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The Crusades of Cesar Chavez

Page 64

by Miriam Pawel


  3 “He’s not your father” Tape of Mar. 23–25, 1978, NEB, UFWA

  4 “Let me run union” Chavez notes, OOP 2, Box 18, Folder 16

  5 “Let’s go play” Tape of Apr. 3–5, 1978, NEB, UFWA

  6 “prune them ruthlessly” Chavez report to convention, Aug. 26, 1977, OOP2, Box 38, Folder 19

  7 “It’s a mistake” Tape of Jun. 15–16, 1978, NEB, UFWA

  8 “guys that have words” Tape of Jun. 30–Jul. 2, 1977, NEB, UFWA

  9 “brown-nosing ‘moonies’” Hartmire to Esther Winterrowd, May 8, 1978, Hartmire papers

  10 “The Holy War” Mitchell, “The Light on Synanon,” 264

  11 “an armed camp” Tape of Apr. 4, 1978, NEB, UFWA

  12 $63,000 worth of guns “What’s Happening Inside Synanon?” Los Angeles Times, Jan. 31, 1978

  13 “we don’t want to pay wages” Tape of Mar. 14–16, 21, 1977, NEB, UFWA

  14 stared in silence Interview with Rutkowski, who was in the car

  15 opened the June board meeting Tape of Jun. 15–16, 1978, NEB

  16 “‘blackmail’” Villarino to Chavez, Jun. 23, 1978, OOP2, Box 36, Folder 26

  17 “I’m a leader” Tape of Jun. 25, 1978, NEB, UFWA

  18 “Paying salaries, how stupid” Hartmire notes from conversations with Chavez, Jul. 8 and 12, 1978, Hartmire papers

  19 “revising history so soon” Zerger diary, Sep. 6, 1978, courtesy of Zerger

  20 “union has to make this transition” Chris to Pudge Hartmire, Feb. 1, 1978, Hartmire papers

  21 five hundred suicides Zerger diary, Nov. 22, 1978

  22 “He didn’t need to come” Nathan memo, Jun. 4, 1979, courtesy of Nathan

  23 an elaborate graduation Tape of negotiators’ graduation, Nov. 11, 1978, UFWA

  Chapter 34

  Sources: Tapes of NEB meetings, Sep. 15–18 and Dec. 1978, Mar. 11, Apr. 22, Jun., and Aug. 11, 1979; tape of Aug. 11, 1979, meeting with workers; transcript of 1979 UFW convention; Govea and Hartmire papers; author interviews with Chava Bustamante, Mario Bustamante, Cohen, Ganz, Hubbard, Laue, Lopez, Nassif, Gilbert Padilla, and Washburn.

  1 quoted passages verbatim Tape of Jun. 13–15, 1975, NEB, UFWA

  2 “they’ll try to hustle you” Tape of Chavez and students, May 15, 1978, UFWA

  3 “ticking time bomb” Ann Smith to Chavez, Jul. 1978, report on negotiations, in possession of author

  4 “serious trouble” Tape of Sep. 10, 1978, meeting, UFWA

  5 had lost two-thirds Tape of Sep. 15–18, 1978 NEB, UFWA

  6 “save those contracts” Tape of Sep. 10, 1978, meeting

  7 “If they beat us” Tape of Dec. 1978 NEB, UFWA

  8 The moderate faction Dalzell to Cohen, Oct. 26, 1978, Dalzell papers

  9 losses totaled $2 million “Chavez Taunts Growers,” Los Angeles Times, Feb. 2, 1979. In fact, UC Berkeley economists later concluded Imperial Valley growers had record profits. The price of lettuce increased nearly 400 percent. Growers—with the exception of Sun Harvest—had formed a strike insurance cooperative though a Bermuda firm, which protected the struck growers against losses.

  10 “a dream realized” Los Angeles Times, Feb. 2, 1979

  11 “Mi papi! Mi papi!” “7,000 Attend Funeral Mass,” Los Angeles Times, Feb. 15, 1979

  12 “My job is in the cities” Los Angeles Times, Feb. 2, 1979

  13 “Money’s not coming in” Tape of Jun. 1979 NEB, UFWA

  14 Denison said Tape of fund-raiser in NYC, Apr. 1979, UFWA

  15 unpaid bills and a reported stolen car UFW Work Department Papers, Box 2, Folder 22; OOP2, Box 44, Manuel Chavez folder

  16 “Dear Manuel” Cesar to Manuel Chavez, Oct. 10, 1975, UFW 1986 Accession, Box 15

  17 “two cliques” Tape of Mar. 11, 1979, NEB, UFWA

  18 “You’re kidding!” Tape of Apr. 22, 1979, NEB, UFWA

  19 “I love the boycott” Ibid.

  20 “strike has lost its punch” Tape of Chavez and staff, Jun. 1979, UFWA

  21 “Lone rangers” Tape of Dec. 1978 NEB, UFWA

  22 “talk to Richard” Tape of Feb. 16, 1976, NEB, UFWA

  23 “whipping girl” Huerta to Levy, JEL Box 5, Folder 184

  24 “Why do you lie?” Tape of Jun. 1979 NEB

  25 wreaking havoc “UFW Clash in Salinas,” Fresno Bee, Jun. 12, 1979

  26 “a mistake” Tape of Jun. 1979 NEB

  27 “My gut feeling” Ibid.

  28 “boycott of Chiquita bananas” Chavez to supporters, Jul. 27, 1979, OOP3, Box 32, Folder 29

  29 The marchers Accounts of the march in the Fresno Bee and Salinas Californian, Aug. 7–11, 1979

  30 “The union is broke” Tape of Aug. 11, 1979, NEB, followed by meeting with workers, UFWA

  31 “Fasten your seatbelts” Transcript of UFW 1979 Convention, Aug. 12, 1979, in possession of author

  32 “inflationary increase” “Broccoli Grower, UFW OK Pact,” Los Angeles Times, Sep. 11, 1979

  33 “going to the dentist” Tape of Dec. 1979 NEB, UFWA

  34 reacted with enthusiasm Tape of Feb. 16–21, 1976, NEB

  35 air of desperation Tape of Dec. 1979 NEB

  36 “These guys are forgotten” Ibid.

  Chapter 35

  Sources: Transcript of 1981 UFW convention; tapes of NEB meetings, Dec. 1979, Jun. 1980; tape of May 1980 conference; Hartmire papers; MCOP Archives; author interviews with Adair, Barry, Bustamante, Cohen, Devereux, Ganz, Gutierrez, Hartmire, Lopez, Pelayo, Renteria, Tramutola, and Washburn.

  1 “Always ask questions” Tape of conference, May 19–23, 1980, UFWA

  2 76 percent of the vote Tape of Dec. 1979 NEB, UFWA

  3 “on cloud nine” Tape of Jun. 1980 NEB, UFWA

  4 “organization led by farmworkers” Chavez report to convention, Aug. 26, 1977, OOP2, Box 38, Folder 19

  5 “more than Linda Ronstadt” Tape of Dec. 1979 NEB

  6 “ridiculous and untenable” Ganz to Chavez, Sep. 26, 1980, GANZ, Box 1, Folder 7

  7 marked up his copy “Plan for the Vegetable Industry,” Oct. 7, 1980, UFW 1986 Accession, Box 17

  8 “the workers couldn’t wait” Orendain, in Jack Anderson column, Mar. 1980

  9 undercut the Arizona upstarts UFW v. AERB, Mar. 1980, MCOP, Box 28, Acc 1990-402; Campaign for Human Development Grant, MCOP, Accession 1990-402, Box 58

  10 Barry followed a trail Interviews and drafts of Barry stories in MCOP, Accession 1994-1302, Box 4

  11 “Rumors continue to persist” Cesar to Manuel Chavez, Oct. 10, 1975, UFW 1986 Accession, Box 15

  12 confirmed the rumors “Criticism of Chavez takes root in farm labor struggle,” New York Times, Feb. 7, 1979; Barry stories, MCOP Accession 1994-1302, Box 4

  13 “a vicious attack” Chavez, Mar. 19, 1980, OOP Box 27, Folder 8

  14 “his words have power” Hartmire response to Anderson, Mar. 1980, Hartmire papers

  15 a retraction Jack Anderson column, Washington Post, Jun. 7, 1980

  16 “a monopoly on service” Moyer to Hartmire, Dec. 9, 1980, Hartmire papers

  17 “counter-organizing event” Memo to Chavez, May 24, 1981, UFW 1986 Accession, Box 54

  18 He asked Tramutt Tramutola interview

  19 “at checkmate” Zerger diary, Oct. 6, 1980, courtesy of Zerger

  20 “If we don’t get Bruce Church” Tape of Nov. 22, 1980, NEB, UFWA

  21 did not return Cohen’s calls Cohen to Chavez, Mar. 4, 1981, courtesy of Cohen

  22 Guzman never arrived Govea and Ganz to Chavez, Jan. 31, 1981, Govea papers

  23 politicking must stop Chavez meeting notes, Feb. 10, 1981, UFW 1986 Accession, Box 54

  24 Everyone must choose Agenda for May 30, 1981, meeting, JEL, Box 33, Folder 694

  25 dictated a new rule Chavez memo, Sep. 1, 1981, UFW 1986 Accession, Box 54

  26 puppets of Ganz David Martinez memos, Aug. 24, 1981, JEL, Box 33, Folder 694

  27 “to bury our beloved union” Transcript of UFW convention, Sep. 5–6, 1981, in
possession of author

  28 anti-Semitic arguments Campaign flyer, UFW 1986 Accession, Box 54

  29 Higgins grew alarmed Higgins to Chavez, Sep. 21, 1981, Hartmire papers

  30 “a great relief” Transcript of Oct. 24, 1981, speech, Hartmire papers

  31 Ortiz’s clarification Ortiz to Chavez, Sep. 11, 1981, UFW 1986 Accession, Box 54

  32 “They’ll all be back” Washburn interview

  Chapter 36

  Sources: U.S. District Court files; Hartmire papers; author interviews with Bustamante, Eggers, Hartmire, Laue, Lopez, Padilla, and Torres.

  1 “what Cesar taught us” Salinas Californian, Dec. 10, 1982

  2 “some kind of threat” Bustamante declaration, May 18, 1982, in Hermilio Mojica et al v. United Farm Workers C82-0512 (hereafter, “court files”)

  3 sued for libel United Farm Workers v. Mojica et al., C82-644

  4 effort to intimidate Jeff Coplon affidavit, in court files

  5 He took notes Hartmire notes, Hartmire papers

  6 turned away Ibid.

  7 front-page story “Chavez Faces External and Internal Struggles,” New York Times, Dec. 6, 1981

  8 “lived up to the dreams” Marc Grossman to Chavez, Aug. 5, 1983, on http://chavez.cde.ca.gov/researchcenter

  9 Bradley asked Chavez CBS, 60 Minutes, broadcast Dec. 25, 1983

  10 Perkins arrived at La Paz Tape of Perkins filming interviews, UFWA

  11 preemptive attack Chavez response, Jan. 27, 1980, OOP3, Box 32, Folder 44

  12 NBC did not mince words Prime Time segment aired at various times during early Jan. 1980; “U.S. Confirms Inquiry into UFW’s Handling of Funds,” Los Angeles Times, Jan. 26, 1980

  13 “misery and grief” Mahony to Higgins, Jan. 27, 1980, AALA, Folder 1980

  14 improperly used Barbara Macri to 1988 convention, OOP3, Box 21, Folder 16

  15 Chavez arranged transfers Loan to buy computers, Hartmire papers

  16 owed $390,000 “IRS Says Chavez’s Union Owes $400,000,” Los Angeles Times, Jul. 19, 1980

  17 “hand the politicians the check” Tape of Apr. 5, 1978, NEB, UFWA

  18 a $30,000 loan Loan agreement, Sep. 12, 1980, DH, Box 22, Folder 19

  19 “Farmer Brown” Memo, n.d., DH, Box 2

  20 rejected earlier overtures Eggers, Jun. 2, 1994, JEL, Box 33, Folder 696

  21 Maggio offered to sign Eggers to NEB, Jun. 6, 1985, DH, Box 32, Folder 7

  22 “never had any question” Chavez deposition, May 1, 1982, court files

  23 “they were elected” Judge William A. Ingram, Nov. 16, 1982, court files

  24 “incompetence and insubordination” Fresno Bee, Nov. 20, 1982

  25 Judge Ingram disagreed Ingram order, Nov. 30, 1984, court files

  26 found himself in demand Hayden invitation, DH papers, Box 26, Folder 18; Peace Sunday, Pacifica Radio report, Jun. 6, 1982

  27 “the only true hero” Account of reunion from souvenir program, in possession of author; UPI May 29, 1982; San Jose Mercury News, May 23, 1982; KQED California public radio report, FMDP

  28 celebration at La Paz Hartmire notes, homily, Apr. 3, 1982, Hartmire papers

  29 Chavez buried his father Notes and program for Librado Chavez funeral, Hartmire papers

  Chapter 37

  Sources: State campaign finance reports; Hartmire papers; author interviews with Hartmire and Torres.

  1 The poll “Latino Heroes: Few and Far Between,” Los Angeles Times, Aug. 5, 1983

  2 Almaraz changed his name Almaraz oral history, Feb. 6, 1987, Archives of American Art

  3 “Without you” Almaraz to Chavez, Apr. 16 and Nov. 19, 1974, OOP2, Box 43, Folder 9

  4 Chicano Lobby Chavez often used the terms Chicano, Hispanic, Latino, and Mexican American interchangeably, sometimes referring to the same group by different terms in one speech.

  5 “different from my father” “He Is His Own Man,” Los Angeles Times, Jul. 27, 1983

  6 the union paid dues “Chavez and Farm Workers Adapt Tactics to the Times,” New York Times, Jul. 31, 1983

  7 “the pivotal vote” “New President of MAPA Seeks to Boost Political Clout,” Associated Press, Dec. 4, 1983

  8 “start with people” Tape of Chavez with boycotters, Jan. 27, 1969, UFWA

  9 “revolutionized business” Chavez to NEB, May 27, 1983, DH, Box 30, Folder 18

  10 “do something different” “Chavez and Farm Workers Adapt Tactics to the Times,” New York Times, Jul. 31, 1983

  11 “mobilize the Hispanic community” Chavez to NEB, May 27, 1983

  12 “take up arms again” Chavez report to 1983 UFW convention, Hartmire papers

  13 “back to where we left off” Chavez statement, Jul. 11, 1984, in possession of author

  14 “Yesterday it was all right” Chavez to NEB, Feb. 3, 1984, DH, Box 30, Folder 18

  15 different television spots Ross to Chavez, Mar. 22, 1985, OOP3, Box 5, Folder 7

  16 veto message Feinstein press release, Jul. 18, 1985, in possession of author

  17 second-largest political contributors Campaign finance records, California Department of State records, State Archives

  18 “most powerful weapon” President’s newsletter, Aug. 7, 1978, in possession of author

  19 more than $50 Emilio Huerta to Barbara Macri, Aug. 1972, DH, Box 22, Folder 44

  20 contributed $750,000 UFW PAC filings, California State Archives, Sacramento

  21 state commission concluded FPPC report, DH papers, Box 22, Folder 39

  22 “undeniably guilty” Eggers to NEB, Jun. 9, 1983, UFW 1986 Accession, Box 26

  23 “when we get double-crossed” “Chavez Puts Prestige on Line to Aid Garcia,” Los Angeles Times, May 30, 1982

  24 never spoke again Torres interview

  25 beholden to the union Ross to Chavez, Nov. 7, 1983, OOP3, Box 8, Folder 54

  26 cried all the way Richard Chavez to Huerta, n.d., DH, Box 21, Folder 64

  27 “different kind of audience” Chavez to Temple Black, Oct. 24, 1984, Commonwealth Club papers, Hoover Institution Library, Box 500, Folder 16

  28 eloquent epitaph Nov. 9, 1984, Commonwealth Club address, Commonwealth Club papers

  Chapter 38

  1 longhand notes Chavez notes on first meeting of Farm Worker Corp., Mar. 25, 1989, OOP3, Box 8, Folder 1

  2 dues had fallen UFW LM2 reports, U.S. Department of Labor

  3 jobs covered by UFW contracts Chavez to 1986 convention, OOP3, Box 10, Folder 14

  4 lost fifteen more contracts Jan. 26, 1987, report, DH, Box 18, Folder 34

  5 op-ed piece “UFW Must Get Back to Organizing,” Los Angeles Times, Jan. 15, 1986

  6 expand the membership Convention call for Sep. 4, 1988, OOP3, Box 7, Folder 7; Community union memo, OOP3, Box 8, Folder 1

  7 only 1,063 members Credit Union minutes, Mar. 20, 1988, OOP3, Box 19, Folder 31

  8 sales topped half a million Nov. 29, 1989, minutes of ETG, OOP3, Box 12, Folder 50

  9 a return of 25 to 50 percent Minutes of MLK Trustees, Oct. 17, 1983, OOP3, Box 9, Folder MLK

  10 introduced the Fresno appraiser Transcript of 1986 convention, OOP3, Box 11, Folder 1

  11 shifted the focus Memos, OOP3, Box 32, Folder 18

  12 real estate portfolio Detailed in DH, Box 18, Folder 28

  13 Bonita Construction Payment to Bonita Construction, OOP3, Box 12, Folder 38

  14 “explanation to my members” Bill Armstrong to Chavez, Mar. 15, 1988, OOP3, Box 8, Folder 9

  15 Chavez attacked growers Chavez to Stan Smith, Building Trades Council, Mar. 28, 1988, Ibid.

  16 “Dear Friend” letter OOP3, Box 4, Folder 21

  17 spoke at sixty-four events OOP3, Box 4, Folders 10, 13, 47

  18 marketing plan OOP3, Box 5, Folder 4

  19 detailed checklists OOP3, Box 4, Folder 21

  20 “the more you own” Chavez speech at Harvard Kennedy School, Feb. 27, 1990, http://forum.iop.harvard.edu/content/it-us-policy-v-public-solution-pesticide-po
isoning

  21 “the polls never close” Chavez speech at Harvard Kennedy School, Apr. 6, 1992, http://forum.iop.harvard.edu/content/reflections-social-justice

  22 “I have nothing else to do” Ibid.

  23 eighteen nonprofit and commercial entities Documents for Jan. 1989 NEB, Hartmire papers

  24 first pension checks Chavez notes, Jun. 28, 1983, UFW 1986 Accession, Box 2

  25 private foundation with $8 million Details of MLK fund in Chavez to NEB, Oct. 20, 1992, OOP3, Box 42, Folder 10; NEB memos, OOP3, Box 9, MLK folder; DH, Box 32, Folder 9

  Chapter 39

  Sources: Hartmire papers; ALRB records; Court files; The Wrath of Grapes; www.cesarslastfast.com; author interviews with Hartmire and Moses.

  1 “Join Us, Again, in Delano” Invitation, OOP3, Box 21, Folder 5

  2 five union martyrs In addition to De la Cruz and Daifullah in 1973 and Contreras in 1979, Nan Freeman, 18, was hit by a truck on a Florida picket line in 1972 and Rene Lopez, 21, was shot on a picket line outside a Fresno dairy in 1983.

  3 “We’re predicting” Description of event from Hartmire notes; Food and Justice, June 1987; Commemorative Journal, in possession of author; quote from San Diego Union-Tribune, May 24, 1987

  4 “We built this union twice” San Diego Union-Tribune, May 24, 1987

  5 “go back to organizing” San Diego Union-Tribune, May 25, 1987

  6 Chavez told Denison Denison interview

  7 “no safe pesticides” Chavez speech at Harvard Kennedy School, Feb. 27, 1990, http://forum.iop.harvard.edu/content/it-us-policy-v-public-solution-pesticide-poisoning

  8 fund-raising scripts OOP3, Box 12, Folder 36

  9 more than $100,000 Ibid.

  10 “These cancer clusters” Chavez at Harvard, Feb. 27, 1990

  11 “exploiting our children” Rosales to college administrators, Apr. 30, 1991, OOP3, Box 5, Folder 36

  12 “no other cause” Chavez, Jun. 4, 1988, Hartmire papers

  13 “assign everyone to the boycott” Chavez to NEB, Sep. 4, 1988, Hartmire papers

  14 “the killing fields” Scott Simon report, NPR, Jun. 2, 1990

  15 confronted Dolores Huerta Richard Steven Street in California Farmer, Jul. 16, 1988

  16 “I don’t appreciate the interview” Scott Simon, NPR, Jun. 2, 1990

 

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