Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 28, 1962)
The Hoffa Story-ll oaia, Bobby Kennedy in Top Siysicai Condition for Combat Editor'! note: This it the tecond of five dispatches on the life and times of Jimmy Hoffa. By HARRY FERGUSON Washington -II'PII- About the only thing Bobby Kennedy and Jimmy Hoffa have in common is physical culture. Hoffa is five feet, five and a half inches tall and 180 pounds of solid muscle. He doesn't smoke or drink, does push-ups and exercises with bar bells. He has been known to sit alertly at the table for 3B hours in a contract nego tiation. Kennedy is a push-up man, too, and rides horseback, hikes, swims and plays touch football. So both were in the pink for the historic struggle that start ed on Aug. 20, 1957, when Chairman John L. McCIellnn of the Senate rackets commit tee said: "Mr. Hoffa, will you be sworn in, please." Kenne dy, as committee counsel, was going to do the prosecuting. One member of the committee was Sen. John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts. At the time Hoffa was ninth vice president of the Interna tional Brotherhood of Team sters, Chauffeurs, Warehouse men and Helpers of America. The president was Dave Beck of Seattle, now serving a pris on term for income tax eva sion, and already on the skids as head of the big union. The one thing that probably wrecked Beck's career as a labor leader was that he took the Fifth Amendment 140 times in one session when he appeared before the McClel lan committee. Faces Decision Hoffa was faced with a fough decision as he got ready to testify. If you are going to take the Fifth Amendment, you had better take it all the way rather than answer some questions and refusing to an swer others. If you answer a question as to whether you are a member of the Teamsters Union, then the next one is likely to be whether you ever stole any money from the un ion, and if you decline to an swer you are in contempt of Congress. Dave Beck Jr. took the Fifth when asked whether he knew his father. Hoffa, with a lawyer on ei ther side, rejected the protec tion of the Fifth Amendment. He was deferential toward the senators on the committee and addressed them as "Sir," but lie treated Bobby Kennedy as Child's Feet NOT Gcneroui Trade-in Allowanct for Your Old Set CONVENIENT TERMS though he were patting a shag gy dog on the head. Kennedy bored in immediately: "You have been arrested a number of times. Mr. Hoffa. How many, approximately?" "Well, I don't know. Bob." Hoffa replied. "I haven't .ounted them up." Lists Arrests Kennedy counted them up for him. They skimmed over the arrests for illegal picket ing (Hoffa claims he once was arrested 18 times in 24 hours but always returned to the picket line). Two things were left. Hoffa was accused of violating the federal antitrust law in Detroit in connection with the collection and ship ment of waste paper. He pleaded nolo contendere (no contest) and was fined SI. 000. He also was convicted of a misdemeanor in connection with collecting $5 in "initia tion fees" from Detroit gro cers and was ordered to re turn $7,500 to them. Hoffa was calm and cool and almost every time he an swered a question he took out insurance against a perjury charge by saying "to the best of my recollection." That meant he could change his testimony later if somebody refreshed his recollection. Gradually a pattern devel oped in Kennedy's questions and Hoffa's answers. When they got on the subject of his finances, Hoffa testified that he made the acquaintance of Owen Bert Brennan, president of a Teamsters local in De troit. Brennan had achieved something that millions of persons have sought without success an infallible system for beating the horses. Explains Funds Hoffa testified that each year he gave Brennan some cash to put on the horses and at the end of the year he got back winnings that ranged between S5.000 and $10,000. Hoffa's income tax returns over a few years listed a total of S60.000 income in "wagering and miscellane ous." The committee and every body in the crowded room was eager to have the Brennan system of picking horses ex plained. Kennedy poured questions at Hoffa, but Jimmy professed to know nothing. "Ask Brennan," he suggest ed. That's what the committee did and Brennan was brought to the stand. His lawyer ex plained that Brennan was in- A Problem? HERE! j SMART COLOR TV LOWBOY if The DENHAM " Special Series 213-G-24-M l u 260 sq. in. picture J RCA VICTOR MARK 8 COLOR TV G!are-proof High Fidelity Color Tube Super Power Chassis Super-powerful "New Vista'1 Tuner Only Two Color Controls Make Tuning Easy Two Speaker Sound Precision-crafted Security Sealed Circuit Boards Other Model Priced From $495 JOHNSTON STORES First and Foremost In Color Television 112 SOUTH RIVERSIDE Moving Soon To The Medford Shopping Center fcjiifcUl -frita Hi Jt i r in tMI n. tlii r I ii irfti lint j BOTH IN CONDITION-About the only thing Bobby Kenne dy and J'rnmy Hoffa have in common is physical culture. Both believe in exercise, so both were in the pink when their historic struggle began on Aug. 20, 1957. with Hoffa's appearance before the Senate Rackets committee in Wash ington. UPI) volved in some litigation in New York state, and then Kennedy started the ques tions. "On the advice of counsel," Brennan replied, "1 respect fully decline at this time to answer, and under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution I assert my privilege not to be a wit ness against myself." He started saying that around 2 p.m., and said it steadily until 6:20 p.m. It soon became evident to everybody that the secret of picking horses was going to remain locked in Brennan's brain with the Fifth Amendment standing sentinel. Becomes Pattern This was to become a fa miliar pattern in the hearings. Hoffa would suggest that somebody else knew the an swer to the question and then that person would take the Fifth Amendment. Sen. Karl Mundt of South Dakota, a member of the committee, fi nally leaned toward Brennan and said: "I think Mr. Hoffa is taking the Fifth Amendment through your lips." There wasn't any doubl. that Hoffa had won the first round. Next: Cloak and dagg: a federal court. stuff in Coffage Grove Boy Dies in Rope of Swing Cottage Grove - Wll - Clar ence R. Beers, 12, died at his home near here Sunday night when his neck became tan gled in the rope of a swing. Police said he may have fal len. The death was termed an accident. 5695 MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD, OREGON X- '' Ji ti"ii MimXatkkm Miltm Art, H. W. McCAULEY Regional Manager Regional Office of SIAC Established Here, Open Sept. 1 II. W. McCauley. classifica tion and survey supervisor for the employer coverage divi sion of the State Industrial Ac cident commission, has been named regional manager ef fective Sept. 1. with headquar ters at Sixth and Grape sts., Medford. Completing a major phase of the commission's reorgan ization plan designed to speed up service by coordinating and maintaining employer coverage, accident prevention and claims service at an area level, five other regional of fices have been located i throughout the state. F.ffective relations will also be estab lished with doctors and hos pitals in each region. McCauley is a nalive Ore- i gonian from Salem and during ' the last war was a mepiber of the V. S. Air Corps specializ ing in communications. Educated In Salem He received his education in Salem schools and, the Or egon College of Education. He became affiliated with the commission in 1!I51 as a clerk working up to the position of classification and survey su- I pcrvisor for the employer cov erage division before his se lection to be a regional man ager. SIAC s regional program grew out of an administrative study begun in January last year with a commission task force and directed by Wood ward and Fondillcr, New York management analysis The plan will facilitate hand ling matters at the area level through closer contact with those under th' Workmen's Compensation Law needing service. Principal cilics and com munities to be served are Cave Junction. Gold licach. Grants Pass, Medford, Myrtle Creek. Port Orford, Rogue River. Sutherlm, Ashland, Brookings and Roscburg. Oswald West's Widow Dies in Portland Portland TP1 Mrs. Oswald West, widow of the former Oregon governor, died Mon day at the ace of 86. Mrs. West had been m f ill ing heaith sinre the death o( Medford Youth Hurt In Auto Accident I Stanley Keith Schecl, in. of route ;!, box 16!)C, Medford, I was injured Sunday when hi I car failed to negotiate a curve I at the west end of the Bear j creek bridee on Kirtland rd., i s'ale police said, i He was reported in fair con dition at Rogue Valley hos pital. He is being treated for cuts on his face and arms. The School car left the road way and rolled over several times, police said. The driver was taken to the hospital by the Central Point Ambulance service. A It !:- v.... . RygMrgWHg?ffaffilW,H"BMkTT"rHBinieT "T'l flnlnH. iMaH.WMHBMMHlnWlB XN. w . , . i Shop G If ' 'AC f 4 U if f 4 t ' : 'J m 9 t r GIRLS REGULATION Shop :l Scat's and Savci ili-faelion ( ,iiiir:iril ceil r mir Money Hack 'American History Portland Two n;itn)u;il awards in American history were awarded in Orvson hy the American Association for Stale and Local History meet inn in Buffalo. N. Y. last week. accord inn to Tom Vaughan. member of the council and director of the Oregon Historical Society. The "'Award of Distinction,'' ; a unique and occasional - award, went to Dr. Hurt j Huntsville. Ala. --ilTl' - Work 'on construction protects at i Army and civilian space agen !civs returned to normal here Monday with the return of ! striking electricians. Ek nS'' REDUCED! Regulation Royal Blue GYM SHORTS! 37 Sanfonzed Short with Cotton Gym 3-np side clo ture. Illustration strrnUr to ityle. Siei 10-20. Awards Presented Broun Barker, Portland, for his distinguished community and regional .service in schol arly fields and many impor tant coimibuiions of histori- c.il materials to institutions all over the country. Barker, former vice presi dent of the University of Ore gon, is (he author of many historical publications includ ing "MeLoughlin Empire and its Rulers" and "The Letters of Dr. John McLoughlin." The "Award of Merit" was presented to the Oregon His torical Society, publisher, and Dr. Arthur L. Throckmorton, author, for publication of 'Oregon Argonauts: Merch- 100 Regulation White CLOUSE CHARGE IT! Short Sleeve Regulation Gym Blouse w i fh snap closure. Sanforized for permanent fit. S-zei 10-13. SEARS TUESDAY. AUGUST ant Adventurers on the West-1 ernrronncr released Dy me Society last November. Re- j 1 ceiving wide acclaim and many national reviews, it is j a long awaited synthesis of ; settlement and development KODACOLOR-ln By 10 a.m. Back the Next Afternoon Black and White-ln by 10 A.M. Back at 5 Same Day QUALITY CONTROL ANDERS PHOTO SHOP 232 E. Main Ph. 772-5646 r-rvffffr 'til f only or these outstanding Reg. 6.99 and S.99 IT TONIGHT ONLY Shop early Tues day nite for this al most unheard of value in women's all wool box-pleated and straight line styling. Vivid fall colors of golds, greens, rust. Sizes 10 to 16. T 501 E. JACKSON ST. PHONE 773-6661 FREE PARKING - 3 of the Pacific Northwest (liMa-itsoU) and speciriraiiy a study of Iludsor.r, Kay Company and the list of pio neer merchant capitalists in opposition to the fur com pany. w?vi wit aw 28. 1962 9 S MM W i i C,4':.f'' BACK TO SCHOOL STORE HOURS Mon. Thru. Fri. 9:30 Til 9 p.m. Sit. 9:30 Til 5:30 p.m.
