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 said it. These are scary times indeed, started them keeps on rolling as tech ramps up tighter surveillance and misinformation on us all.
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
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.