The Three Christs of Ypsilanti - Milton Rokeach [133]
March 31. Today something quite unexpected happens. Joseph makes an extraordinary attempt to go over Dr. Yoder’s head. He writes a long letter to President Kennedy, parts of which are reproduced here.
My dear President Kennedy:
You may wonder for my sending this letter to you, but I am God, and I remember you as an old friend of mine.
You, as president of the U.S. have already done much work for the benefit of the country. . . . In my engineering, I knew that you would become president of the U.S., therefore I engineered to this effect. And I thank you for your having done so well. . . . I cannot praise you enough for your work.
But what I wish to write at this moment is that I am stranded here in the hospital, and I wish I could be released. Could you do something for me? And could you give me a job in Washington—I could be a good adviser. I understand science of politics, sociology, civics, economics, law, etc. I’m sure you could effect my dismissal from this institution. How gleeful I would be to be your adviser. . . . Just write to Dr. O. R. Yoder, who is medical superintendent of Ypsilanti State Hospital, Ypsilanti, Mich., U.S.A., Box A, and by telling him that you need me as your adviser, and that you’d like my release, I’m sure that Dr. Yoder would oblige. . . .
Yours very truly,
Joseph Cassel
P.S. Any kind of job would do in Washington, even floor cleaning and mopping, for me. I have nothing here, I am without everything. . . .
The English are the head of the Ka of the world, and how they take care of it. And am I glad I am English. If I could only go back to England. But the doctor who is head of this hospital claims I cannot go back to England. What am I to do now, Mr. President? …
If you want a good writer with you, I am the one: I can write. . . . Hire me as a writer for you or for the govt. and you will never be sorry; you would be sure of me as a sober, assiduous worker. . . . And all day, I hear voices that you are my dad, my father. So please do something for me. . . . And as you are my dad and father, I certainly am well enough to be released by your order and taken to the White House. Can you send some of your men to take me to the White House? Please, father, do it, and I’ll be a devoted worker for you. I will live and conduct myself as God ought to. . . . As your son I certainly deserve a job in the govt. . . .
Now you have replaced Eisenhower. As for Eisenhower, it was he, also, who brought me to the hospital, so I could get my godliness from Nixon. . . . Well, I was then vice-president of the U.S., but I was replaced by Nixon. (If some of the writings are illogical, it is because some of the happenings took place in the world, which I am talking about.)
… I guess I have written enough so, so long, dad, and don’t forget your old pal, God.
… And nobody else is to be picked up in my place. Just me—I mean there may be a fellow in the hospital who might want to be picked up in my place, please give order not to pick him up. His name is R. I. Dung and he is a patient here in D-16.
April 1
My dear wifie:
… I am sending a letter to President Kennedy in Washington; I hope I get an answer. I am asking him to get me out of the hospital and give me a job in Washington. . . .
I hope President Kennedy gets me out of here. If he does, I’ll write to you from Washington and have you come to stay there with me. O.K.? …
Yours very truly,
Joseph Cassel
What was the psychological import of Joseph’s letter to President Kennedy, we asked ourselves. It was clear, at least, that we were witness here to a significant change in his delusional system. He now saw President Kennedy as his father. And it is unlikely that Joseph was only pretending; his letter to his wife suggests he was in dead earnest. Did this mean that Dr. Yoder