Editing Manson Family (section)

==== Helter Skelter ====
{{Main|Helter Skelter (scenario)}}

In November 1968, the Family had established headquarters in [[Death Valley]]'s environs, at the Myers and [[Barker Ranch|Barker]] ranches.<ref name="watson12" /><ref name="watkins4"/> The former was owned by the grandmother of Family member Catherine Gillies.<ref name="watkins4" />

According to Charles Watson and [[Paul Watkins (Manson Family)|Paul Watkins]], Manson and Watson visited an acquaintance who played [[the Beatles]]' double album, ''[[The Beatles (album)|The Beatles]]'',<ref name="watson12" /><ref name="watkins4"/> and became obsessed with the group.<ref>{{cite interview|last=Reagan|first=Maureen|author-link=Maureen Reagan|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rzpLyB8IE0M|title=Paul Watkins|journal=[[CNN]] [[Larry King Live]]|date=1989|quote=Manson's alleged obsession with the Beatles is discussed at the end|access-date=July 20, 2021|archive-date=August 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809224918/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=rzpLyB8IE0M|url-status=live}}</ref>

Watkins claimed Manson had been saying that racial tensions between Blacks and Whites were about to erupt, predicted that Black Americans would rise up in rebellion,<ref name="watson12" /><ref name="umkc">[http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/manson/mansonbeatles.html ''The Influence of the Beatles on Charles Manson''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309154239/http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/manson/mansonbeatles.html |date=March 9, 2007 }}. UMKC Law. Retrieved April 7, 2006.</ref> and that The Beatles' songs foretold it all in code.<ref name="watson12"/><ref name="umkc" />

According to Watkins, by February, the Family would create an album whose songs would trigger the predicted chaos. Murders of Whites by Blacks would be met with retaliation. A split between racist and non-racist Whites would result in the Whites' self-annihilation.<ref name="umkc canoga park">[http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/manson/mansontestimony-w.html Testimony of Paul Watkins in the Charles Manson Trial] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320085827/http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/manson/mansontestimony-w.html |date=March 20, 2007 }} UMKC Law. Retrieved April 7, 2007.</ref>