Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) Ex-Teamster Union President, James R. Hoffa, missing for 1 year tomorrow.
REPORTER: John Chancellor

(Detroit, Michigan) May 15, 1975, film shows Hoffa, who predicted he'd regain control of Teamsters. He disappeared 10 weeks later. Police think he was murdered after abduction from suburban restaurant. Efforts to find body or weapon failed. Film shows September 27 search at Waterford Township, Michigan, for Hoffa's body. Underworld informants say Hoffa is dead. Hoffa reported killed in Michigan and shipped to New Jersey. Teamsters and organized crime representatives called before grand jury. Case rptdly. suffered from political interference. Govt. attys. want to call Teamster President Frank Fitzsimmons before grand jury but ordered not to. June 13, 1976, film shows Fitzsimmons. [FITZSIMMONS - doesn't know what happened to Hoffa.] Fitzsimmons reported seen with Detroit organized crime figures before Hoffa disappeared. [US attorney Philip VAN DAM - speculates as to reasons Hoffa disappeared.]
REPORTER: Brian Ross

(Chicago, Illinois) Most of Teamster money is in Central States Pension Fund. Teamsters being pressured with regard to pension fund. [Director Teamsters pension fund Dan SHANNON - tells how fund will cooperate in weeding out individuals.] Org. crime has had easy access to pension fund. Teamsters being investigated by IRS, Labor Department and 6 federal grand juries.
REPORTER: Brian Ross

(Detroit, Michigan) It is still not known what happened to Hoffa.
REPORTER: Brian Ross

(Studio) Assistant Attorney General Richard Thornburgh confirms statement that government prosecutors told not to call Fitzsimmons before grand jury. Govt. attys. tell NBC they still want to question Fitzsimmons under oath.
REPORTER: David Brinkley