Editing Manson Family (section)

=== Manson's self-presentation ===
Actor [[Al Lewis (actor)|Al Lewis]] had Manson babysit his children on a couple of occasions and described him as "a nice guy when I knew him."<ref name="Charles Manson By Simon Wells">{{cite book|last=Wells|first=Simon|title=Charles Manson:Coming Down Fast|publisher=[[Hodder & Stoughton]]|location=[[London]]|date=April 16, 2009|isbn=9780340919231}}</ref> Music producer [[Phil Kaufman (producer)|Phil Kaufman]] introduced Manson to [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] producer Gary Stromberg, then working on a film adaptation of the life of [[Jesus]] set in modern America, featuring a Black Jesus and southern "redneck Romans." Stromberg thought that Manson made interesting suggestions about what Jesus might do in a situation, seeming to be attuned to the role. He had one of his women kiss his feet and then kissed hers in return to demonstrate the place of women. At the beach one day, Stromberg watched while Manson preached against a [[materialism|materialistic]] outlook. One of his listeners questioned him about the well-furnished bus. Manson tossed the bus keys to the doubter, who promptly drove the bus away while Manson watched, apparently unconcerned.<ref name="Guinn">{{cite book|last=Guinn|first=Jeff|title=Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|location=[[New York City]]|year=2013|isbn=978-1-4516-4518-7}}</ref>{{rp|124}} 

According to Stromberg, Manson had a dynamic personality; he was able to read a person's emotional weaknesses and manipulate them.<ref name="Charles Manson By Simon Wells" /> For example, Manson tried to manipulate Danny DeCarlo, the treasurer of the [[Straight Satans Motorcycle Club|Straight Satans]] [[outlaw motorcycle club|motorcycle club]], by granting him "access" to Family women. He convinced DeCarlo that his large penis helped keep the women in the group.<ref name="bugliosi"/>{{rp|146}}