Lawrence Wright

And he was, you know, very obviously tough guy. But he hadn't – since Jonestown, he hadn't been able to get on an elevator. He had tried to get on a plane, but he made it turn around, which, you know, it never happens unless Godzilla tells you. Right. But – so he was wounded. And – And he agreed to talk, but he wanted to do it in a public place so he wouldn't cry.

And he wanted to bring his wife along because he was only going to tell the story once and he wanted her to hear it. So we went to this nice restaurant somewhere around the bay. And after like 10 minutes, he was sobbing and pounding the table, and the waiter made this huge loop away from the table. Everybody in the restaurant was riveted and looking at their food.

And he wanted to bring his wife along because he was only going to tell the story once and he wanted her to hear it. So we went to this nice restaurant somewhere around the bay. And after like 10 minutes, he was sobbing and pounding the table, and the waiter made this huge loop away from the table. Everybody in the restaurant was riveted and looking at their food.

And he wanted to bring his wife along because he was only going to tell the story once and he wanted her to hear it. So we went to this nice restaurant somewhere around the bay. And after like 10 minutes, he was sobbing and pounding the table, and the waiter made this huge loop away from the table. Everybody in the restaurant was riveted and looking at their food.

And he told a story of he was the one who was chosen to fly back into Jonestown and identify the bodies of 900 people. His wife and children, his parents, his birth parents, his adopted parents, his friends, everybody he knew, his children. He had children he had to identify. And I was never more impressed with the power of belief that it would lead to such a colossal tragedy.

And he told a story of he was the one who was chosen to fly back into Jonestown and identify the bodies of 900 people. His wife and children, his parents, his birth parents, his adopted parents, his friends, everybody he knew, his children. He had children he had to identify. And I was never more impressed with the power of belief that it would lead to such a colossal tragedy.

And he told a story of he was the one who was chosen to fly back into Jonestown and identify the bodies of 900 people. His wife and children, his parents, his birth parents, his adopted parents, his friends, everybody he knew, his children. He had children he had to identify. And I was never more impressed with the power of belief that it would lead to such a colossal tragedy.

Yeah, they were. And their attendance at the basketball game was very controversial in the Jonestown community. And these boys, they were young men when I talked to them. They bear a lot of guilt because they feel that had they been there, they might have been able to stop it. But I think that's not true. I mean, I don't think it was stoppable. You know, for months, Jones had been there.

Yeah, they were. And their attendance at the basketball game was very controversial in the Jonestown community. And these boys, they were young men when I talked to them. They bear a lot of guilt because they feel that had they been there, they might have been able to stop it. But I think that's not true. I mean, I don't think it was stoppable. You know, for months, Jones had been there.

Yeah, they were. And their attendance at the basketball game was very controversial in the Jonestown community. And these boys, they were young men when I talked to them. They bear a lot of guilt because they feel that had they been there, they might have been able to stop it. But I think that's not true. I mean, I don't think it was stoppable. You know, for months, Jones had been there.

uh, training his followers, you know, having these white nights, as they called it, where they would drink what they thought was cyanide and, uh, in a Kool-Aid, you know, that's where the phrase comes from.

uh, training his followers, you know, having these white nights, as they called it, where they would drink what they thought was cyanide and, uh, in a Kool-Aid, you know, that's where the phrase comes from.

uh, training his followers, you know, having these white nights, as they called it, where they would drink what they thought was cyanide and, uh, in a Kool-Aid, you know, that's where the phrase comes from.

But, uh, but, and then they'd be fine. So, uh, but in this particular case, a congressman, Leo Ryan, had just flown down from San Francisco because some of his constituents were worried about relatives that were in Jonestown. and he was killed by some of Jones' followers. Oh, my God. And so, you know, it was too late at that point.

But, uh, but, and then they'd be fine. So, uh, but in this particular case, a congressman, Leo Ryan, had just flown down from San Francisco because some of his constituents were worried about relatives that were in Jonestown. and he was killed by some of Jones' followers. Oh, my God. And so, you know, it was too late at that point.

But, uh, but, and then they'd be fine. So, uh, but in this particular case, a congressman, Leo Ryan, had just flown down from San Francisco because some of his constituents were worried about relatives that were in Jonestown. and he was killed by some of Jones' followers. Oh, my God. And so, you know, it was too late at that point.

You know, and Jones knew that, you know, trouble was coming his way, and he didn't want to die alone, so he wanted everybody to die with him. He was shot to death, and I guess he refused to take the cyanide, but... Yeah. Who shot him? Uh, it was, I think it was this woman that was one of his mistresses.

You know, and Jones knew that, you know, trouble was coming his way, and he didn't want to die alone, so he wanted everybody to die with him. He was shot to death, and I guess he refused to take the cyanide, but... Yeah. Who shot him? Uh, it was, I think it was this woman that was one of his mistresses.

You know, and Jones knew that, you know, trouble was coming his way, and he didn't want to die alone, so he wanted everybody to die with him. He was shot to death, and I guess he refused to take the cyanide, but... Yeah. Who shot him? Uh, it was, I think it was this woman that was one of his mistresses.

Well, the longing for power is a very human quality and it manifests in different ways. You know, he was a powerful speaker. You know, he had a way of being, you know, extremely powerful. compelling presence. Very dramatic looking man. He was part Cherokee and had very dark complexion and dark eyes and handsome in a rugged way. He also