FBI Compiled Dossier on Dr. Ralph Abernathy Washington — at The
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FBI Compiled Dossier on Dr. Ralph Abernathy Washington — At the request of the gorically denied that agents had ever Frederick, held„ has discovered that late Dr. Martin Luther King's associ- used electronic surveillance against certain material was deleted from ates, we investigated the smear Abernathy. Several references, in- Jackie's testimony on June 5, 1964. charges that the FBI had spread cluding other conversations between Jack The deleted testimony indicates that against him. We reported in an earlier Abernathy and his wife, are attributed she was trying to aid her husband, not column that the stories were grossly in the file to "confidential sources who Anderson save herself. The details were so inaccurate. had furnished reliable information in grisly that they were deleted as a with The same associates complained the past." matter of taste. We have decided not that Dr. King's successor as a, civil It is clear from the file that FBI Les Whitten to reprint this portion, except to re- rights leader, the Rev. Ralph Aber- agents visited the U.S. Passport Of- port that the First Lady apparently nathy, was also kept under intensive fice to get his travel schedule and was trying to help keep her husband's FBI surveillance. From secret FBI credit bureau offices to find out about head intact, not trying to escape from files, we have confirmed that the G- his finances. whose only crime is voicing the tribu- the limousine. men have a record of the most in- Under the late J. Edgar Hoover, the lations of their people: who have done The full details will be published in timate details of his life. FBI was almost paranoiac about nothing more than organize their a 650-page book called "Post Mor:- They know everything about him black leaders. We have had access to ranks; who are guilty only of peace- tem." Weisberg concludes, as he has from his finances to his health, includ- other secret dossiers, indexed under fully petitioning their government on in past books, that the assassination ing the medication he takes every "Racial Matters," on such prominent redress of grievances, as their Con- was the result of a conspiracy. Our morning and evening. His FBI file black leaders as the Rev. Jesse Jack- stitution says they have an inalienable own investigation shows that many contains a psychological profile, son, Roy Wilkens, Bayard Rustin, right to do." questions remain to be answered. But copies of his hotel bills, transcripts of Floyd McKissick, Roy Innis and Dr. Footnote: In fairness, it should be we have not seen enough evidence to his speeches and even an account of King's widow, Coretta. added that the present FBI director, contradict the Warren Commission's his traffic violations. Dossiers were also kept on black Clarence Kelley, has abandoned his conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald One FBI memo, stamped "Con- artists, entertainers and sports fig- predecessor's bias against blacks and acted alone. fidential," reveals the details of a ures, ranging from heavyweight box- has adopted a balanced racial policy. FOR THtBIRDS: The Society for, squabble Abernathy had Feb. 5, 1970, ing champion Muhammad All and 'DEFENSE OF JACKIE: For most Animal Rights is so infuriated over with his subordinates. Afterward, the actor Harry Belafonte to comedian Americans, the famous photograph of the killing of some 4.5 million black- memo notes, Abernathy discussed the Dick Gregory and singer Eartha Kitt. Jacqueline Kennedy crawling across birds in Kehtucky, Tennessee and Il- the back of her assassinated hus- flare-up with his wife. Their conversa- This FBI concentration upon promi- linois, plus the planned destruction of band's limousine in Dallas is one of tion is outlined in detail. nent blacks has alarmed black con- 22 million more, that they are urging the most poignant memories of the WE SHOWED the file to Dr. Aber- gressmen who asked us to testify on a nationwide boycott of Union Carbiur 1960s. nathy, who readily recalled the con- Capitol Hill. We brought the evidence, products. This left the impression that she versation with his wife. It had oc- complete with names and details. Various government agencies or- curred, 'he said, in the privacy of his My testimony concluded: "To the panicked at the shots and tried to save dered the killing, but Union Carbide bedroom. "They had to be bugging FBI, apparently, anyone with a dark herself by leaving her dying husband. makes Tergitol, the detergent sprayed me," Abernathy told our associate, skin who dares to open his mouth is But now, the nation's most in- on the birds to loosen the protective Joe Spear, viewed as subversive. I have seen defatigable private investigator of the oil on their feathers so they freeze to At the FBI, a spokesman cate- dozens of dossiers on black leaders assassination, Harold Weisberg of death. .