Ginsberg, Allen

Typed letter, 2 pages, 4to, 1 July 1955 providing an overview of Neal Cassidy's [sic] potential career, references and support if paroled from San Quentin. With: James Laughlin. Typed letter signed 1 page on New Directions letterhead, 22 June 1959 to California Parole Board (care of Ginsberg with accompanying envelope) stating his possible interest in publishing Cassidy and his contributions to American literature through association. With: Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Typed letter signed 1 page on City Lights letterhead, 15 June 1959 to Parole Board that he might publish and employ Cassidy if he is paroled. With: a letter from the director of the Poetry Center of similar content.

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Ginsberg organizes parole support for "the holy goof."  Beat inspiration Cassady (Dean Moriaty in Keroauc's On the Road and the dedicatee of Ginsberg's Howl) was arrested in 1958 for offering two joints to undercover narcotics agents. He was sentenced to two years to life in San Quentin - during the same period future Country music legend Merle Haggard was serving time in the prison  after an escape attempt - and the present archvie is Ginsberg's rallying of support for his friend and sometime lover's parole hearing. Ginsberg provides a detailed summation of Cassady's literary merit and influence, their friendship and even cites the legendary 40,000 word letter Cassady wrote to Keroauc as an example of literary potential currently behind bars. Finishing with... "his family life is getting balled up; his job is waiting for him; continued incarceration is completely meaningless and quite horrible..." noting "there's no way of getting new material from him while he's in the can" given the confessional aspect of Cassady's letters.

Upon his release, Cassady read Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, eventually meeting the author and so beginning his second act as a member of Kesey's Merry Pranksters, driving the bus "Further" to the Acid Tests.