Tom O’Neill is an award-winning investigative journalist and entertainment
reporter whose work has appeared in national publications such as Us, Premiere, New York, The Village Voice and Details. His book, Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties was published by Little, Brown in the summer of 2019 (paperback in the summer of 2020).
To see original documents, video clips of archival material and to listen to selected audio excerpts of author’s interviews with subjects from the book, please go to Instagram or Facebook pages.
Instagram: chaoscharlesmanson
Facebook: ChaosTheBook
Twitter: chaosmansonbook
YouTube: @chaoscharlesmanson7342
Email: trmo@aol.com
Tom O'Neill 
Thank you Tom, great research, great read. Let’s not forget, there were 4330 domestic bombings in the US in 1969. Your book clearly demonstrates how Charles Manson was an operative working in Hollywood to defame the revolution of the 60’s. A complex and negative PR campaign orchestrated by the CIA or ‘murder Inc’ to turn the tide of the American psyche against the communal, defiant, unified, and militant anti-establishment.
Textbook counter intel coming down the sewer pipe from the highest levels. They were terrified that we the people saw through their rolling meatballs in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Their strategy to lube the system with LSD as demonstrated in Acid Dreams, thank to the CIA via Leary, Oz and now clearly Charles Manson—17 million hits of panacea decimated the (R)evolution.
Moving forward from the unrest, the ‘over lords’ stabilized the situation with Reaganomics and unlimited leveraging of debt. Turning the hippies into ‘yuppies’ and today we are all surrounded by the WWW! Meanwhile the extreme white wing has their ‘Citizens United’, which truly was the fatal blow to an already weak American democracy.
These are scary times.
Lmao! White wing. You lefties are really looney. Communism, Globalism and the Technocracy are the real problem and the real threat to “democracy” stop buying the BS.
you’re retarded
No, the “threat to democracy” is the people who still suffer from the delusion that we live in a democracy.
Mr O’Neill, thank you so much for the impressive effort and perseverance you put into your book Chaos. It comes through on every page. I had a hard time putting this book down. I purchased it last week and I finished it in about 4 days. I cannot stop talking about it and I have recommended to just about anyone who affords me the opportunity.
Do you have any recommendations for books that you had a hard time putting down? Not necessarily on the topic of Manson, but really just anything?
You said it. These are scary times indeed, started them keeps on rolling as tech ramps up tighter surveillance and misinformation on us all.
I would expect any further work to delve into the racial militant aspect, certainly plenty of smoke blowing in all directions.
This guy (Cynical Optimist) is closer to the truth than he realizes. Iâm curious to know what âsmokeâ heâs referring to. See below.Yesterday, I wrote to Maulana (Ron) Karenga. Iâll show you my e-mail to him in a few minutes. I wrote nothing about Manson, but something about the US Org using dune buggies or horses on the trails up in the Chatsworth / Granada Hills area in the late 60s.His group isnât the only one on my radar as far as the ânumerous negro militantsâ seen descending on Spahn Ranch is concerned. The FBI had dozens of informants and operatives WITHIN the Black Panthers themselves. See attached.So who were the angry black men dressed in all black hunting down and confronting Manson on Spahn Ranch? What was their purpose?
Have you read ‘Family of Secrets’ by Russ Baker about the Bush family and the JFK conspiracy? It may fill in some missing links if you have any…
Tom,
Any plans of writing a book about the current state of the intel agencies?
Not yet….
I just finished listening to your book chaos. I’m gay and would love to talk to you about your research and publication. My boyfriend and I are very normal and maybe even boring. But from what I heard in your book, I would love to talk to you more. I can provide more than wine and pizza. A home cooked meal and some great conversation. You probably get these invitations all the time. But I am sincere in wanting to discuss your book, and have a nice evening. If you’re interested please call or text. 559-308-5842.
Kyle Anderson.
Thanks buddy!
Hey Tom, is it true you have a wingnut named Paul O’Neil working for you as a researcher and you’re planning on writing a hatchet job debunking Maury Terry’s findings of cult involvement with David Berkowitz as Soon of Sam?
Nope, where’d you hear that?
Tom- Great book. I read somewhere in the early 2000’s that Jolly West was a physician of record for Timothy McVeigh. It seems to me that Alex Jones also reported the same thing. Thanks for the great book! Can’t wait for the next. Keith Ochs
Not the physician of record but according to Wendy S. painting he was seen frequently at the jail mcveigh was being held at after the bombing. His physician of record was a Jolly understudy who has now passed away
When I started reading Chaos, I almost went and got my own wipe board to keep the characters straight! And Jolly West, if it wasn’t for his age, I would have thought he came straight from Nazi Germany. It’s truly mind boggling how the government covers things up and still is.
I’m going to ask this a few places,(fb, instagram), forgive me if its been asked 100x’s. Did you EVER get to interview Linda Kasabian? Or talk to someone who knew her (story), knew her personally?
Nope, she refused to speak with me. Did interview her husband Bob extensively
👍👍🙏
Fascinating book, and I’m now rereading chunks of it right after finishing because there’s so much to absorb. Really impressive work. CHAOS benefits from dedication to facts, identifying gaps and inconsistencies, and not drawing conclusions from circumstantial evidence. A smoking gun wouldn’t change the main take away — sufficient evidence exists to question the factuality of the “official” narrative of the Tate-LaBianca murders.
Bobby Beausoleil is a critical footnote here. You mention Manson’s connection to musicians like the Beach Boys and Neil Young, and Beausoleil was likely a key link there. He was connected to the Sunset Strip and Laurel Canyon when he formed the pre-cursor to seminal band Love with Arthur Lee and Bryan MacLean (originally The Grass Roots), and his advanced musicality would align him with a studied musicologist like Gary Hinman. Unlike Mike Deasy who flirted only briefly with The Family, Beausoleil was deeply enthralled with Manson and would have lent his musical ambition greater credibility. Melcher would have definitely been hip to Beausoleil and his musical collaborators.
I need to read Waiting for the Sun again in light of CHAOS. After learning about Bugliosi I’m glad I only borrowed a copy of Helter Skelter ahead of reading CHAOS — CHAOS deserves the $ investment. Thank you.
Tom-
Excellent book and fantastic investigative reporting!
Really impressed-I couldn’t put it down.
Thank you!
Tom when will the Amazon movie come out and when is the next book coming out? I tell everyone I tall to about your book I have listened to it 7 times already and have just started the 8th. I NEED MORE!!!
I wonder what Charlie thought about his lawyer who I believe was the craziest one of all objecting to everything hundreds of times from the start even when a witness identified himself, getting arrested twice for contempt. I wish Manson shared some thoughts on him.
Atkins said two of the most insane things of anyone. #1. “Tex had a gun in one hand, a knife in the other & had a huge grin, screaming/laughing at the same time while he was literally 4 feet off the ground.”
#2. Jay Sebring started fighting to get away, fighting for his life wrestling with Suzanne tossing her by the hair while she stabbed his legs and she said she feared for her life and killing him should be considered a case of self defense.
Holy COW!!
Tom O’ Neill, you nearly got me killed in Oxnard by 2 gangbangers while you researched a dead girl at a strip club 🤣🤣🤣. The lemon fair luckily made up for it 😂😂😂😂
email me: trmo@aol.com
20 years very well spent Tom. This book will grease those wheels.
Great book and phenomenal research Tom. No doubt you’ve seen this YouTube video of actor Danny Treo discussing Manson’s hypnotising skill:
Also interesting that Bobby Kennedy’s assassin had no real recollection of shooting Kennedy but rather had a flashback to being on a shooting range.
Yes R. Duhig. It’s called “Range Mode.” It’s part of the MK-Ultra protocol in creating a “programmed assassin.” British hypnotist Derren Brown used it in a BBC TV program to demonstrate how an individual can be hypnotized into thinking their victim is just a target at a pistol range. But, the right individual (someone highly suggestible) must be found first. Watch how Derren found such a person and then got him to carry out an assassination. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=owootTAuxic&pp=ygUVZGVycmVuIGJyb3duIGFzc2Fzc2lu
Would be very interested to learn more about Manson connection to Charlene Marie Cafritz (Lawley), married to Carter Cafritz (son of DC real estate mogul/macher Morris Cafritz). Ed Sanders touches on the connection between Wilson/Melcher camp and Marie Caftritz (also via Cass Elliot) and hosting Manson in Reno retreat, and there’s some evidence that she maintained connection post TLB murders.
Tom, have you made any response to Neil Sander’s book? I justed listened to Sage of Quay on YouTube..he brings in The M, Sci , even politicians, and of course the Usual Suspects highly powerful. I mean, about anyone and everyone covering their ass… Comment? His summary was compelling, albeit there is no tidy bow on the package.
Tom, I’m in the process of reading Chaos after seeing your Joe Rogan and Koncrete podcast appearances. I am wondering if you ware familiar with the work of Maury Terry? I read his book, The Ultimate Evil, years ago and always found his Manson connection to the Son of Sam shootings fascinating. I believe that was the 1st time I had read about a connection between Dennis Wilson and Manson ( I later read Helter Skelter). Do you think there was a connection between Manson and Berkowitz?
Were you able to interview Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders? He was tight with Melcher and was a brief roommate of his at 10050 Cielo
Hello Tom O’Neill,
What do I do if I need say something about mind control projects in Germany that have still not been brought to light?
Blessing,
Éli
The Eisenhower library has the Robert B. Anderson papers. Cat 6 item 178 is listed as business communication between Anderson and Reeve Whitson somewhere between 1961-1986. Have you seen this
Yes, been through them.
Fantastic book.
I could not put it down .
Do you look at these comments Tom?
I have a couple questions.
Also, have you watched the Ted Gunderson video from 1991. He was CIA.
Cheers
Tom, huge fan of Chaos which I read very recently. I am fascinated by the whole thing.
Will you seek out Leslie Van Houten for an interview now she is out????
Tom,
I’ve listened to your book 3 times and each time followed it up by listening to your JRE appearance. I’m recommending the book to literally everyone I know. In your interview with Joe you mention stuff you left out of the book and that a follow up could be in the future. Any chance you are going to write the second book or perhaps release an unabridged version with the extra tidbits. I can’t get enough of this story and I would love to see what else you have. Especially with the RFK assassination. Hopefully if you are writing the book it will be out sooner than 2038. Jk. I love your work and I’m going to keep pushing the book on all of my friends and family. Thanks for all that you’ve done.
Tim
I live in the Nutley area…..would have loved to meet you when you were at Barnes and Noble…..
Hey Tom, have you ever checked out the book “Crucified – The Railroading of Charles Manson”? There are PDF copies available online, and it includes transcriptions of Manson’s letters to Kanarek from jail, before, during, and after the trial. If you have a chance to check it out, there’s an interesting letter on pgs 21-22 (in book, not PDF, page #s), where Manson writes to Kanarek, “Im working on some money problems and could use another 2 or 3 laweers as soon as I can git my mony this going if I can. Can you git a bail set – I may pull some mony from a frind back east or this rich supermarket family I think I could get in contick with Easy. Check the Bail… [all sic]” Do you have any idea who he might be talking about when he refers to the “rich supermarket family” or the “friend back east”? Obviously I thought of the LaBiancas, but I don’t know how plausible that is, or how much credence you put in the supposed Susan LaBerge – Tex connection. Do you have any theories/backstory on this? Thanks for all your work.
Hi Tom,
I wrote a history project in Scotland in the mid 80’s about the counterculture in America and how Manson and Altimont basically shut it down along with heavy handed right wing warmongers shooting students in campus.
Anyway, I was a middle child that hated school but I got an A for it 😄.
Probably the most compelling book I’ve ever read and I hope you write a second book.
All the best Tom.
Wow, just finished the book. I could not leave it down, a fantastic read. I was 9 in 1969 and I live in Ireland so my little knowledge of the Murders probably came from some narrative of Helter Skelter. Some piece of work and I know you can only lay out your findings and it’s up to us to make what we can of it but what findings ! A lot of strange stuff was happening in your Country in the 1960s for sure so it does not take much imagination to see the connection of evidence you laid out. Hopefully there is another book in the rest of your findings Tom.
Dawgs bless us again. Love your work. 1776 will..
Hey Tom, I’ve been reading a lot of Manson interviews, and one thing I noticed is that while he generally stuck to the “love of brother” explanation for Cielo, he also consistently mentioned a “little black book” as the motive for the LaBianca crime. He never went into much detail, but in the Ron Reagan interview for instance, he says Leno LaBianca was killed for “the little black book with the numbers that control the music market”. He stuck to this claim pretty consistently through the years, so I’m wondering: did you discover anything about this black book, what it may have contained, or why Charlie wanted it? Do you believe that it was really a motive for the LaBianca murders? Or did Charlie just imagine or exaggerate that part?
Did you find anything on Paul Crockett?
I checked Paul Watkins’s Wikipedia page. The whole “release him of all his agreements” part is spooky… I’ve only come across that language/phrase one other time, and it was during an energy healing session. And the healer was legit.
Did you find anything on Paul Crockett?
On Paul Watkins’s Wikipedia page, it says that Crockett suggested that he ask Manson to “release him of all his agreements.”
I find that kind of spooky… I’ve only heard that language/phrase from one other person, and she was a legitimate energy healer (i.e. has helped people, tangibly).
Sorry, same post twice – had a little trouble with WordPress.
Thanks,
Frank V
Unfortunately, the implication that the Manson operation may have been part of a larger scheme to smear the “hippies” is flawed—as the same forces that may have been behind Manson were also behind the “hippies”. Jim Morrison’s father was Admiral George Stephen Morrison, who was in charge of the ships involved in the fallacious Tonkin Gulf Incident. Frank Zappa’s father was Frank Sr., a chemical warfare engineer at Edgewood Arsenal. Gail Sloatman, Frank’s wife, had a father in military intel, and attended the same military school as a kid as Morrison. John Philips of the Mamas and the Papas had a similar upbringing, and his sister Rosie, as well as his first wife, Susie Adams, worked at the Pentagon. Susie was also a direct descendant of founding father John Adams. David Crosby would approve, as he is a Van Rensselaer and a Van Cortlandt, and his father was also a high-ranking military official. The list goes on and on. The Canyon where all of these “hippie” luminaries gathered, Laurel Canyon, obviously also a haunt of Manson and his crew, boasted a secret Air Force facility called “Lookout Mountain Station”. It is now owned by Hollywood actor Jared Leto, who runs a cult based around his rock band in his spare time. As a series of codas to this long comment—July 3rd, 1971 was the day Jim Morrison, who had his hair done by Sebring by the way, allegedly died. It just happened to also be the same exact day that his father gave a speech decommissioning the USS Bonne Homme Richard, the craft that he commanded the Tonkin Gulf Incident from. Manson member Bobby Beausoleil played guitar in the Grass Roots, the first version of Arthur Lee’s Love, a seminal Canyon band. Bobby also did the soundtrack for filmmaker Kenneth Anger’s film “Lucifer Rising”. Lennon assassin Mark David Chapman gifted live bullets to Kenneth Anger a week before the killing. Lennon was killed in front of the Dakota, the building from Polanski’s “Rosemary’s Baby”. Polanski’s “technical advisor” on that film was Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan. The first version of the COS was called “The Magick Circle”, co-founded with Kenneth Anger. Susan “Sadie” Atkins was a participant in several of LaVey’s public “rituals”. Manson was affiliated with the Process Church of the Final Judgment, another cult of that time with a fixation on “satanic” imagery. He also visited the Esalen Institute in Big Sur just before Cielo, where Abigal Folger was a frequent visitor. I don’t know what the arithmetic is to empirically equate all of these obviously related facts—-but “Chaos” only scratches the surface of something far more widespread, sinister, and disturbing.
MKUltra is still an actively running experiment. From what I’ve found Obama restarted the program. They took several men I know and none came back the same. They were all suicidal, started cutting themselves, and even irrational at times. They were not like that prior to their disappearance.
The disappearances have started again. 6
men that I know have disappeared. 5 came back and killed themselves just days later. 1 was found and still survives. He is under 24 hour suicide watch.
These were good men. Strong men. Who I believe we’re taken by two psychiatrists in Killeen Texas.
Please check your email Tom sent you pictures and much more detailed information. I have so much more to tell.
I’m putting my name on this post on purpose. I will not hide. I will not hurt myself. There will not be any accidents. If I’m gone, they did it.
MK-Ultra tactics are still being used. The FBI evidently doesn’t want the evidence I have. I’ve only been trying to holler for help from SOMEONE IN CHARGE since 2017 I believe. Yes. I’M KAREN!! Would you be interested in it. I only want help bringing awareness, stopping it, and getting help for victims.
Anywhere to find in print that 1956 paper of West’s? Studies of hypnosis and suggestibility?
Daniel. Scroll down. You’ll find details on MK-Ultra subproject 43 involving Dr. LJ West.
https://archive.org/stream/JolyonWest/Jolyon%20West_djvu.txt
Just finished ‘Chaos’
Congrats on two things
Removing any credibility Buglioso still had as a prosecutor or person
Elaborating on just how much establishment interest there was in what was going on in Haight Ashbury
Still gobsmacked by the fact that Manson’s parole officer was an academic slumming it as a P.O. – and eventually only had Manson as a client
Did you ever discover why the American Government involved itself directly in the legality of releasing Manson’s Parole Files – and aided the blocking of their release?
Nope!
Hi Tom, I’m a huge fan of your book, one of the best reads ever. I wondered if you were going to write a second?
well done Tom, thanks for your work .
I enjoyed the book and appreciate/ believe the complexities described
thank you for all you have done thru the years -truly an honor reading about you and your biography is outstanding – I remember once when the investigate of Jill Ann Weatherwax, took place in my hometown-
I’m about to re-read Chaos. Any updates I should be aware of?