Friday, February 3, 2012

Newsweek, Sept. 22, 1975:  "Leaves From a Family Album"

One week after she aimed a .45 automatic at Gerald Ford, Lynette (Squeaky) Fromme stood before a judge in the Federal courthouse in Sacramento and was arraigned for the attempted assassination of a President. A slight, hooded figure in a red robe and matching sneakers, Fromme told U.S. Judge Thomas J. MacBride that she had something important to say.

"There is and are an army of young people and children who want to clean up this earth," she began in a firm voice. "You have the jurisdiction over the redwood trees, will you think about it?" He would, MacBride promised, but not right now. "The important part is the redwood trees, we want to save them," Fromme said. "The gun is pointed. When it goes off is up to you all."

Fromme's vague threats were echoed more luridly by Sandra Good, who had shared her Sacramento apartment—and her devotion to Charles Manson. Flourishing a list of about 75 executives from such well-known firms as Georgia-Pacific, Union Oil, and "all automobile companies," Good warned that "anyone who pollutes the earth, destroys wildlife or cuts down trees had better stop now or they and their wives will be terribly murdered." Most firms withheld comment, but some, such as General Electric, tightened security around their top executives; the FBI, meanwhile, was investigating to determine whether Good's threats had broken the law.

FBI officials announced, however, that they did not expect to arrest any more suspects in the case—and that included roommates Good and Susan Murphy. Investigators were cautiously confident that Squeaky's encounter with Ford was not a Manson-inspired conspiracy. Nor did the affair seem to herald the formation of a new Manson family. NEWSWEEK correspondents who sought out former Mansonians found them scattered from coast to coast, with the most notorious in jail for murder and lesser crimes. The rest are trying to make new lives, and they want desperately not to get involved with the escapades of the girl in red.

 The last person to be caught in the Manson web was perhaps the unlikeliest: Harold Eugene Boro, who owned the gun Squeaky had wielded. Boro, a 66-year-old divorced grandfather, was described by investigators as Fromme's "sugar daddy" and by his surprised Jackson, Calif., relatives as "a very quiet man." The daughter of Boro's Sacramento landlady recalled that Fromme once borrowed his Cadillac and later accepted a used Volkswagen as a gift. He also let Squeaky use his name in letters urging Charlie's release. But he didn't become deeply involved, Boro reportedly told Federal agents, until he bought a .45 automatic from a friend and showed it to Fromme—who stole it and fled. [sic]  (Harold Boro on left, scanned from Jess Bravin's book)

Squeaky's real family tried to go about their lives last week as if their daughter had not tried to kill a President. William Fromme (who pronounces his name "Froh-me") went to his desk in the engineering department of Northrop Aircraft, his wife held down her sales post at J.C. Penny's and both retreated nights to their condominium in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., where they were visited by their parish priest and refused to talk to reporters. (Squeaky's Dad on right, scanned from Jess Bravin's book)

But some old friends were soon remembering Lynette as "a little doll" who failed to get the love she needed from her family. "I don't know what's wrong," she once told Dr. Tillman Hall, her community drill team teacher. "My dad won't speak to me. He won't let me eat with the rest of them." As she grew older, Lynette was regularly thrown out of the house until, finally, she stayed away for good—with Manson.

Retreat: One of the best known Manson girls is Linda Kasabian, who in 1970 turned state's evidence and helped get Manson convicted for the murder of actress Sharon Tate and six others. Afterwards Kasabian went home to Milford, N.H., changed her name to Linda Christian and worked as a short-order cook. "Folks used to joke about going down to the place and ordering a Kasabian sandwich," recalls one resident. But in recent months she has virtually disappeared from Milford, retreating to a remote farmhouse where she can be glimpsed, long-haired and ruddy, hanging out the laundry of her four children. "All I want to do is keep a low profile," she said last week. "If it was just me, I'd talk to people. But I have to think of my children. I just want folks to leave me alone."

Another publicity-shy Mansonian is Kitty Lutesinger, 23, who lives in Van Nuys, Calif., with her 5-year-old daughter—fathered by Bobby Beausoleil, a Manson follower convicted of a murder prior to the Tate killings—and is studying to be a school teacher at Pierce College. "They were just goony bird kids when they started this," says her mother. "But love is blind." Lutesinger, who like several girls carved an X into her forehead during Charlie's trial, has turned against Beausoleil and Manson. She has also visited two cosmetic surgeons to have the X removed, but was told that it would fade completely in five more years. "I just live with it," she says unhappily. "Not a lot of people notice it."

Cathy Gillies, 26, who joined the family in 1968 and found them a ranch in Death Valley County that they later used while on the run from [sic] the Tate killings, has gone back to the valley to find her home. After Manson went to jail, Cathy married a red-bearded Texas biker named Dave Barton and moved with their son Elf to Death Valley two years ago to prospect for silver and gold in the barren mountain range. They work hard and live simply, in a small cabin without electricity or toilet. On Sundays they take Elf—"my life," says Cathy—to country-music jam sessions at a nearby resort called Indian Ranch. But the memory of Manson dies hard, and when word of Fromme's attempted assassination flashed through the valley, a storekeeper drove over to bring Cathy the news. "Do you know what your friend just did? She tried to take a shot at the President," he blurted, and studied her reaction. "I see by your surprise that you didn't know anything about it," he said—and left satisfied.

Arsenal: Like other Mansonians, Cathy found herself the object of wild rumors last week. FBI agents and county police showed up to check out reports that the Bartons had cached an arsenal in the shaft of an old mine and were recruiting new family members from unsavory-looking passers-by. Barton led a tour of the mine, disclosing cartons of food and children's clothes hoarded by local Mormons against a depression—but no weapons. "After a day or so," Cathy says, "I got very defensive."

Cathy concedes that she has kept in touch with Fromme and Good, who dropped by last March with used clothes for Elf. Although she believes that Squeaky meant to kill Ford, she says, "I'm not going to turn a friend away." She regrets neither her time with Manson nor the X on her face. And she still views Kasabian as a traitor. "It's lucky I don't hold grudges," she says, "or I could do things I'd get in trouble for."
Article Submitted by Katie!  Thanks Katie!

40 comments:

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

The most interesting part of the article for me:

"Squeaky's real family tried to go about their lives last week as if their daughter had not tried to kill a President. William Fromme (who pronounces his name "Froh-me") went to his desk in the engineering department of Northrop Aircraft, his wife held down her sales post at J.C. Penny's and both retreated nights to their condominium in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., where they were visited by their parish priest and refused to talk to reporters".

Evidently, Squeaky's Dad was an aircraft engineer.
It's amazing how otherwise intelligent people, can sometimes make for the worst parents.

The true story "Into the Wild" about Chris McCandless (made into a book and movie)... echoes the same notion.
Chris' father was an aerospace engineer... brilliant, rich, and highly respected.
Unfortunately the guy's resume also reads:
"Worst Dad of the year".
Chris eventually fled home (which was always fraught with strife, and domestic abuse)... and ends-up meeting his demise.
He's found dead in the wilderness of Alaska.


I've read elsewhere (as well)... that the entire TLB world (in fact) pronounces Lynn's last name in-correctly.

Technically... it's From-ME.

I guess "Fromm" just stuck after the 1970's Helter Skelter TV movie. LOLOL

katie8753 said...

>>>"I don't know what's wrong," she once told Dr. Tillman Hall, her community drill team teacher. "My dad won't speak to me. He won't let me eat with the rest of them." >>>

I had never read this. I kinda feel sorry for the little Squeakster. LOL.

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

You should read Jess Bravin's book...

And NO, I'm not scanning the whole book for you. LOLOL

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

This is a GREAT article Katie!
Thanks!

I enjoyed this article much more than most.
It's definitely worth reading.

It starts-off a bit slow.
At first... I thought it was just another boring re-hash of the Ford shooting... (again).

BUT...

It extends WAY beyond that topic... and explores several personalities.
It's basically a:
"1975... and where are they now?", update.

You get a real feel for the disparities among the ex-members...

How they difer in present lifestyle, and attitude towards the (not-so-distant in this article) past...

One ex-member... wishes her "X" would (literally) just fade away... and another, (coversely) is still much more loyal and connected.

Amazing...
Kitty (according to this)... consulted TWO cosmetic surgeons, regarding having the "X" removed!

Heck, I didn't know that!

I can't say that I blame her.
LOLOL

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

-You've got Squeaky shooting at the president.

-Sandy sending out more death threats. LOL

-Kitty is consulting two plastic surgeons... and praying for the "X" to fade.

...and Cappy is still pissed at Linda!

Quite a bunch... LOL

katie8753 said...

It's interesting what is said about Cappy at the end of the article:

"She regrets neither her time with Manson nor the X on her face. And she still views Kasabian as a traitor. "It's lucky I don't hold grudges," she says, "or I could do things I'd get in trouble for."

Hmmmmm......

adam said...

I watched an episode of Fraiser the other night and was more than a little stunned when they made a gag about Squeaky!!

Kimchi said...

Hey Bobby -

"Does anyone know if she had siblings like Sandy did and that they were normal people like Sandy's siblings are/were. ?"

I'm not judging what normal is, but have you read the book/story about Sandy's sister Ginny? It's very good...

http://everyonewhosanyone.com/ggsyn1.html

Kimchi said...

You're welcome, it's kind of sad though..

leary7 said...

you hit the nail on the head, Bobby. Juxtapositions and dichotomies make for the most interesting reading. That is why I obsess about the time Red and Blue went to Wisconsin to suck Mother Mary back into the fold. There you had the two Cal crazies landing in the heart of Dairyland to lobby the librarian into changing her testimony about Bobby. That had to be an interesting encounter.
Kitty distancing and Cappy clinging to her delusions makes for a vivid contrast. As would say Brenda's militancy and Ella Jo's rejection of the violence. Point being Family members weren't all one-dimensional. It is interesting to contrast various characters.

katie8753 said...

Hi Adam, Bobby, Kimchi & Leary!!!

Kimchi thanks for the link! I had read bits and pieces from Ginny. I never really got into it. Thanks for posting the link.

I have to admit, I've always looked down my nose at Squeaky because she came from a rich family and was kicked out by her father and turned to Manson for some leadership. I always just thought it was a spoiled little rich kid not getting along with Daddy.

But now, after reading that her father didn't want her at the table, I'm "reviewing the situation". LOL.

Maybe there's more to this than I thought!

In addition to Lynyrd's mention of Chris McCandless, maybe I was too quick to judge.

In view of that, it's a little easier to understand why she went after Charlie.

I don't know what Ginny has to say, but I DO KNOW that abuse happens usually to the eldest or the youngest child. Sometimes not to others.

I don't know what birth order Squeaky was.

katie8753 said...

Bobby it is interesting to know what the thoughts were with various family members 4 years later.

Kitty tried to escape the family. Cappy didn't.

I don't think Kitty was ever really family material. I think she was just a Bobby tag-along and when he got arrested, she was bummed out enough to leave.

Cappy on the other hand was a hard core member. She was even going to kill her grandmother for Charlie to get the ranch.

Which made no sense anyway. LOL.

katie8753 said...

>>>Leary said: Point being Family members weren't all one-dimensional. It is interesting to contrast various characters.>>>

Leary you're right.

If you dissect every family member you'll probably come up with a different character/scenario every time.

I won't go into all of them, but I've often wondered why Charlie didn't chose the "hard core" girls to go on the August 9/10 hits.

Susan, I get. But why not Brenda & Cappy.

Why not them instead of Pat & Leslie?

beauders said...

i believe lynette was abused physically, mentally, and even sexually by her father. the neighbors had nothing good to say about him. he was cold and distant. she also abused herself--she stapled industrial staples into her own arm. read the jess bravin book and you may find some sympathy for her. she told a friend that her father taught her everything she needed to know about sex.

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Right on Beauders!

I was just typing the same thing(s) about Sqeaky's relationship with her father... but you saved me a few minutes.

Thanks! LOL

katie8753 said...

Thanks Beauders you're always welcome here.

>>>Beauders said: I believe lynette was abused physically, mentally, and even sexually by her father.>>>

Really? Why?

>>>the neighbors had nothing good to say about him. he was cold and distant.>>>

He was cold and distant to the neighbors?

>>> she also abused herself--she stapled industrial staples into her own arm. read the jess bravin book and you may find some sympathy for her. she told a friend that her father taught her everything she needed to know about sex.>>>

She told a friend? And she never told anyone else?

Just asking.

Well that's sad Beauders.

As I said before, I mis-judged Squeaky.

However, I have reservations as to her abuse. I really don't believe her allegations of sexual abuse.

Well it's raining here. Thank God!!! I'm not afraid to say thanks to God.

Shalom Yaweh. Adonai!!!

Bless you all. Night!!!

katie8753 said...

I said before that I misjudged Squeaky.

I do think she was abused. Not sexually, but I think she was ignored.

I know all about that.

That's all I'm gonna say about that.

Night.

Anonymous said...

did'nt she go to school with the late phil hartman of snl?
been a long time since i read the bravin book

Anonymous said...

Bravin alludes to something not good going on with the father. And claimed he was making constant sexual demands of his wife.

Lynette has denied she was sexually abused. So maybe he wanted her out of the way. Or maybe he did make an approach that she rebuffed & he just blanked her from then on. Maybe, maybe.

Either way, Manson's daddy-daughter spiel obviously struck a chord with the Squeakster.

adam said...

Bravin's book has many recollections from people who knew Squeaky from school. From around the age of nine she was not permitted by her father to eat at the dinner table with the rest of the family, she had to take her meals alone in the kitchen.

In her mid teens her father literally refused to speak directly to her or allowed her to talk directly with him for a couple of years. All communication had to be mediated through the mother.
Remember the episode of "The Simpons" where Homer and Lisa fall out over Homer's barbeque?

"Marge, can you ask Lisa to please pass me the syrup"?
"Lisa, can you pass your father the syrup"?
"Bart tell dad I will only pass him the syrup if he's not going to use it on any meat products".

It was a real life version of that only without the humour.

A teenaged friend also recalls that Squeaky constantly had to sleep over at hers because her father simply refused to let her in the house.

I cannot begin to imagine how damaging this must have been to the poor girl.

If the bastard was alive today and I had the chance, I would not hesitate to smack the fucker right in the mouth.

MrPoirot said...

Cease2 said...

Lynette has denied she was sexually abused. So maybe he wanted her out of the way. Or maybe he did make an approach that she rebuffed & he just blanked her from then on. Maybe, maybe

Poirot replies:

Or maybe her Dad realized that there was no talking to The Squeakster? She has never given an inch in her life. I pity her father. He may be another victim in this saga.

katie8753 said...

Hi Matt. I think I read somewhere that Squeaky went to school with someone famous, maybe Phil. Can't remember.

katie8753 said...

Hi Cease!

>>>Lynette has denied she was sexually abused.>>>

Well, she goes from saying "that her father taught her everything she needed to know about sex" to she wasn't abused.

Sometimes when people claim sexual abuse it's just an excuse for bad behavior.

There's a certain baby-killer living in Orlando, who should have been given the death penalty, that claimed her father and brother sexually abused her, and she's lying through her teeth. I won't mention her name...but you all know who I'm referring to. HA HA.

katie8753 said...

Hi Mr. P.

>>>Or maybe her Dad realized that there was no talking to The Squeakster? She has never given an inch in her life. I pity her father. He may be another victim in this saga.>>>

That's an interesting thought. I've always thought that Squeaky was kicked out of her father's house because she was just rebellious and didn't want to follow the household rules, get a job, etc.

I really don't know what her relationship with her father was.

Mrstormsurge said...

Katie, I believe that Lynette went to school with Phil Hartman and that she dated the guy who later went to manage The Doors.

MrPoirot said...

Other than Squeaky being a compulsive personality i've never heard that she was ever diagnosed with any mental illness. She had to be crazy in some way. I know she had drug and alcohol probs in high school but that is common with obsessive-compulsives. She also had seizures.

katie8753 said...

Thanks Stormy! I was thinking it was Phil Hartman she went to school with. she should have dated him. I guess she would have ended up in a much better place. Although his life might have ended the same way. LOL.

Mr. P said: She also had seizures.>>>

I'm wondering if that indicated some kind of brain disorder????

Anonymous said...

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-5242164-504083.html

some details about phil and lynette

katie8753 said...

Thanks Matt.

I really think that Squeaky was concerned about the environment, even though Charlie was just smoking her.

He doesn't care about anyone but himself.

MrPoirot said...

katie8753 said...


Mr. P said: She also had seizures.>>>

I'm wondering if that indicated some kind of brain disorder????

Poirot replies:

I think Squeaky is one of the craziest Americans of the 20th century though I have no idea what mental disease she has. Perhaps she has them all?

katie8753 said...

Mr. P., I think that Squeaky really has a screw loose.

I don't think she was abused to the point to join Charlie's family.

I think that was just an inviting thing because she was rebelling.

It was a convenient outlet to piss on her Daddy.

I think that her actions have been rebellious all these years, and now that she's gray-haired and old, and maybe can't remember anymore, she just wants to be left alone.

MrPoirot said...

I would say that Squeaky has these symptoms:

grandiosity
paranoia
manic
compulsiveness
anger
substance abuse
grand mal seisures
mood swings
self mutilation

katie8753 said...

>>>Mr. P said: I would say that Squeaky has these symptoms:

grandiosity
paranoia
manic
compulsiveness
anger
substance abuse
grand mal seisures
mood swings>>>

Hmmmm.. sounds like me. HA HA HA.

beauders said...

a co-worker told bravin about lynette and the induxtrial stapler. he saw her staple her arm all the way up, it was not one time.

starship said...

This part struck my funny bone: rumors that they were trying to recruit new members into the family with unsavory looking passers-by...

Hey, what's the matter with me? Not unsavory looking enough for ya?

katie8753 said...

>>>Beauders said: a co-worker told bravin about lynette and the induxtrial stapler. he saw her staple her arm all the way up, it was not one time.>>>

That's strange. A co worker saw that? And he didn't do anything about it? That's hideous.

katie8753 said...

>>>Starship said: Hey, what's the matter with me? Not unsavory looking enough for ya?>>>

HA HA HA HA!!!

I guess they needed to see the front of your head. LOL.

MrPoirot said...

Squeaky tapling her arm is an attempt t0 draw attention to herself.

Leslie spun out of control and got into drugs after her parents adopted 2 children. I think Leslie felt rejected at not getting as much attention from her parents after the adoption.

there are prison reports about Manson which that described ways that Charlie behaved so as to draw attention to himself.

katie8753 said...

Mr. P., I agree about Leslie.

After those 2 kids were adopted I think that she was pissed off because she wasn't getting the attention she used to getting.

She also says she was mad at her mother for "making her get an abortion".

I really think that her actions with the family were simply rebellion against her mother.

I also think that people who cut themselves need attention.

katie8753 said...

Check that: "she WAS used to getting". LOL.