Browse Items (213 total)
Sort by:
-
Letter to Ed Willis, Jr. from Robert K. Bell.
Bell writes to thank Willis for his support in the Nickerson case. -
Correspondence between Robert K. Bell and Judge L. C. Walker.
L. C. Walker, Nickerson's uncle by marriage, asks Bell if he and another uncle by marriage could be permitted to sit in on the hearing. Bell responds that they will have seating space for Walker and Mr. Scott. -
Correspondence between Robert K. Bell and R. H. Cox.
Cox writes to Bell asking if he could have the priviledge of reporting Nickerson's case, "unless other arrangements have been made." Cox includes his previous experience with court-martials. Bell responds by explaining that the defense counsel has little influence in the matters of appointing a court reporter. -
Letter to Armistead Selden from Robert K. Bell.
Bell writes to Selden in Washington D.C. on behalf of the defense counsel in an attempt to change Nickerson's case from trial by court-martial to a non-judicial punishment. Selden replies stating he will pass the information "if the opportunity present[s] itself." -
Correspondence between John J. Sparkman and Robert K. Bell.
Bell writes to Sparkman in Washinton D.C. on behalf of the defense counsel in an attempt to change Nickerson's case from trial by court-martial to a non-judicial punishment. Sparkman thanks Bell for his letter from May 8 and responds that he has already been "dropping some suggestions" regarding Bell's hope to give Nickerson a non-judicial punishment rather than trial by court-martial. -
Correspondence between Senator Lister Hill and Robert K. Bell.
Bell writes to Hill in Washington D.C. on behalf of the defense counsel in an attempt to change Nickerson's case from trial by court-martial to a non-judicial punishment. Hill responds by thanking Bell for the letter and will do anything to help "along the lines of your suggestion." -
Letter to Carl A. Elliott from Robert K. Bell with a reply from secretary Cora B. Marlowe.
Bell writes to Elliott in Washington D.C. on behalf of the defense counsel in an attempt to change Nickerson's case from trial by court-martial to a non-judicial punishment. Marlowe writes to Bell on behalf of Congressman Elliott who is out of town and will respond to Bell's May 8 letter upon his return. -
Correspondence between George Huddleston and Robert K. Bell.
Bell writes to Huddleston in Washington D.C. on behalf of the defense counsel in an attempt to change Nickerson's case from trial by court-martial to a non-judicial punishment. Huddleston responds stating his will "make a discreet request" to Secretary Brucker and General Maxwell. -
Correspondence between George Grant and Robert K. Bell.
Bell writes to Grant in Washington D.C. on behalf of the defense counsel in an attempt to change Nickerson's case from trial by court-martial to a non-judicial punishment. Grant responds with interest and states that it looks as though the Army may "drop the Colonel Nickerson case by non-judicial punishment." -
Correspondence between Kenneth Roberts and Robert K. Bell.
Bell writes to Roberts in Washington D.C. on behalf of the defense counsel in an attempt to change Nickerson's case from trial by court-martial to a non-judicial punishment. Roberts responds that he has done everything he could on the matter. -
Letter to Robert E. Jones from Robert K. Bell.
Bell writes to Bob Jones in Washington D.C. on behalf of the defense counsel in an attempt to change Nickerson's case from trial by court-martial to a non-judicial punishment. -
Correspondence between Richey Green and Robert K. Bell.
Green writes to Bell saying he saw him on the news following the Nickerson case and he hopes the results were to his satisfaction. Bell writes to Green in response saying he is pleased at the outcome of Nickerson's trial and asks Green to visit him if he is ever in North Alabama. -
Correspondence between Robert K. Bell and Colonel William C. Pritchard.
Pritchard writes to Bell, sending a check for Colonel Nickerson to be used for any fines that would be imposed or for the expense of the defense of Nickerson. Bell responds with his sincere thanks and writes that he has given the check to Colonel Nickerson. -
Correspondence between Robert K. Bell and Thomas C. Ryan.
Ryan writes that he recently saw a picture of Bell in the New York Herald Tribune with Colonel Nickerson. He includes personal details of his life stating he remarried and recently took a trip to Europe. He reminisces of a Caribbean trip they took together a year before his first wife passed away. Ryan also congratulates Bell on the "wonderful result" of the trial. Bell responds, continuing to reminisce on the same Caribbean trip and states he hopes to travel out West and visit with Ryan while there. He concludes by thanking Ryan for the letter. -
Letter to Ray H. Jenkins from Robert K. Bell.
Bell apologizes for being "a very poor correspondent" and thanks Jenkins for his letters. He writes that he is "having a terrific time with John Nickerson in trying to keep his mouth closed and to make him forget the word 'appeal'. Bell includes personal details of his life after the trial and concludes the letter by thanking Jenkins again for his friendship. -
Correspondence between Robert K. Bell and Jim G. Lucas.
Lucas writes to Bell after the Nickerson case and encloses a picture that was requested by Bell. He mentions in closing that Jenkins informed him he will recommend against an appeal. Bell thanks Lucas for the picture and writes he is happy to hear Jenkins recommends against appeal as Bell is having a difficult time keeping Nickerson's "big mouth shut and to forget the word 'appeal'. -
Letter to John C. Nickerson, Jr. and his wife, Carol, from Robert K. Bell.
Bell writes in response to a recent letter from Nickerson. Bell details an upcoming trip to visit the Nickersons in Panama and state that they are "looking forward to seeing you." -
Letter to Colonel Nickerson and his wife, Carol, from Robert K. Bell.
Bell writes to the Nickersons who now live in Panama on a two-year assignment. Bell updates Nickerson on events that happened since the last time he wrote. He details the outrage directed towards Charles Wilson, the Secretary of Defense. He states that he is saving "pertinent clippings from several newspapers" to send to Nickerson to help provide background to the latest events. Bell writes of many people who are advocating for Nickerson's return and vindication. -
Correspondence between Robert K. Bell and Ray H. Jenkins.
Several letters between Bell and Jenkins detail various things from their daily lives, humorous exchanges, the upcoming Tennessee-Georgia Tech football game they are gathering for, and a potential new case Jenkins has regarding workplace injuries and Bell's advice regarding the matter. Bell also includes a few updates on articles that have been published on the vindication of Colonel John Nickerson. -
Letter to Drew Pearson from Robert K. Bell.
This handwritten letter to Drew Pearson from Robert K. Bell details Colonel Nickerson's dealings with Pearson and the "Considerations on the Wilson Memorandum" that contained classified information. -
Stipulation of the testimony of Erik Bergaust.
Written testimony of Erik Bergaust, managing editor of Missiles and Rockets Magazine, as presented if he were "present in court". Signed by the defense counsel, the accused, and the trial counsel. -
Various correspondence with David Bowman from 1989 to 1991.
These letters to David Bowman, reporter and editorial writer, all pertain to Bowman's story about Colonel John Nickerson. The first letter includes foot notes and states that he sent a copy of the story to a Washington Post writer. The second letter contains additional information relating to the missile program that may be helpful for the story and a diagram of the original prototype for the Explorer I earth satellite. This set of letters also includes the original letter from David Bowman to Brig. Gen. Harold W. Nelson in which Bowman states he finally photocopied the published transcripts of Colonel Nickerson's court martial. Nelson's reponse follows thanking Bowman for sending the series on Colonel Nickerson. The final letter from Colonel Thomas W. Sweeney includes a working bibliography on the Nickerson case and invites him to visit the Military History Institute. -
Correspondence between David Bowman and Mary B. Dennis.
Bowman writes to the U.S. Army Judiciary Clerk of Court Office to request a copy of the transcript of the Nickerson court martial proceedings. Mary B. Dennis, Deputy Clerk of Court responds that a large portion is classified and asks if he wants that material reviewed towards declassification though it would be a lengthy process. She also guides him towards other "publicably available documents" regarding the case. The following letters from Dennis regards the review of the classified transcripts of the Nickerson case and more details about the record of the trial. Bowman's second letter includes a check to pay for the transcripts and the review of the classified material. Dennis writes several more letters regarding more classified prosection exhibits and that Bowman's request to review the classified material has been denied. The final letter is the memo that states that the review has been denied from Deputy Director Robert J. Monahan. -
Letter to Charles F. Pfeifer from David Bowman.
Bowman writes to Pfeifer about a "two-pager" that he wrote, detailing its contents. He also includes several other of his resume highlights including four novels, playscripts, and other things he has written. Bowman also includes that he is the president of the Tallulah Bankhead Society, a society that honors and celebrates a 1930s actress from Alabama. Bowman is appealing to Pfeifer, a creative film manager, about his recent work on the Nickerson case. -
Correspondence between Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr. and Margaret C. Brownlow.
Brownlow writes to give Nickerson the name of someone that would be interested in his case, Ray Jenkins, who would eventually join Nickerson's defense counsel with Robert K. Bell, along with two others. Nickerson responds, thanking Brownlow for the information. He expresses concern over financially securing Jenkins for his defense but hopes that Brownlow could still arrange a meeting in Knoxville, Tennessee. The third letter is a rough draft of Nickerson's response. Brownlow's second letter responds that she was able to get in touch with Ray Jenkins and left him with materials to read on Nickerson's case. Brownlow states she would get back to Nickerson as soon as he says "yes". -
Letter to Ray H. Jenkins from Estes Kefauver and enclosed copies of letters.
Kefauver writes to Jenkins stating that he has enclosed the letter from the Department of the Army regarding the Nickerson case. The following letter addressed to Senator Kefauver is from Major General J. H. Michaelis. In it Michaelis writes that after consideration, the disclosure of certain documents is "too minimal to justify directing or advising the convening authority to drop the charges." He also writes that non-judicial punishment would be "legally objectionable" as Nickerson's offense is not minor. The last letter states the same regarding the dropping of the charges. -
"Senior Officers Oral History Program."
A project of the U.S. Army Military History Institute, this contains the interview of Dr. John L. McDaniel by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph W. Camp, Jr. from 1985. The interview is about the US Army's first satellite into space. McDaniel brings up the case of Colonel Nickerson relative to the interview. This document contains only the portion of the interview that mentions Colonel Nickerson. -
Statement from the defense counsel of Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr.
This statement insists the charges and specifications against Colonel Nickerson "greatly enlarge on any activities or indiscretion that the Colonel might possibly have committed." The counsel states the Nickerson was simply acting out of enthusiasm to serve the Army. It states that Colonel Charles Zimmer and 1st Lt. Lewis Cole have been assigned to Nickerson's defense. -
Letter to Robert K. Bell from C. F. Cordes.
Cordes writes in response to the defense counsel's request to the Commanding General, Third United States Army, of the trials dates May 13-17, 1957. He confirms that the trials dates have been postponed to the 15th in accordance with their request. -
Letter and drafts of letter to Robert K. Bell from Colonel C. F. Cordes.
This letter is in response to Bell's letter of March 22, 1957 to the Commanding General, Third United States Army. Cordes confirms the reception of Bell's request for the setting of the trial during the week of May 13-17, 1957 and states that Major General Crump Garvin has postponed it to May 15, 1957. -
Letter to Ray H. Jenkins from C. F. Cordes.
In response to Jenkin's request for a postponement of the trial of Colonel Nickerson, Cordes writes that the court will assemble on June 25, 1957 for the trial as the members of the court and court reporter have been granted top secret information neccesary for the case. -
Letter to Robert K. Bell from C. F. Cordes.
This letter was written in response to Bell's May 27, 1957 letter to the Commanding General, Third United States Army requesting top secret clearance for necessary information related to the Nickerson case. According to Cordes, Bell and Jenkins were granted access through Lt. Col. Charles Zimmer. -
Letter to Robert K. Bell from C. F. Cordes.
This letter was written in response to Bell's June 13, 1957 letter to the Commanding General, Third United States Army requesting the trial of Colonel Nickerson to be postponed until late July or early August. Cordes informs Bell that this request has been denied and the trial will proceed as originally planned on June 25, 1957 and states that no further delay could be permitted. -
Letter to Robert K. Bell from Joe L. Evins.
Evins writes to Bell of his interest in his involvement in the Nickerson case due to serving with both him and Ray H. Jenkins in the military. -
Handwritten letter to Robert K. Bell from C. J. Gibson.
Gibson writes in reference to Bell's defense of Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr. Gibson mentions comparable cases and his experience with similar situations. -
Phone message to Robert K. Bell from Walter Harper.
In this transcript of the phone message to Bell from Walter Harper of Reynolds Metals, Bell is informed that Mr. Hunt will be arriving the following day and will try to land at the air strip at Redstone Arsenal. This information was asked to be passed on to Colonel Nickerson. -
Letter to Lt. Col. Charles R. Zimmer from E. H. Harrison.
Harrison writes of Nickerson's character throughout the letter. He states that if he ever returned to the active list, he would try to obtain "his assignment to my command." -
General Court-Martial Order No. 85.
This order outlines the charges brought against Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr. and the specifications that come with each charge. It also details how Nickerson pled and the sentence associated with the charges. Nickerson was suspended from rank for one year, charged $1,500 per month for fifteen months, and was to be reprimanded. The sentence was adjudged on June 29, 1957. -
Letter to Robert K. Bell from Ray H. Jenkins.
This letter includes an attached letter from Martindale-Hubbell, Inc. which "speaks for itself" regarding the subject Jenkins in writing about. He states that he is writing Bell in "strictest confidence." The letter from Martindale-Hubbell, Inc. details a confidential report on Keller Smith submitted by Jenkins on July 5, 1957. It also includes information regarding Robert K. Bell's "rating" and that it has "not gone without our attention." -
Letter from Col. Charles B. Hines.
This letter is written to testify of Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr.'s character. Hines writes that Nickerson showed himself to be "completely trustworth, security conscious, and loyal at all times."