It's January 1962. Martin Luther King, Jr., striding through the halls of the U.S. Department of Justice. He runs a hand over his dark, neatly trimmed hair. He grins as he exchanges a glance with one of his associates.
Today was yet another step forward for the civil rights movement. Just a few minutes ago, King left a meeting with Robert F. Kennedy himself. Kennedy is not only the younger brother of the president, he's also the attorney general of the United States, and he's shaping up to be a significant ally for the civil rights movement.
In the meeting, King sat down with Kennedy and other civil rights activists, and the group discussed a pressing issue, the disenfranchisement of black voters in the South. Kennedy pledged to support the work of organizations like the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King has run for the past five years. In Kennedy said he'd do everything in his power to support registration efforts for black voters.
Now, as King walks through the halls of the Department of Justice, he can't help but feel a new trickle of hope. He looks around at other black organizers who walk with him, who fight with him day in and day out. King knows he can't necessarily trust a politician like Kennedy, who's white, ambitious, and wealthy. Still, he'll take the wins when he can, no matter how small they may seem.
King reaches the front doors of the building and straightens his coat. Outside, a cold drizzle has begun to fall from the winter sky. King lays a hat on his head and steps out into the rain. But before he gets far, a white man in a suit sets a hand on his shoulder.
It's John Seagunthaler, one of Kennedy's aides. "Martin, before you go, in a word in private, is this something the rest of the group can't hear? Just something I wanted to run by you? Come on, let's take a quick walk."
King exchanges a knowing glance with his associates. He doesn't like the sound of this, but he's not too worried. Seagunthaler is a government official, but one he actually trusts. Last spring, he joined the Freedom Rider bus protests in Alabama. He's proven to be a committed advocate for civil rights.
But as the two walk through downtown DC, King can see there's something wrong. Seagunthaler's eyes are darting left and right. "Now, I don't want to take up too much your time, Martin, but there's something Bobby wants you to know. This is off the record. Look, you have plenty of friends in the DOJ, but not everyone wants you to succeed. The FBI? They're watching you closely. They're getting suspicious."
King pauses and grits his teeth. He knows exactly what this means. Senator McCarthy's witch hunts may be over, but the Cold War is alive and well in America. King shakes his head. "I'm not a communist, John."
"Is it that's true or not, it's none of your business."
这是真的还是假的,与你无关。
"It is my business if I'm trying to help you. John, when someone offers to fight with me, I take them at face value. I don't interrogate my friends about the past. Maybe it's time you start."
Seagunthalder stops and gays his back at the limestone building, housing the Department of Justice. "Nobody tells Jay Egrhover to back off, not even the president of the United States. If Hoover wants to find something, he will not stop. So I'm begging you, be careful."
"Well, thank you for the information." The two shake hands and Seagunthalder then turns and heads back inside.
“好的,谢谢你提供的信息。”两人握手,Seagunthalder随后转身回到室内。
For a moment, King stands in the cold, feeling the drizzle blowing across his face. He squintes his eyes, thinks about his next steps. This was no small warning. If it's true that the FBI opposes him, then he and his cause are in real danger.
But powerful enemies are nothing new to King. They come with the territory when you fight for change. So King will not back down, not when his movement is growing stronger every day. He knows that he has to keep fighting on behalf of every black person in America, no matter what happens or who he's up against, even if it's Jay Egrhover himself.
I'm Wondry, I'm Lindsey Graham, and this is American Scan. In our last episode, we looked at a covert operation by federal law enforcement, which aimed to silence Billy Holiday. The famous jazz musician sang about racial injustice, and when she was unwilling to stay quiet, federal officials began to target her with drug charges.
Yet Holiday wasn't the only activist who faced this kind of harassment. In the mid-1950s, Martin Luther King Jr. emerged as a leading spokesman for racial justice. King was a Baptist minister and advocated non-violent resistance. He earned national fame in 1955 when he joined the Montgomery bus boycott, which was sparked by Rosa Parks. In 1957, he appeared on the cover of Time magazine. That year, he also delivered his first national address and spoke up about voting rights for black Americans.
Soon though, King found himself confronting numerous enemies. One would prove to be incredibly dangerous, Jay Egrhover, the director of the FBI. Officially, the FBI's mission was to protect the United States from criminals, but in practice, Hoover used the agency for his own purposes. Hoover was power-hungry and willing to disregard constitutional limits on his own authority. And as the leader of the FBI, he tasked his agents to go to war with his enemies. Hoover was especially opposed to non-whites, and to those he suspected were communists. And so when Martin Luther King Jr. rose to power, Hoover gave his agents an extraordinary task. Damage King's reputation as well as his psyche.
This is episode 2, MLK. It's June 1963, a sweltering Saturday afternoon in Atlanta. Right now, Martin Luther King Jr. sits at his kitchen table, sweating. Nearby, a fan blows hot air on his face and stirs a pile of paper the clutters his table. King stares at the no pad in front of him. He taps the table with a dull pencil. And he sighs.
All day, King has been working on his sermon, and he still hasn't gotten it exactly right. He has to give the sermon tomorrow at Ebenezer Baptist Church. It's there that he serves as co-paster alongside his father. King is a busy man, and outside the church, he also serves as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, or SCLC. He's also working on a book manuscript and planning several demonstrations. He finds the work spiritually invigorating, and yet sometimes it feels like too much for one man to handle.
King lifts the bottom of his shirt and wipes the sweat from his brow. As he pauses, he hears the sound of children laughing. He looks out into the living room. His wife, Coretta, is chasing his four children, and they giggle hysterically. King persists his lips and looks back at his no pad. He needs to focus and finish the sermon. He shakes his head. It's been too long since he's had the time and energy to spend an afternoon just playing with his kids. King has made a lot of sacrifices for his cause, but losing time with his family, that's the only sacrifice he really regrets. So the sooner he finishes this sermon, the sooner he can set aside his no pad and start chasing the kids around the living room himself.
King starts to write down some thoughts when the kitchen phone rings. King drops his pencil and walks over the phone, picks it up. On the other end of the line is Stanley Levison. Levison is a Jewish attorney and one of King's greatest allies. For the last six years, Levison has been King's go-to expert for tough questions about finance or the law. Levison is a fast-talking New Yorker and barely says hi before launching into the good news. He knows King has needed some help in Atlanta. He's found the perfect person. The man's name is Jack Odell, and he's been working closely with Levison in the New York Office of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Odell is a professional activist and a talented fundraiser. He'll work the phones tirelessly to generate money for the organization.
King pauses as he watches his wife Kareta tickling their youngest child. Then he tells Levison that he'd like to speak with Odell as soon as possible. He could use some assistance right away, and this man sounds perfect.
Before a moment, Levison goes quiet. And then carefully, Levison says that while Odell would be a great help, he's not exactly perfect. He happens to be a former communist. King feels a small jolt of anxiety.
This is exactly what he was warned about back in January when he spoke with Bobby Kennedy's aide. King remains quiet, thinking. Then that Levison jumps in again and says that Odell has put all that behind him. But Levison admits his past could be a liability if the wrong people find out. King feels the worry knowing at him. The FBI could learn about Odell, and they could wield him like a weapon.
Still, King hears another voiceless head, reminding him about that conversation back in January. King said that he takes people at face value. That was true then, and it's true now. So King makes up his mind, and tells Levison that he'd like to speak with Odell. Levison says he won't regret it, and the two hang up.
King sits back down at the table and returns to his sermon. In the coming months, he'll have countless speeches to write and even more sermons to give. He has to plan demonstrations. Marches, he'll be exhausted, and his organization will be financially drained. King knows that he can't lead a movement all by himself. And while Odell's past is not ideal, King needs the help.
Two months later, William Sullivan sits behind a Mahogany desk and listens carefully to a tape recorder. Sullivan is the assistant director of the FBI, and right now, he's playing back a speech that everyone is talking about. He was delivered just two days ago at the Lincoln Memorial.
And Sullivan knows that if he doesn't act fast, this speech could cause a nightmare to unfold across the country. Sullivan loosens his tie and takes several deep breaths as he listens to the deep, resonant voice on the tape. Sullivan leans back and runs a hand through his hair.
His boss, J. Egrhover, warned him about this Martin Luther King, Jr. He said the king's rhetoric, his dream, could destroy the country, and that he was likely a secret communist. It's not that Sullivan downplayed the warning. He just thought he had more time to bring down the civil rights leader.
他的老板 J. Egrhover 警告他关于这位马丁•路德•金。他说这位国王的修辞、梦想可能会摧毁国家,并且他很可能是一个秘密的共产主义者。并不是说沙利文会轻视这个警告。他只是认为他有更多时间来打倒这位民权领袖。
Now Sullivan realizes that he's waited too long. King isn't just some southern pastor fighting bus laws in Alabama. Following his march on Washington earlier this week, it's become clear that King is a powerful leader. And Sullivan believes he's aiming to unravel the very fabric of America.
That's why Sullivan joined the FBI, so that he could protect his country from threats like King, a man who predicts unrest until racial minorities are treated equally. It's not the country Sullivan wants to live in, where a black man might attempt to seize power.
Sullivan shuts off the tape player furious. He's heard enough. It's time to take action. So he turns to his tie prior, loads a sheet of paper and begins a memo. His fingers fly over the keys.
He urges the FBI to take King seriously. He thinks of the perfect phrase, typing it out, calling King the most dangerous Negro of the future in this nation. Sullivan adds a final flourish, saying that, when determining whether black Americans are communists, the FBI can't limit itself to legalistic proof or conclusive evidence.
Sullivan cracks his knuckles, yanks the memo from the tie prior. He hopes it'll move the bureau to take swift action. To make sure it doesn't get ignored, he decides he'll deliver it himself to J. Edgar Hoover's office. Sullivan asserts that Hoover will approve the message and a shift in strategy.
The FBI director has had communists and black radicals in his sight for years. Now, after hearing King's speech, Sullivan fully agrees with his boss. He has no doubt about the biggest threats this country faces. And he has no doubt about what needs to happen now. The FBI must pursue a relentless investigation of Martin Luther King.
Its October 10, 1963 in Washington, D.C. Inside his office, Attorney General Robert Kennedy leans back in his leather desk chair. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. Right now he wants one thing and one thing alone, and that's the cancel the meeting that's about to take place. But he knows he has no choice. Kennedy sighs and runs a hand through sandy colored hair.
This meeting is a grim necessity. He has to take action even if he doesn't like what he's about to do. It's the nature of politics. The door swings open and a beefy man and a suit enters. His name is Courtney Evans and he's a liaison to the FBI. He stands with a manila envelope tucked under his arm and a look of cold determination in his eyes.
Kennedy points to another leather chair. Have a seat, Evans. Thank you, sir. Look, I'll get right to the point. I've read through the materials he sent me. The material is about Martin Luther King. Yes, about Dr. King.
Kennedy hesitates because he knows what he says next could change the course of American history. He wants to do the right thing. He wants to stand on the side of justice and yet he also knows his hands are tied. So he looks back at Evans and furrows his brows. I must confess the findings about Dr. King do concern me.
They concern us as well, sir. That's why we sent them to you directly. If I may say so, I'm glad you're starting to see King for what he truly is. A menace. He's an enemy to the American people. I'm not ready to call him a menace. Do you understand? Of course, sir. I apologize. I like King. I do, but I am disappointed.
I told him to stay away from communists and now he brings in this character, this jack old Dell. What the hell was he thinking? You know, I'm still not sure if it makes King a subversive himself, but Kennedy pauses and looks down at his hands. But we can't take any risks. We have to be sure.
Evans strains his back and fixes Kennedy with a determined look, understood, sir. If you need proof, that's what I'll get. Yeah. And how will you do that exactly? Well, we'll start with wiretaps. We'll install one on the phone at the office where Odell works. And then we'll install another on King's home phone line. We'll listen to their conversations and we'll learn the truth.
Why are tapping Odell's office? I understand, but do you really need to bug King's home? Absolutely, sir. It'd be a huge mistake if we did. Here, this is for you. Evans opens the Manila envelope at his side. He pulls out a sheet of paper and slides it across the desk. And he reads and swallows hard. This is the official authorization to install wiretaps in the SCLC office and King's residence.
Kennedy exhales deeply his expression paint. He doesn't want to set in motion something that could destroy King and his movement. But he also can't afford any surprises, not when his job and his brother's presidency are at stake. So with a heavy heart, Kennedy picks up a pen. His hand hovers over the signature line at the bottom. And looks up and sees Evans watching intently.
Don't hesitate, sir. Do what's right. Evans, I trust that you and your fellow agents recognize the delicacy of this operation. King is a friend. I don't take the idea of spying on him lightly. Serve King as a communist and he's no friend of yours.
Kennedy nods and then signs the surveillance authorization, shoving it towards Evans. The surveillance of King may proceed on a trial basis. You're making the right decision, sir. Absolutely. And with that, Evans stands and leaves the room.
Kennedy leans back in his chair alone in his office. Suddenly his heart starts racing. He feels panicky and for a second he wonders if he should chase down Evans and tear up that sheet of paper. Kennedy tries to steady himself by looking at the window. Orange and brown leaves fall from the branches and flutter to the ground. As seasons are changing in DC, Kennedy knows that the world is changing around him too.
He can only hope that when all the history books are written, his decision today will seem like the right one. What Kennedy feels alumnus throat as he considers another possibility. King could be innocent. Kennedy could have just betrayed one of the greatest leaders in American history. And even if he does have communist ties, Kennedy has just thrown him to J. Edgar Hoover and his pack of wolves. Like America may soon lose its greatest champion, Kennedy shakes his head. Because all he can do now is wait and pray and hope that he hasn't just doomed Martin Luther King and that he hasn't destroyed the country's movement for black civil rights.
Meet Jill Evans. Jill's got it all. A big house, fast car, two kids and a great career. But Jill has a problem. When it comes to love, Jill can never seem to get things right. And then along comes Dean. I can't believe my look. Whoa, I hit the jackpot. It looks like they're going to live happily ever after. But on Halloween night, things get a little gruesome.
This is where the shooting happened outside a building society in New Romney. It's thought the 42 year old victim was killed after he opened fire on police. And Jill's life is changed forever. And Wondery and Novel comes stolen hearts. A story about a cop who falls in love with a man who is not all he seems to be. Follow stolen hearts wherever you get your podcasts. You could binge the entire series, add free on Amazon Music. Download the Amazon Music app now.
Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, the host of Wondery's podcast American Scandal. We bring to lie some of the biggest controversies in US history, presidential lies, environmental disasters, and corporate fraud. In our newest series, we look at a covert US operation that toppled a democratic government in Iran.
In 1951, Muhammad Mosadek was elected Iran's prime minister. Mosadek was largely focused on strengthening his country's democratic institutions. But he also saw to nationalize Iran's oil industry, letting his country's citizens profit from their own natural resources. But as Mosadek carried out his sweeping reforms, US officials grew concerned that Iran would soon fall under the sway of communists. And with the blessing of America's top political leaders, the CIA launched a mission to oust Mosadek from power. The campaign involved bribes, psychological warfare, and staged riots. And it all led to a showdown that promised to reshape the Middle East for decades. Follow American Scandal wherever you get your podcasts. And you can listen ad-free on the Amazon Music or Wonder App.
It's early January 1964. William Sullivan stands outside a heavy wooden door and composes himself. In just a minute, he'll come face to face with his boss, FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. And when they meet, Sullivan will have to deliver some bad news. It's been months since his men started spying on Martin Luther King Jr. But in all that time, and with hours of manpower spent on the case, they still haven't dug a proof that King is a communist.
And that means Sullivan has failed in his task. Sullivan shakes his head and thinks about the incredible events over the last few months. It's not only that he has the task of rooting out a powerful subversive like King, but just six weeks ago, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. Sullivan knows that right now, America needs the FBI more than ever. The country needs law and order. And Sullivan believes citizens need to be protected from activists like King, radicals, who declare that black and white men are equal.
Yet Sullivan can't help but feel weak in the knees. He knows he's failed his boss. Sullivan is the assistant director of the FBI, and Hoover has trusted him to work on top secret programs. But with little progress to show on Martin Luther King, Sullivan can only hope that Hoover will forgive his failures. Sullivan checks his watch. It's 10am on the dot. He takes a deep breath and knocks on the door. Sullivan steps in. He finds Hoover perch behind his massive desk and holding a thick ream of documents.
His glasses rest on the edge of his nose as he reads intently. Sullivan watches his boss and feels a wave of admiration. Hoover may be nearly 70, but he still is sharp and focuses ever. Hoover suddenly looks up and drops a stack of papers on his desk. "I was just rereading this transcript here, a recording of King and his friends on December 27th.".
Yes sir, and before you say anything else, let me just apologize. I accept full responsibility. Hoover cocks his head to the side with a confused look on his face.
是的先生,在你说其他话之前,让我先道歉。我完全承担责任。胡佛将头歪向一侧,脸上露出困惑的表情。
You accept full responsibility for what?
你承担全部责任是关于什么的?
For my failure to secure proof that King is a communist. We've been working around the clock, sir. I hope you allow me just a little more time. We will get King eventually out promise and I'll make this up to you.
What in God's name are you battling about Sullivan? Get him. We got him. It's right here.
你在和苏利文争什么?求你别争了,我们已经抓到他了,就在这。
Hoover pounds his hand on the stack of documents, resting on the table. Sullivan is still confused and squinted, Hoover.
胡佛用力敲打着放在桌子上的一堆文件,而沙利文则仍然感到困惑,眯起眼睛看着胡佛。
Sir, we do. It's all on the tape. Did you even listen? That immoral slime was drinking. Smoking. He was carrying on with loose women. Oh, those degenerates, they really had themselves quite a time, didn't they? In King's wife, she's back home in Atlanta. This transcript makes it clear that King is a philanderer. We do know that word, don't you Sullivan?
Yes, of course, sir. Well then you should understand that we have him. That false prophet. This is how we'll destroy him.
是的,当然,先生。那么你应该明白,我们找到了他。那个假先知。这就是我们将如何摧毁他。
Forgive me sir, but I'm not quite sure I've fallen. We have some dirt for sure, but we need to prove that he's a communist so we can prosecute him because of that.
Stupid Solomon, where you just pretending to be. I hope for your sake, it's a ladder. This isn't about building a legal case. It's never been about the law. What we need to do is get rid of King anyway we can. He's calling for equal pay for blacks, equal social standing for blacks, equal equal black black equal. Soon he'll say it's okay for black men to have white women. You think that's okay, Sullivan? For our kind of mix with theirs?
Well good. And you agree we have to take him down, communists or not.
嗯,好的。你同意我们必须把他打倒,不管他是不是共产党员。
Sullivan nods his head and suddenly feels light on his feet. For days now he's been dreading this meeting. He was certain he'd failed that he'd lose his job. He thought he'd have to beg and plead to keep it, but now he feels steady and strong. His work will continue to move forward and he'll continue to make sure that America is safe from dangerous radicals. He nods his head and grinds it over. Yes, sir, I agree. We need to take him down, communists or not.
In that case give me ten more recordings just like this one. We need more audio of King fooling around on his wife. And once the evidence is overwhelming we go public. He calls himself a preacher. Has the gall to lecture whites on how they ought to live. Who'll fix him once and for all.
I'll get the tape, sir. And we'll make him pay dearly for what he's done. I promise you.
先生,我会拿到磁带的。我们会严惩他所做的事情。我向您保证。
Hoover leans back, visibly impressed. Maybe you're not so stupid after all, Selvin. I get back to work.
胡佛倾身后仰,显然很有印象。也许你并不那么愚蠢,塞尔文。我回去工作了。
Yes, sir.
是的,先生。
Sullivan rises and heads back to his office. Before he realizes it, he's jogging, hurrying as fast as he can to get back to work. He's racing through the hallways and he can't help but smile. Martin Luther King Jr. has no idea what's coming for him, but he'll learn soon enough.
One month later, Martin Luther King Jr. sits alone on his bed in Atlanta. He stares at the rotary phone on his nightstand and prepares himself to make a call. It could be one of the most important conversations he'll ever have. Could change the course of the civil rights movement and maybe even save his own life. Or if his worst fears come true, what he says could be used to destroy him.
At 35 years old, kings achieve more than he'd ever dared to hope for. This past July, the Civil Rights Act was finally passed. Prohibits discrimination on the base of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. And then last month, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Despite these unimaginable milestones, tonight King feels a cold shadow stretching over him.
Yesterday, Jay Eger Hoover told reporters that King was the most notorious liar in America, Hoover said that he was one of the lowest characters in the country. King doesn't know exactly what Hoover's planning, but one thing is clear. King has made a powerful enemy, an enemy who can destroy anyone he opposes. That's why King knows he has to take action today.
He grabs the phone and dials. After a few rings, CT Vivian picks up. Vivian is one of King's top aides, and although King is feeling anxious, he can't help but smile. Vivian is smart, fearless, well respected. He's just the kind of man King needs in a crisis like this.
King doesn't waste any time. He asks Vivian for a favor. Something that for political reasons, he can't do himself. Vivian asks King what he needs. King takes a deep breath and pauses. He knows his phone line may be tapped. The FBI could be listening in. Still there's no turning back now. He has to go forward with his plan.
And so King asks Vivian to reach out to the White House. He wants Vivian to make a request in the most diplomatic way possible. King Johnson should consider publicly rebuking Jay Eger Hoover, or replacing him entirely. There's a long silence.
Vivian then speaks. Reminding King that going against the FBI is an extremely dangerous proposition. His King's certain he wants to wage that war. King knows Vivian is right. This could be political or actual suicide. But he steals himself and tells Vivian that Hoover has left him little choice.
The FBI director opposes equality in America. If Hoover's power goes unchecked, there's no telling what he'll do next. King believes their entire movement may be at stake. Vivian's response is immediate. He says he'll contact the White House tomorrow, first thing. King heaves a sigh of relief and thanks him. Vivian then tells him to get some rest. He'll call with an update soon. King thanks him and hangs up.
King lies down on his bed staring at the ceiling. He considers what he's just done. And all at once, he's gripped by an overwhelming sense of fear. His limbs feel stiff and he swallows hard. But slowly, he feels himself calling down. As he reminds himself that though his fear is great, his resolve must be greater. Hoover will try to intimidate him, to force him into giving up his cause. But King won't let that happen. Not after he's come this far, and not when so many people are counting on him. And so King rises.
He grabs a pan in a no pad and begins jotting down ideas for his next speech. Its November 21, 1964, William Sullivan grabs a tape recorder and clicks play. A number of scratchy voices begin to pipe through the speakers and Sullivan leans back in his office chair. Sullivan is the assistant director of the FBI and he feels exhausted. He rubs his stinging eyes and turns on his desk lamp. It looks like it's going to be another long night.
The tape was made two days ago and after months of gathering evidence on King, this is the most shocking thing Sullivan has heard yet. In the recording, King talks to one of his lieutenants, C.T. Vivian. He goes on about J. Edgar Hoover and then plots a course to get Hoover fired. Sullivan can't believe what he's hearing. He doubts President Johnson would take this request seriously, but he also can't be certain. And he knows he has to protect Hoover and the Bureau at all costs.
这段录音是两天前录制的,经过几个月收集关于国王的证据,这是沙利文听到的最令人震惊的事情。录音中,国王与他的一名中尉C.T. Vivian谈话。他谈论了J. Edgar Hoover,然后计划解雇他。沙利文无法相信他所听到的。他怀疑约翰逊总统是否会认真考虑这个请求,但他也不能确定。他知道他必须以任何代价保护胡佛和局。
The only way to do that is to neutralize King. Sullivan pulls his typewriter close and cracks his neck. Then starts writing a letter to King. In the letter he doesn't reveal his true identity. Instead he pretends to be a black man. He calls King a fraud and says that King is a liability to all black Americans. Not only that he's a guilty man, a man with abnormal behavior. Sullivan pauses and smirks.
And continues writing that he has proof that King has cheated on his wife. That King is lured and abnormal. He tells King you are done. Sullivan then types out the final paragraph. King, there is only one thing left for you to do. You know what it is.
Sullivan glances at his calendar and sees that there are 34 days until Christmas. He'll give King that exact deadline to kill himself, and if he doesn't, all his sins will be exposed to the nation. Sullivan then reaches down and grabs a tape from his desk drawer. He grins as he turns it over in his hands. Because on this tape is proof that King cheated on his wife.
They caught him in the act. Sullivan places a letter and tape in a small box. Then writes King's hall-madress on the front. He then picks up his phone, calls one of his most trusted agents, and tells him to come to the office. There's a package that needs to be delivered immediately.
Sullivan sets down the phone, adrenaline coursing through his body. He feels almost giddy, so he stands up and paces around the office. Sullivan then looks again at the calendar on his wall, and sighs in deep satisfaction. Because he's confident that in 34 days, maybe even less, he'll be able to close the file on Martin Luther King Jr. for good.
Sullivan挂掉电话,肾上腺素涌遍他的身体。他感到非常高兴,于是站起来在办公室里走来走去。Sullivan再次看了看他墙上的日历,深深地满足地叹了口气。因为他有信心,在34天甚至更短的时间内,他将能够永久地关闭Martin Luther King Jr.的文件。
It's a Sunday night in January 1965. Martin Luther King Jr. paces in his kitchen in Atlanta, Georgia. He reaches into his pockets looking for a cigarette, but he's out. Quietly curses under his breath, and dips his head as he waits for his wife, Coretta, whose upstairs put in the kids' debate. King grabs a chair and feels himself sinking into it.
He should be in high spirits right now. He's been looking forward to 1965 with the expectation that President Johnson would soon sign a voting rights act. Finally, 100 years after the abolition of slavery, black Americans would have the protected right to vote. King can only imagine what this would mean for his movement and his people.
And yet, as he sits in his kitchen, King can't help but feel a knowing anxiety, because he worries that his personal shortcomings have put all this progress at risk. King's heart is thumping in his chest. When his wife comes back down, they'll have the most difficult conversation in their entire 12-year marriage.
Here today, Coretta opened a package that had sat for weeks among the piles of male addressed to King. Inside, she found a letter, and she found a tape. King was at the office when he got his wife's call, demanding he come home at once. And now, King will have to confront his worst mistakes as a human, his biggest failures as a husband. And somehow, he'll have to save his marriage, and make it up to Coretta.
King turns as he hears Coretta coming down the stairs. When she reaches the kitchen, she stops. It holds his gaze. Her deep brown eyes are clear, and her makeup is intact. She hasn't shed a tear. Something about her strength suddenly hits King with an almost physical force. It's then, he himself starts to cry.
Stop crying, Martin. One of the kids could wake up. He don't want them to see you this way. King wipes his cheeks and tries to keep himself from choking up. I'm so sorry, Coretta. Just tell me the truth.
About the truth? You already know what I did. You heard it all on that tape. King looks down and sees Coretta's hands clench into fists. She pauses. And then slowly they uncurl.
Do you understand the position you've put me in? Even if I wanted to leave you over this, I could not. Not while you still have work to do. We're an example, Martin. You are an example.
That doesn't mean it doesn't matter what I'm feeling. But this is bigger than you and me. Coretta, I think-
那并不意味着我的感受不重要。但这比你和我更重要。科瑞塔,我认为-
I'm not finished, Martin. You've made many sacrifices for the good of the movement. I want you to know that after tonight, I will never again speak of this tape. That's my sacrifice. I will forgive you. But I want to know why you did those things I heard on the tape.
King thinks for a moment and wipes his nose. And then the words start to tumble out of him. You want to expect so much of me. I expect so much of myself. People think I'm a saint. But I'm not. And I never will be. I smoke. I drink. I can have a bad temper. Good Lord, you know that. Sometimes I just want to feel like a regular person. And not Martin Luther King, Jr.
No, you're right. It's not. All I can say is I'm sorry.
不,你说得对。这确实不对。我只能说抱歉。
Martin, listen to me. There's more pressure on you than any man should bear. But you knew what this fight would cost you. You have to be smarter than this. I thought you were. I'm counting on you. Our children are counting on you. Future generations of our people are counting on you. We can't afford any more of your mistakes, understood.
So now you've got to decide. Are you going to do what the letter says? You're going to take your own life?
现在你必须做出决定。你要按照信上说的去做吗?你要结束自己的生命吗?
Of course not. Of course not. Whatever federal agent sent that recording doesn't understand me at all. You're not that easily understood. What happens if they make good on the thread and tell the whole world?
Then I'll deal with the fallout. But I won't let them stop me. I promise you that.
那么我就来处理后果。但我不会让他们阻止我。我向你保证。
Good.
很好。
King looks up from the table and reaches out a hand toward his wife. After several moments, Ceredid puts her hand in his. It's warm and soft. The King gives it a gentle squeeze. He knows that the future is uncertain, but as long as they're together, he can face it. Will you pray with me, Corey?
Together they bow their heads and King starts to pray. He prays for the safety of his family and for strength as they face a perilous and uncertain future. He prays that black people will continue to challenge racism in all its forms. And last but not least, he observes Jesus' command to love one's enemies. So he prays for the soul of J. Edgar Hoover.
A year later, J. Edgar Hoover sits alone in his Washington DC office. He stares at a piece of paper on his desk and trembles with rage. This is the official FBI order to discontinue surveillance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Once Hoover signs this form, his agents will pull back and they'll lose a crucial source of intelligence on the powerful leader.
一年后,J. Edgar Hoover 独自坐在他的华盛顿特区办公室里。他凝视着桌上的一张纸,愤怒的颤抖着。这是官方FBI的停止监视马丁·路德·金的命令。一旦胡佛签署这张表格,他的特工们将收手,他们将失去对这位有权有势的领袖的至关重要的情报来源。
Hoover shuts his eyes and wonders where it all went wrong. Not only is King still alive and seems to be gaining even more influence now that President Johnson has signed into law the Voting Rights Act. Hoover rises and begins pacing around his office. Right now it feels like his entire world is under siege.
Congress started to meddle in his business and they're now taking a look at his surveillance practices. That's the last thing Hoover needs. Those liberals don't understand how things work. Sometimes if you want to protect the country you have to bend the law, but they don't understand. Most of America doesn't understand.
And now as Hoover looks at this paper on his desk, he knows that America is about to pay the price. Because with so much scrutiny he has no choice but to stop his secret recordings of King. Hoover picks up the pen. He snarls with disgust as he signs the order to end the surveillance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Hoover breathes slowly as he considers his next step.
So the secret recordings may be over, but he's not done with King. He'll keep watching. King and all the people closest to him. He'll track down everyone who wants to follow in King's footsteps and he'll stand them out like the insects they are. Hoover knows that black activism is on the rise, but for Hoover it can't succeed. It must not. He'll do everything in his power to make sure he gets his way.
Martin Luther King, Jr. would overcome the FBI's campaign to intimidate him. When in the mid-1960s he became an increasingly vocal opponent of the Vietnam War. He also expanded his focus to include workers' rights and economic inequality. Still he faced widespread criticism and was accused of being unpatriotic.
On April 3rd, 1968, King delivered what would prove to be his final speech at the Mason Temple in Memphis. His plea for racial equality concluded with prophetic words, I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the Promised Land. The next day King was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 39 years old.
William Sullivan's career with the FBI ended in October of 1971. By then Sullivan had grown disenchanted with J. Edgar Hoover's leadership, especially his obsession with communism. After speaking out against Hoover, he was abruptly fired. Hoover would continue to target activists who fought for racial justice, but he would also spearhead a larger campaign aimed at suppressing activists across the country, those who fought for women's rights, opposed the war, and other issues.
This program, known as Co-Intelpro, includes Spine, harassment, psychological warfare, and brute force. It went far beyond the limits of the law and was kept secret from Congress, with it Hoover commanded enormous power. It was a power he used to abuse the law and power he used as a license to kill him.
Next on American scandal, a young charismatic and fiercely intelligent activist named Fred Hampton has pointed head of Illinois's Black Panther Party, fearing that he will unite Chicago's minority population, the local police department, coordinating with the FBI, targets him for assassination.
From Wondry, this is episode two of the Feds versus the Activists for American Scandals. A quick note about our reenactments. In most cases, we can't know exactly what was said, but all our dramatizations are based on historical research.
If you'd like to learn more about the Feds versus the Activists, we recommend the book The FBI and Martin Luther King Jr., From Solo to Memphis, by David J. Garell. American Scandalist hosted, edited, and executive produced by me, Lindsay Graham for Airship, audio editing by Molly Bach, sound design by Derek Barons, this episode is written by Hannibal Diaz, edited by Christina Mollsberg, produced by Gabe Riven. Executive producers are Stephanie Jenns, Jenny Lauer-Bachman, and Renon Lopez for Wonderland.