</s>Case Number: 89-WF-50B Serial(s): 78-79 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
Barbara Pierce, wife of Neal Pierce (a syndicated columnist), reported receiving two threatening telephone calls in May 1977. The first call occurred on May 9 at approximately 7:10 a.m., with the caller identifying himself as Basil and referencing activities related to John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., stating he would visit Pierce’s home that night to discuss it. She hung up after the call. A second call was received on May 11 at 4:16 p.m., again from an individual claiming to be Basil, who provided a Washington, D.C. address and mentioned plans involving Kennedy and King. Pierce informed her husband, Neal, of the threat, and both she and her children stayed at a neighbor’s house that evening. The FBI and local police were notified, but the telephone company could not trace the calls. The caller was described as a white male aged 50–55 with a clear voice.  

On June 8, 1977, Azle Morton, Treasurer of the United States Treasury, received two threatening calls at her residence. The first call occurred around 6:00 p.m., where an unknown caller asked if she would be the next U.S. Treasurer and warned that failure to cooperate would result in unspecified consequences. A second call was made at approximately 6:30 a.m., answered by her husband, James H. Morton. The caller referenced the National Security Council and threatened retaliation if information was not obtained. Morton reported the calls to the Secret Service, which interviewed her. The caller was described as a male with a mature voice, around 40 years old, and the first call appeared to be long distance.  

Key People  
- Barbara Pierce (wife of Neal Pierce)  
- Neal Pierce (syndicated columnist)  
- JERRY HAGSTROM (FBI agent)  
- KENNETH CURRY and GRADY COVINGTON (FBI agents)  
- AZLE MORTON (Treasurer of the United States Treasury)  
- JAMES H. MORTON (husband of Azle Morton)  
- Mrs. APPLE (C&P Telephone Company representative)  

Key Locations  
- 610 G Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. (Barbara Pierce’s residence)  
- 15th and Pennsylvania Avenues, N.W., Washington, D.C. (Azle Morton’s workplace)  
- 703 Bridgeton Drive, Amandale, Virginia (Azle Morton’s home address)  

Key Events  
- Barbara Pierce received threatening calls referencing John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. in May 1977.  
- Azle Morton received threatening calls in June 1977, with references to the National Security Council.  
- FBI and local police were notified of both incidents; telephone company could not trace calls.  
- Secret Service interviewed Azle Morton following her report of threats.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- United States Secret Service (USSS)  
- C&P Telephone Company  
- United States Treasury  
- Capitol Hill (employment location for James H. Morton)

MLK Declassified Files

89-wf-506_sec_000_ser_78_79.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search