His theory for this race war, known as Helter Skelter, was informed in part by The Beatles White Album, released in 1968. Again, this is known, accepted fact, detailed in the 7 million selling book, Helter Skelter. The author, Vincent Butliosi, was in a position to know this, as he was the prosecutor in the case against Manson, and a number of his followers. I myself read Helter Skelter some years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The problem is, sadly, that Bugliosi, to put it mildly, lied, lied, and lied again. The Helter Skelter idea, and it did exist, was just that: an idea. One of many discussed by Manson as he preached to his followers at ranches in the Los Angeles desert. As Tom O’Neill, the author of this magnificent and majestic book, said in an Error Morris (of Fog of War and Thin Blue Line fame) documentary: “we don’t know what happened. But we definitely know that what we were told happen isn’t what happened.”
O’Neill’s journalism is epic in its scale. The cast of characters in this book is astounding. I was familiar with the FBI’s COINTELPRO operation, and how it targeted the civil rights movement. But the CIA’s domestic operations, Chaos, and MKUltra, I hadn’t heard about. In forensic detail, O’Neill illustrates how the FBI committed extrajudicial killings of Black Panthers, which I was aware of previously but not in such depth, but also how the CIA conducted experiments on “unwitting, let alone consenting” American citizens, which led to at least two deaths. CIA scientists wanted to create individuals who would kill on command without remorse, and experimented with hypnosis and LSD to create such “Manchurian candidates” – of course, infamously, Charles Manson did just that. The coincidences don’t stop there. The major CIA scientist involved in these experiments, Dr “Jolly” West, had an office in the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Center. Which is also where Charles Manson’s parole officer had an office and would meet him. And it’s also where Manson would bring his female followers for treatment for STIs and unwanted pregnancies. O’Neill is open about not being able to prove a link between the CIA’s operations and Manson, but the coincidences are absolutely incredible. Or incredulous. The reader is left to decide.
So, why did Manson charge his followers with murdering the occupants of 10050 Cielo Drive, and a middle class couple the next day? Well, a number of theories are explored. Vincent Bugliosi, in his prosecution and in his best-selling book, stated that the Cielo house was targeted to murder the record producer Terry Melcher (son of Doris Day) who, who had angered Manson by rejecting him for a recording contract. Except, as O’Neill diligently pointed out, Manson knew he had moved out of that property (because Melcher was scared of his housekeeper, he claimed) and Melcher also met Manson several times after the murders were committed. As O’Neill pointed out, his discoveries revealed that Melcher perjured himself, as did Bugliosi. This anomalies are among literally hundreds that O’Neill uncovers. The story of his O’Neill first got into this subject, and stayed the course over 20 years is a story worthy of a book itself.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough. If anyone is interested in true crime, the Manson murders, the counter culture, the FBI/CIA, Hollywood in the late 1960s, or just plain ol’ forensic journalism, then this book is essential reading.
I hope someone else on the blog reads it and does a better review than me.
Check out the documentary on Netflix, or the interview on Joe Rogan. I actually listened to the audiobook, then bought a hard copy to access the notes at the end, which are meticulously kept.
★10/10.★
The problem is, sadly, that Bugliosi, to put it mildly, lied, lied, and lied again. The Helter Skelter idea, and it did exist, was just that: an idea. One of many discussed by Manson as he preached to his followers at ranches in the Los Angeles desert. As Tom O’Neill, the author of this magnificent and majestic book, said in an Error Morris (of Fog of War and Thin Blue Line fame) documentary: “we don’t know what happened. But we definitely know that what we were told happen isn’t what happened.”
O’Neill’s journalism is epic in its scale. The cast of characters in this book is astounding. I was familiar with the FBI’s COINTELPRO operation, and how it targeted the civil rights movement. But the CIA’s domestic operations, Chaos, and MKUltra, I hadn’t heard about. In forensic detail, O’Neill illustrates how the FBI committed extrajudicial killings of Black Panthers, which I was aware of previously but not in such depth, but also how the CIA conducted experiments on “unwitting, let alone consenting” American citizens, which led to at least two deaths. CIA scientists wanted to create individuals who would kill on command without remorse, and experimented with hypnosis and LSD to create such “Manchurian candidates” – of course, infamously, Charles Manson did just that. The coincidences don’t stop there. The major CIA scientist involved in these experiments, Dr “Jolly” West, had an office in the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Center. Which is also where Charles Manson’s parole officer had an office and would meet him. And it’s also where Manson would bring his female followers for treatment for STIs and unwanted pregnancies. O’Neill is open about not being able to prove a link between the CIA’s operations and Manson, but the coincidences are absolutely incredible. Or incredulous. The reader is left to decide.
So, why did Manson charge his followers with murdering the occupants of 10050 Cielo Drive, and a middle class couple the next day? Well, a number of theories are explored. Vincent Bugliosi, in his prosecution and in his best-selling book, stated that the Cielo house was targeted to murder the record producer Terry Melcher (son of Doris Day) who, who had angered Manson by rejecting him for a recording contract. Except, as O’Neill diligently pointed out, Manson knew he had moved out of that property (because Melcher was scared of his housekeeper, he claimed) and Melcher also met Manson several times after the murders were committed. As O’Neill pointed out, his discoveries revealed that Melcher perjured himself, as did Bugliosi. This anomalies are among literally hundreds that O’Neill uncovers. The story of his O’Neill first got into this subject, and stayed the course over 20 years is a story worthy of a book itself.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough. If anyone is interested in true crime, the Manson murders, the counter culture, the FBI/CIA, Hollywood in the late 1960s, or just plain ol’ forensic journalism, then this book is essential reading.
I hope someone else on the blog reads it and does a better review than me.
Check out the documentary on Netflix, or the interview on Joe Rogan. I actually listened to the audiobook, then bought a hard copy to access the notes at the end, which are meticulously kept.
★10/10.★
Tom O'Neill with Dan Piepenbring, 2019. Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA and the Secret History of the Sixties.William Heinemann Ltd. ISBN-13: 978-1785152078
⏩Brandon Sullivan is a middle-aged West Belfast émigré. He juggles fatherhood & marriage with working in a policy environment and writing for TPQ about the conflict, films, books, and politics.
Did I ever mention Ken Kesey before? He had a fascinating history.
ReplyDeleteNo, please tell us more.
ReplyDeleteBrandon - I can't tell whether perhaps you're being mildly facetious, I certainly was. I mentioned Ken Kesey in my article. As you've mentioned the MK Ultra program I thought I would drop his name again. Since you have an interest in books and films, perhaps you have already heard of the novel "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"? A novel that received critical and commercial success and also multiple bans. Some are more familiar with the Film adaptation starring Jack Nicholson, which also received critical acclaim, and one of the few movies ever made to win all five of the major Academy Awards. Of course there is still much more to Kesey's life.
ReplyDeleteMatt, definitely not. I can't immediately recall your piece. Life and work is limiting my output on TPQ sadly.
ReplyDeleteI've read Cuckoo's Nest, she seen the film and a theatre production but I'd forgotten Kesey wrote it. I associate his name with LSD though. Genuinely interested in what else you have to say about him.
Not a problem Brandon, it was a light-hearted comment on my part, nothing untoward was intended. Give my article a read whenever you can find the time, I wouldn't mind any feedback, I also won't apologise for the plug haha.
DeleteRegards Kesey, it was more his involvement in the MK Ultra program that led me to comment on your piece. Of course, it was his involvement in that program, along with counterculture and psychedelics plus his literary content that I find rather interesting, I thought you might too.