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And Ray Jones was the only person in the political field that was backing me, at that time.
Let me back up a little. A number of things stand out in my mind about the controversy with Adam. First, that he and his staff read my document, YOUTH IN THE GHETTO, and they read it very carefully, and they read notonly the lines, but between the lines and the implications of that program. And he clearly understood that this was a program that could have, if independently developed and implemented, political implications for him. You know.
I didn't intend, in working with my senior staff and developing the whole community action approach and community involvement approach, -- naively, I didn't see this as being in any way directly related to the political system, and certainly didn't see it as a threat, as any direct threat to Adam.
But the moment he mentioned that, look, this had to be under his control, I saw-- well, damn him. (noise here)
And I spent some time trying to reassure Adam that, rather than being a threat or danger to his political stability and stature, that it would strengthen it. I used the words, “Adam, this could be a monument to you. This could be something that you contribute to the people of Harlem, and to Harlem, that would make your name a very positive kind of thing in the future.”
Well, he was having none of that. He said, “Stuff and nonsense. This is the cold matter of fact political, financial thing,” and he really, he used the words, “You're a child,” speaking to me. He said,: “Don't be such a baby. You don't bring something
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