Where I Stand — Hank Greenspun: Going toe to toe with Jimmy Hoffa

Friday, June 29, 2001 | 10:19 a.m.

Note to readers: Hank Greenspun's final Where I Stand column was written in 1989, the year he passed away. Over the past weeks Classic Sun has featured columns written by Hank throughout his tenure at the Sun. In this column, written on Aug. 2, 1961, Hank interviews legendary Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa, who was attending the union convention in Las Vegas.

What makes Jimmy Hoffa run!

James R. Hoffa, recently re-elected head of the country's most powerful union, may not be the most popular man with the federal administration, but none can deny his potent impact on the administration and the country in general.

For Jimmy Hoffa is a man with a mission.

In Las Vegas the other day, he told why he's in a hurry and it isn't because the federal government would like to see him out of the way.

Hoffa sees a new industrial revolution forming with automation being a threat to his giant union more menacing than the Justice Department, Attorney General Bobby Kennedy and the president himself.

Hoffa feels he can cope with the Senate committees, the FBI and all the new legislation being written, which he thinks is aimed at unionism. It is with automation that all his talents, energy and ability must be directed.

He told of a new brewery built in Florida with a capacity of 1,300,000 barrels a year. The same-size brewery in Milwaukee turning out the same amount of barrels employed 586 men. The new plant hires 107 men. That's less than one-fifth, which means that 80 percent of brewery labor will go jobless as new plants go into operation.

A plant has been built in the East occupying many acres of land and turning out millions of feet of electric cable per year.

In former years plants with such capacity hired thousands of men.

"Take a guess at how many are employed in this modern, spacious plant," Hoffa ordered.

I said about a thousand, a hundred and admitted that I had no idea.

He held up seven tense, muscular fingers.

"Seven men employed where you'd think there should be thousands working. Seven men pushing buttons and automation doing the rest? What happens to the rest. What happens to the 2,000 men who should be operating so huge a plan?"

Hoffa was warming to the subject and his enthusiasm and obvious sincerity gave me some insight into how this man can sway thousands when he stands before them in convention.

"By 1970 the population of the United States will increase by 33 and a half million people. Fifty percent of this increase will be absorbed in 16 large industrial centers of the country. Seven new cities will be built and the rest will swell the ranks of the smaller communities around the nation."

Hoffa continued to rattle off statistics: "If new plants spring into being with automation cutting the labor force by 80 percent, where are new jobs to be found, for not only those who will be thrown out of work but the new force of 33 million who are going to seek jobs by 1970?

"They haven't got me on the run, I'm just in a hurry because these problems have to be solved if the country is to continue prosperous, for there can be no prosperity with more than half the nation unemployed."

Hoffa talked of his men and his plans while I wondered if we actually were being tailed by the FBI.

"You must operate in a goldfish bowl," I remarked.

"More like an aquarium," he answered.

"Did the 'Feds' learn anything today if they were bugging your calls?" I asked the question reminding him that I had been told he was on long distance every time I tried to reach his room.

"If they were listening, they heard me talk to my wife, my daughter and my brother."

And if in fact he was being bugged, the buggers must have learned one facet of Hoffa's character which is known to all his intimates. He is a devoted family man living only for his wife, a lovely school teacher daughter, Barbara, and a handsome strapping 20-year-old son who is spending his summer vacation driving a tractor and truck for the AEC in Alaska.

He doesn't drink or smoke and time not spent with the family is devoted to his union.

With all the bugging and tailing and indictments I wondered why he hadn't been nailed.

"They're pressing too hard," Hoffa replied. "You gotta keep loose at everything because when you tense up, you're bound to trap yourself.

"Pressing me the way they're doing keeps me from making mistakes. I couldn't do wrong if I wanted to with half the agencies of government following me around."

With such a massive governmental campaign against him, I couldn't figure how he could ever escape. Even a saint couldn't get away, I suggested.

He agreed that they might eventually nab him.

"Are they that close?" I asked.

"Close. Why, they stick so close to me they can get me on a charge of indecent exposure but it will have to be in my own bathroom. That's how close these guys stick."

I asked him what he was doing in Las Vegas and got the classic answer:

"Fishing. Saturday we caught 11 bass, Sunday we got 10."

I know he did some fishing for I enjoyed some for dinner that night. But how about all those people coming and going through the hotel room all day. I even recognized some labor leaders from different unions.

I got a hearty chuckle and playful poke in the ribs for an answer.

This is the man who stands as one of the most powerful forces in our country today. Chosen by his union and destiny to lead the working force of America against the greatest threat -- automation.

He is a man in a hurry with a jet-powered drive.

You may not agree with Jimmy Hoffa but make up your mind to it -- you'll have to contend with him.