--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Alioto sent a “To Whom It May Concern”…" description: "\"“Alioto sent a “To Whom It May Concern” letter ahead on his personal stationery, urging police and government officials in Houston, Chicago, Philadelph..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/jeff-guinn-21483_jim-jones_alioto-sent-a-to-whom-it-may-concern-let_2172215.jpg" --- # Alioto sent a “To Whom It May Concern” letter ahead on his… ![“Alioto sent a “To Whom It May Concern” letter ahead on his personal stationery, urging police and government officials in Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and the nation’s capital to extend “every courtesy and consideration” to Jim Jones and his people, whose social service programs “are extremely…” quote by Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/jeff-guinn-21483_jim-jones_alioto-sent-a-to-whom-it-may-concern-let_2172215.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/jeff-guinn-21483_jim-jones_alioto-sent-a-to-whom-it-may-concern-let_2172215.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/jeff-guinn-21483_jim-jones_alioto-sent-a-to-whom-it-may-concern-let_2172215.jpg) > ““Alioto sent a “To Whom It May Concern” letter ahead on his personal stationery, urging police and government officials in Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and the nation’s capital to extend “every courtesy and consideration” to Jim Jones and his people, whose social service programs “are extremely supportive of local law enforcement.”” [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Alioto tried to influence authorities to treat Jim Jones’ group favorably, highlighting their community aid. **In simple terms:** He asked officials to be courteous to Jones’ people because they helped police. Key Takeaway Consider how perceived public service can affect authority decisions. Themes influence authority public perception social services Mood cautious critical reflective Type historical political analytical When to use this quote - law enforcement meetings - political lobbying - public relations campaigns - nonprofit collaborations Key Concepts political persuasion social capital community relations Questions to Reflect On - What are the risks of granting favor based on limited community benefits? - How can officials balance community aid with broader safety concerns? A Different Perspective The request may overlook the group's harmful practices despite their services. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Law enforcement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-enforcement/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Social service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-service/) ## Related quotes > [New York City does not hold our former selves against us. Perhaps we can extend the same courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/new-york-city-does-not-hold-our-former-selves-against-us-perhaps-we/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“Jim Jones was a dedicated Esquire reader, and for him its January 1962 issue (which reached newsstands in December 1961) could not have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/jim-jones-was-a-dedicated-esquire-reader-and-for-him-its-january-1962/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) > [ “No one listening \[to Jones' sermons\], even those who were the most devoted to him, could take it all in. But at some point… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/no-one-listening-to-jones-sermons-even-those-who-were-the-most/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) > [As kids, my brother David and I longed for acceptance. We were desperate to belong. We would have been thrilled to see the pews…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/as-kids-my-brother-david-and-i-longed-for-acceptance-we-were/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [“Just as demagogues lead their well-intentioned followers into tragedy, so the jungle inevitably reclaims it's own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-gunn/just-as-demagogues-lead-their-well-intentioned-followers-into-tragedy/) Jeff Gunn > [I'm down with Jim Jones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pimp-c/i-m-down-with-jim-jones/) [Pimp C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pimp-c/) > [Jim Jones wanted his people to believe the establishment was trying to kill him because whites were threatened by his message of racial equality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/jim-jones-wanted-his-people-to-believe-the-establishment-was-trying/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [I was working on a satirical novel about a charismatic preacher who takes over a small Indiana town. Then I remembered Jim Jones was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/i-was-working-on-a-satirical-novel-about-a-charismatic-preacher-who/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [I used to really like Method Man and Redman for some reason. And Fabolous. A lot of New York rappers, too. Cam'ron. Jim Jones.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ski-mask-the-slump-god/i-used-to-really-like-method-man-and-redman-for-some-reason-and/) [Ski Mask the Slump God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ski-mask-the-slump-god/) > [That's why I think it's important to revisit the story of Jonestown. I hope readers come away with a greater compassion for Jim Jones's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/that-s-why-i-think-it-s-important-to-revisit-the-story-of-jonestown-i/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [Aye, we from the streets, we from the streets, we from the streets, but don't u judge me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/future/aye-we-from-the-streets-we-from-the-streets-we-from-the-streets-but/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/future/) > [Jim Jones used highly-edited videos and photos of Jonestown, showing what a supposed Eden it was. People were interviewed smiling and working in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/jim-jones-used-highly-edited-videos-and-photos-of-jonestown-showing/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [“The Trojan Horse Sterling had referred to reflected his belief that the truth about Jonestown had never been revealed to the American people. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-morcan/the-trojan-horse-sterling-had-referred-to-reflected-his-belief-that/) [James Morcan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-morcan/) > [Representative Leo J. Ryan understood the manipulation phenomena people were describing to him and he lost his life in a Guyanese jungle investigating how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-ryan/representative-leo-j-ryan-understood-the-manipulation-phenomena/) Leo Ryan > [My parents subscribed to both Time and Newsweek and in 1978, I remember the covers of both that December were of the bodies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/my-parents-subscribed-to-both-time-and-newsweek-and-in-1978-i/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) ## More by Jeff Guinn > [“It is a privilege to help children learn the true meaning of Christmas, which is gratitude to God for sending us his son Jesus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/it-is-a-privilege-to-help-children-learn-the-true-meaning-of/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) > [Not all magic is fireworks and fanfare. Sometimes magic is quiet and sneaks up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/not-all-magic-is-fireworks-and-fanfare-sometimes-magic-is-quiet-and/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) > [“If anything was certain, it was that there would always be people looking for someone to tell them what to believe in and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/if-anything-was-certain-it-was-that-there-would-always-be-people/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) > [“conformity. They believed in and followed the same rules, respecting parents and teachers above all. This was typical throughout Indiana—according to state historian James…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/conformity-they-believed-in-and-followed-the-same-rules-respecting/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) > [“Charlie still likes to listen to music, mostly vintage rock ’n’ roll as well as Sinatra. His favorite actor is John Wayne, and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/charlie-still-likes-to-listen-to-music-mostly-vintage-rock-n-roll-as/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) > [“On Jones’s instruction, Larry Schacht ordered one pound of sodium cyanide, enough for 1,800 lethal doses. It cost $8.85.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/on-jones-s-instruction-larry-schacht-ordered-one-pound-of-sodium/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) > [“Not all magic is fireworks and fanfare. Sometimes magic is quiet and sneaks up on you. An illusion is what needs all the bells…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/not-all-magic-is-fireworks-and-fanfare-sometimes-magic-is-quiet-and-2/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) > [“For rich people, holiday festivities were only beginning on December 25. They would continue enjoying feasts and gifts through Epiphany on January 6—these were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/for-rich-people-holiday-festivities-were-only-beginning-on-december/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) > [“on Tombstone’s streets. It took the judgment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/on-tombstone-s-streets-it-took-the-judgment/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) > [“Revelation, Charlie explained, predicted that locusts would come, and locusts were, of course, beetles—the Beatles. John said that the locusts would have “scales like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/revelation-charlie-explained-predicted-that-locusts-would-come-and/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) > [With hindsight, we recognize that the social and moral confusion of the late 1960s and early 1970s is part of a cultural cycle; we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/with-hindsight-we-recognize-that-the-social-and-moral-confusion-of/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) > [“add and the contributions it might”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/add-and-the-contributions-it-might/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) > [“One thing the army didn’t do very often was swoop in to deflect Indian attacks on wagon trains of settlers—there weren’t that many such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/one-thing-the-army-didn-t-do-very-often-was-swoop-in-to-deflect/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) > [“He felt that anything he wanted ought to be his no matter what.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/he-felt-that-anything-he-wanted-ought-to-be-his-no-matter-what/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) > [“But in 1621 the Puritan leaders decreed that Christmas would not be celebrated at all in Plymouth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/but-in-1621-the-puritan-leaders-decreed-that-christmas-would-not-be/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) [Explore all 29 Jeff Guinn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) ## More Jim jones quotes > [My parents subscribed to both Time and Newsweek and in 1978, I remember the covers of both that December were of the bodies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/my-parents-subscribed-to-both-time-and-newsweek-and-in-1978-i/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [Representative Leo J. Ryan understood the manipulation phenomena people were describing to him and he lost his life in a Guyanese jungle investigating how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-ryan/representative-leo-j-ryan-understood-the-manipulation-phenomena/) Leo Ryan > [“The Trojan Horse Sterling had referred to reflected his belief that the truth about Jonestown had never been revealed to the American people. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-morcan/the-trojan-horse-sterling-had-referred-to-reflected-his-belief-that/) [James Morcan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-morcan/) > [Jim Jones used highly-edited videos and photos of Jonestown, showing what a supposed Eden it was. People were interviewed smiling and working in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/jim-jones-used-highly-edited-videos-and-photos-of-jonestown-showing/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [Aye, we from the streets, we from the streets, we from the streets, but don't u judge me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/future/aye-we-from-the-streets-we-from-the-streets-we-from-the-streets-but/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/future/) > [That's why I think it's important to revisit the story of Jonestown. I hope readers come away with a greater compassion for Jim Jones's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/that-s-why-i-think-it-s-important-to-revisit-the-story-of-jonestown-i/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [I used to really like Method Man and Redman for some reason. And Fabolous. A lot of New York rappers, too. Cam'ron. Jim Jones.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ski-mask-the-slump-god/i-used-to-really-like-method-man-and-redman-for-some-reason-and/) [Ski Mask the Slump God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ski-mask-the-slump-god/) > [I was working on a satirical novel about a charismatic preacher who takes over a small Indiana town. Then I remembered Jim Jones was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/i-was-working-on-a-satirical-novel-about-a-charismatic-preacher-who/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [Jim Jones wanted his people to believe the establishment was trying to kill him because whites were threatened by his message of racial equality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/jim-jones-wanted-his-people-to-believe-the-establishment-was-trying/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [I'm down with Jim Jones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pimp-c/i-m-down-with-jim-jones/) [Pimp C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pimp-c/) > [“Just as demagogues lead their well-intentioned followers into tragedy, so the jungle inevitably reclaims it's own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-gunn/just-as-demagogues-lead-their-well-intentioned-followers-into-tragedy/) Jeff Gunn > [As kids, my brother David and I longed for acceptance. We were desperate to belong. We would have been thrilled to see the pews…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/as-kids-my-brother-david-and-i-longed-for-acceptance-we-were/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [“It’s time to introduce a new fallacy that we have coined the Kool-Aid Fallacy. It goes like this: “You disagree with me and I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-stark/it-s-time-to-introduce-a-new-fallacy-that-we-have-coined-the-kool-aid/) Thomas Stark > [“Hope springs eternal, unfortunately it springs from a well poisoned with Jim Jones’ Kool Aid”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/hope-springs-eternal-unfortunately-it-springs-from-a-well-poisoned/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) > [“Why such a massacre had occurred, the Omegans could only speculate. Some thought it may have been to stop a large-scale emigration out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-morcan/why-such-a-massacre-had-occurred-the-omegans-could-only-speculate/) [James Morcan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-morcan/) Browse all 28 Jim jones quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Alioto sent a “To Whom It May Concern” letter ahead on his personal stationery, urging police and government officials in Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and the nation’s capital to extend “every courtesy and consideration” to Jim Jones and his people, whose social service programs “are extremely supportive of local law enforcement.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeff Guinn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/alioto-sent-a-to-whom-it-may-concern-letter-ahead-on-his-personal/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Jim jones" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/alioto-sent-a-to-whom-it-may-concern-letter-ahead-on-his-personal/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/jeff-guinn-21483_jim-jones_alioto-sent-a-to-whom-it-may-concern-let_2172215.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/jeff-guinn-21483_jim-jones_alioto-sent-a-to-whom-it-may-concern-let_2172215.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/jeff-guinn-21483_jim-jones_alioto-sent-a-to-whom-it-may-concern-let_2172215.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Alioto sent a “To Whom It May Concern” letter ahead on his personal stationery, urging police and government…” — Jeff Guinn", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jeff Guinn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Alioto sent a “To Whom It...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/alioto-sent-a-to-whom-it-may-concern-letter-ahead-on-his-personal/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/alioto-sent-a-to-whom-it-may-concern-letter-ahead-on-his-personal/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```