Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Join Us

Jimmy Hoffa Telegram

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

1958 telegram from Jimmy Hoffa discovered James R. "Jimmy" Hoffa, who would turn 100 on Feb. 14, was a hardworking, hands-on leader who would pick up the phone and intervene personally on behalf of someone who had a problem.


A just-discovered telegram from 1958 shows just how far Hoffa would go to help someone. Hoffa sent a Western Union telegram in effort to find a 7-year-old New Jersey boy who ran away from home. 


Here's what it said: 

TO ALL LOCAL UNIONS: PLEASE NOTIFY ALL DRIVERS, PARTICULARLY ON ROAD; TO BE ON LOOKOUT FOR SEVEN-YEAR-OLD BOY ATTEMPTING TO RIDE BICYCLE FROM NEW JERSEY TO TACOMA, WASH. LAST SEEN WEEK AGO ON ROUTE 46 NEAR CALDWELL TOWNSHIP,N.J.RIDING BLUE BICYCLE AND WEARING LIGHT BLUE AND GRAY FLANNEL SHIRT, BLACK JEANS, BLACK SHOES. NAME PAUL GROCHWICZ. MAY NOW BE HITCHHIKING. IF SEEN NOTIFY POMPTON LAKES POLICE, POMPTON LAKES, N.J. JAMES R. HOFFA  GENERAL PRESIDENT INTERNATIONALBROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS

The telegram was purchased by a member of the Teamsters Union who collects Teamsters memorabilia. It was part of a book of papers relating to the Teamsters sold as part of an estate. 
It isn't know whether the boy ever returned home.

News Archive

Pages

Testimonial

"I was there when we brought the Union in. The first-time contract they won for us was unbelievable. It changed the quality of my life. I am now a Shop Steward and enjoy working with my Union and looking after my fellow workers. "

- Paul Landrecht - Shop Steward. Island Farms Dairy.

"I was a Shop Steward and was also on the contract negotiation team. The Union took the time and trouble to learn all about our industry and what we do. This means they are better able to fight for us whether it is on the job or at the bargaining table. We have the best contract in our industry. Thanks guys!"

- Gerald Price - Agrifoods

“I look after a lot of members in a very big plant. For years I had to fight for them by myself with no help at all from any of the Union’s representatives or Officers. This changed completely once Bobby, Bob and Paul were in office. Now I have access to my reps 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!  They’re always there to back me up.” 

- Darrell Lawres – Chief Shop Steward. Saputo, Sperling