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Lot 109
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John Kennedy ALS re: fighting organized crime and racketeering
John Kennedy ALS re: fighting organized crime and racketeering
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Description:

Kennedy Jr. John 1960 - 1999 John Kennedy signed ALS on the onerous task of fighting organized crime and racketeering



Single page letter signed by John Kennedy, on United States Senate letterhead, 8" x 10.5". Boldly scripted on recto and verso entirely in the hand of John Kennedy, and signed as "Jack". Three hole punch to left margin, expected folds, else near fine.


Kennedy letter written to Democratic majority leader of the Senate John [McCormack], circa 1958/1959, addressing a willingness and enthusiasm to introduce a bill they were working on with "Salty" [Leverett Saltonstall], Governor of Massachusetts, and "working for its passage". Earlier provenance for this piece during the prior sale via Sotheby's in 1986 (as lot 57), indicated notes that "According to the manuscript's owner, this letter was written during Kennedy's work on the 1959 Labor and Racketeering Act." An incredible letter foreboding the precursor of John's efforts in preparing for his Speech as Senator on the Urgent Need for the Kennedy-Ervin Labor-Management Reform Bill, to present to the Senate, January 20, 1959. John Kennedy's efforts to thwart Racketeering, Corruption and Crime in the unions and maintaining fair labor standards was one of the many foundations of his political campaign - to the extent that some even believe it was ( ... for those believing in a conspiracy theory ... ) perhaps even the catalyst for his assassination once he became President . Both he and his brother Robert were passionate about neutralizing organized crime, but in the process they had created enemies in the mob, in corrupted labor, in Castro's Cuba, and in the rogue wing of the American intelligence system.

Although this crusade was perhaps one of the shining legacies of the Kennedys, it was also perhaps their very downfall as even Robert believed it was these forces that was responsible for his brother's demise.

Shortly after this ALS was written by Senator Kennedy, the "idea" John referred to within the body of the letter culminated in his speech to the Senate in which he presented a Reform Bill he was hoping to pass (this powerful speech is shown in part below):

Speech of Senator John F. Kennedy on the Urgent Need for the Kennedy-Ervin Labor-Management Reform Bill, in the Senate, January 20, 1959.

Mr. President, I introduce, for appropriate reference, the Labor-Management Reform Bill for 1959. It is my intention to hold prompt hearings on this and related bills, and seek early passage by the Senate and the Congress of an effective measure that will protect workers, employers, honest unions, and the general public from the unscrupulous or dictatorial tactics of the few racketeers. As this bill is considered, I hope several facts will be kept in perspective:

First. This is a bipartisan measure on a nonpartisan subject.

It is my firm conviction that this bill not only meets those objectives but does so in a fashion that makes it corrective rather than punitive legislation, a measure which will correct abuses without undermining the rights of working men and women.

It is my earnest prayer that, this time, the bill will go through both Houses of Congress without becoming a political football.

Second. This bill is stronger and clearer than the 1958 version.

At the same time, the bill has been strengthened and tightened in other respects - including, for example, the judicial remedies here made available to a rank-and-file member to recover misappropriated dues when his union will not sue; the wider applicability of the provision for union democracy and secret election of officers; and the increased reporting of improper payments to a union or its officers by an employer.

Third. This is primarily a labor-management reform bill, dealing with the problems of dishonest racketeering - it is not a bill on industrial relations, dealing with the problems of collective bargaining and economic power. The two areas of legislation should not be confused or combined. The McClellan committee has been concerned chiefly, as its title states, with "improper activities" - with corruption, conflicts of interest, unethical and undemocratic practices. We have not been concerned primarily with unfair labor practices, union security arrangements and collective bargaining rights, as long as the improprieties I have mentioned were not involved.

Fourth. This is a strong, effective reform bill. It carries out all of the previously unfulfilled recommendations of the McClellan committee. It is aimed at ending the abuses revealed before that committee; and adds other legislative curbs on racketeering as well

I wish to mention the key provisions of the bill introduced today - the basic weapons against racketeering which will be unavailable in the battle against corruption if such a measure is not enacted by the Congress this year:

First. Comprehensive detailed disclosure to members, press, and public and law enforcement agencies of union financial data.

Second. Full reports by union officers on any personal conflict-of-interest transactions.

Third. Criminal sanctions for embezzlement of union funds, false reporting, false entries on books, failure to report, or destruction of union books.

Fourth. Suits by union members for recovery of funds embezzled or misappropriated by union officers.

Fifth. Prohibition of loans by employers or unions to union officers.

Sixth. Secret ballot for the election of all union officers or of the convention delegates who select them.

Seventh. Due notice of all union elections, and real opportunity to nominate opposing candidates.

Eighth. Requirement that union officers be elected by secret ballot every 4 years, by international unions; and every 3 years, by local unions.

Ninth. Prohibition on the use of union funds to support candidacy of any union officer.

Tenth. Prohibition of service as union officers of persons convicted of serious crimes.

Eleventh. Power to Secretary of Labor to institute court action to set aside improper elections, and conduct new elections.

Twelfth. Strict standards for the imposition of trusteeships and a limit of 13 months on their duration.

Thirteenth. Mandatory annual report to Secretary and union members on every trusteeship, the reasons for its establishment, continuance, and operation.

Fourteenth. Prohibition on counting votes of delegates of trustee bodies unless delegates elected by secret ballot, and on transfer of funds from trusteed local union to international except normal dues and assessments.

Fifteenth. Power to Secretary of Labor to begin a court proceeding to break improper trusteeships.

Sixteenth. Prohibition of picketing for extortion or to secure payoff from employer.

Seventeenth. Prohibition of solicitation or payment of fictitious fees for unloading cargo from interstate carriers.

Eighteenth. Public financial reports of the operations of Shefferman-type middlemen; and a prohibition of channeling bribes and improper influence through such middlemen.

Nineteenth. Elimination of the "no-man's land" problem which prevented NLRB action on local labor racketeering by directing the NLRB to exercise its full jurisdiction under the Taft-Hartley Act.

Effects of the Bill on the Teamsters Union

Consider, for example, some of the effects of this bill on Mr. James Hoffa and his hoodlum associates now dominating the vital Teamsters Union. Under our form of government, no act of Congress can specify the elimination of Mr. Hoffa. Like every other citizen, he is entitled to the protection of the fifth amendment, trial by jury, and other constitutional guarantees which he may find it possible to abuse. But passage of this bill will close to Mr. Hoffa and his ilk most of the racketeering opportunities they have exploited - it will stop those practices which, based upon the testimony before our committee, it would appear Mr. Hoffa's career and power are based - and it will, in short, virtually put Mr. Hoffa and his associates out of business:

In short, while Kennedy was still a young Senator of Massachusetts, his efforts, and his pursuits, what this very letter alludes to, (and the Bills he was proposing to pass) were about to completely shut down all the dark forces of the mob, corrupted labor, Castro's Cuba, and the rogue wing of the American intelligence system. And his brother Robert was equally zealous to this cause.

A phenomenal letter, and perhaps the one that started the cogs in motion that culminated in the assassination of this future President - you certainly can not make a larger circle of highly formidable enemies short of living a life as Batman, the crusader.

This early c 1958 letter is shown in full below:

"Dear John (McComack)

I am writing (illegible), I think his idea excellent and will be glad to form with Salty + others in introducing it and working for its passage.

I want to thank you again for taking on an onerous task. It is a great great help -

Best wishes

For the New Year

Cordially

Jack"

As a separate postscript, an article appearing in Boston Globe in November of 2013, reflects on these very thoughts, through the eyes of Robert Kennedy and with the fresh vantage point on the accumulation of documents released over the last two decades - some as recently as just months before the Globe article. For those who wish to explore this eye opening article, it can be found on the link below:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/11/24/his-brother-keeper-robert-kennedy-saw-conspiracy-jfk-assassination/TmZ0nfKsB34p69LWUBgsEJ/story.html

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