.

  73. Brian Conboy, Memorandum to Senator Jacob Javits, Subject: “McKay Report re Attica,” Septembe
r 13, 1973, Senator Jacob A. Javits Collection, Box 50, Special Collections and University Archives, Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York.

  74. Michael McCarron, State of Attica Investigation Memorandum to Anthony Simonetti, New York City Office, May 10, 1974, in the papers of Elizabeth M. Fink, Brooklyn, New York.

  75. Conboy, Memorandum to Javits, Subject: “McKay Report re Attica,” September 13, 1973.

  76. Ibid.

  77. Ibid.

  78. Louis Lefkowitz, Robert Fischer, and Gerald Ryan, Subpoena (Duces Tecum) to Citizens Committee, Robert McKay, Chairman, Arthur Liman, counsel, Ordered to appear September 14, 1972 at 10:00 a.m., Signed September 1, 1972, Investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, Box 88, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

  79. “Attica Study Commission Vows Grand Jury Won’t Get Its Files,” Washington Post, September 14, 1972.

  80. “Battle Continues on Attica Records,” New York Times, October 18, 1972. There would be long-term ramifications of this decision—namely that many decades later even the Attica survivors would be prevented from seeing these files because they had been ordered protected in this hearing.

  81. Whiteman, Testimony, Meyer Commission, June 12, 1975, 1843, FOIA request #110818, FOIA p. 000807.

  31. FOXES IN THE HEN HOUSE

  1. New York State Coalition for Criminal Justice Records, 1971–1986, Series 9: Issues File, Box 1: Attica Aftermath, 1971–1974, Folder 1, M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, State University of New York, Albany, New York.

  2. As quoted in Bernard S. Meyer, Final Report of the Special Attica Investigation, October 27, 1975, New York State Archives, 63.

  3. As quoted in: ibid., 63, 97.

  4. As quoted in: ibid., 65.

  5. As quoted in: ibid., 64.

  6. Ibid., 66.

  7. “Attica Assignment Mutual Aid Request form,” Summary of total assignments of Niagara County Sheriff’s Office September 9–13, 1971, September 14, 1971, FOIA request #110818 of the New York State Attorney General’s Office, FOIA p. 000152.