Nashville Then: Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa in Nashville and his conspiracy trial

Jimmy Hoffa, the International Teamsters Union president, appeared on the cover of the May 19, 1962, issue of The Tennessean.

Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa, center, arrives at the Noel Hotel in downtown Nashville June 6, 1962. Hoffa is predicting that "we'll beat this case in court tomorrow just like all the others."

Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa, second from left, checks in at the Noel Hotel in downtown Nashville June 6, 1962 for his case at Federal Court. Looking over his shoulders are Nashville Teamsters president Ewing King, second from right, and William Bufalino, an attorney accompanying Hoffa.

Teamsters Union President Jimmy Hoffa, left, leaves the Federal Building June 7, 1962 with two of his attorneys, William E. Bufalino, center, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and Jacob Kossman of Philadelphia. Hoffa pleaded innocent during his arraignment on charges that he conspired to violate the Taft-Hartley Law.

Teamsters Union President Jimmy Hoffa, center, leads his team down the street away from the Federal Building June 7, 1962 after his arraignment on charges that he conspired to violate the Taft-Hartley Law.

Jimmy Hoffa, center, boss of the Teamsters Union, strides down the steps of the War Memorial Auditorium July 1, 1962, after a meeting in which he said he settled disputes in the Nashville Local 327. Hoffa asked for and received a vote of confidence for local President Ewing King, despite protests from the splinter group.

Following Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa out of a stormy meeting at the War Memorial Auditorium on July 1, 1962, are Weldon Mathis, left front, of Atlanta, a Southern Conference union representative, Hershell Bond, local business agent and M.W. Miller, right, Teamsters International vice president.

Jimmy Hoffa, the International Teamsters Union president, on the cover of the July 2, 1962 issue of The Tennessean.

International Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa arrives at Berry Field Oct. 21, 1962, to stand trial on conspiracy charges and promptly launched an attack on U.S. Atty. Gen. Robert F. Kennedy.

International Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa, left, is greet Oct. 21, 1962, by Ewing King, president of Teamsters Local 327 of Nashville as he arrives in Nashville to stand trial on conspiracy charges. Nellie Kenyon, reporter for The Nashville Tennessean, is in the middle behind them.

International Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa, center, answers questions from Nellie Kenyon, right, reporter for The Nashville Tennessean, as he leaves Berry Field Oct. 21, 1962, for the beginning of his trial in federal court. Hoffa went immediately from the airport to his hotel suite.

International Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa, center, answers questions from a couple of reporters, as he leaves Berry Field Oct. 21, 1962, for the beginning of his trial in federal court. Hoffa went immediately from the airport to his hotel suite.

International Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa, center, strides into the elevator at the U.S. courthouse in Nashville Oct. 22, 1962, for his trial on illegally receiving more than $1 million from a trucking firm.

Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa, center, talks with reporters after former mental patient Warren Swanson shot BB pellets at him during his trial at federal court in Nashville Dec. 5,1962.

Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa, right, and attorney William Bufalino leaves Nashville federal court Dec. 5, 1962 after former mental patient Warren Swanson shot BB pellets at Hoffa during his trial.

Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa, right, and attorney William Bufalino leaves Nashville federal court Dec. 5, 1962 after former mental patient Warren Swanson shot BB pellets at Hoffa during his trial.

Former mental patient Warren Swanson, right, his face bloody, is escorted by James Kemp, deputy U.S. marshal, after he fired a pellet gun at Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa during his federal court trial Dec. 5, 1962.

Former mental patient Warren Swanson, left, is put in a car by U.S. Marshal Elmer Disspayne, who is taking him to General Hospital Dec. 5, 1962. Swanson, who fired a pellet gun at Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa during his federal court trial, has been order to the medical center for federal prisoners in Springfield, Mo., by U.S. District Judge William E. Miller.

These are the pellets from the carbon dioxide pistol with which a Washington laborer, Warren Swanson, attacked Jimmy Hoffa Dec. 5, 1962, in the federal court in Nashville.

Jimmy Hoffa, the International Teamsters Union president, on the cover of the Dec. 6, 1962 issue of The Tennessean.

Jimmy Hoffa, center, Teamsters Union president, leaves the U.S. courthouse here in Nashville Dec. 6, 1962, with Charles "Chucky" O'Brien, left, his yawning bodyguard, and William Bufalino, one of his attorneys, after a closed, absence of the jury, mystery-shrouded session of court.

Jimmy Hoffa, the International Teamsters Union president, on the cover of the Dec. 7, 1962 issue of The Tennessean.

Teamsters Union President Jimmy Hoffa, left, leaves federal courthouse here in Nashville Dec. 14, 1962 with a grave expression after testify in his conspiracy trial. With him is Charles "Chucky" O'Brien, right, his bodyguard.

The tension of waiting etched clearly on his face, Jimmy Hoffa, left, Teamsters Union president, leaves federal court in Nashville Dec. 21, 1962, after the jury in his conspiracy trial was locked up for the night. With him is Ewing King, center, president of Teamsters Local 327 here.

Jimmy Hoffa, the International Teamsters Union president, on the cover of the Dec. 22, 1962 issue of The Tennessean.

Teamsters Union President James Hoffa gets some coffee at the federal courthouse here in Nashville, Dec. 23, 1962, while waiting on the jury decision of his $1 million conspiracy trial.

Teamster Union President Jimmy Hoffa, left, with one of his attorneys, Z.T. Osborn of Nashville by his side, speaks to the media after his $1 million conspiracy trial ended in a mistrial when the jury reported for the fourth time that it was hopelessly deadlocked Dec. 23, 1962. Hoffa told reporters he grateful for the outcome, but surprised that the jury did not return a not guilty verdict.

Teamster Union President Jimmy Hoffa, right, is all smiles after his $1 million conspiracy trial ended in a mistrial with the jury deadlocked Dec. 23, 1962. But after the decision, federal Judge William E. Miller ordered a special grand jury investigation of alleged attempts by Hoffa associates to influence the jury.

Jimmy Hoffa, the International Teamsters Union president, on the cover of the Dec. 24, 1962 issue of The Tennessean.

Camera-shy Henry F. (Buster) Bell, right, international vice president of the Longshoremen's Union, hides his face as he walks down the corridor at the Federal Courthouse in Nashville Feb. 1, 1963. Charles "Chucky" O'Brien, Detroit Teamster official walks beside him. Bell took the Fifth Amendment 54 times before a federal grand jury investigating jury tampering during the past trail of Jimmy Hoffa here.

Jack Evins, U.S. deputy marshal, left, fastens a security belt on Warren Swanson as they leave Davidson County Jail for federal court hearing March 13, 1963. Swanson, a former mental patient who fired pellets at Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa, pleaded guilty, but it was not accept by Federal Judge William E. Miller until a court appointed attorney could consult with him.

U.S. Deputy Marshal James Kemp, second from right, watches as Thomas Ewing Parks, left, and Ewing King, president of Teamsters Local 327, make bail on federal jury tampering charges May 9, 1963. The pair were charged along with five others, which includes International Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa. The indictment charges Hoffa and the others with attempting to influence two jurors and a prospective juror to vote for Hoffa acquittal in his trial in Nashville from October to December of last year in exchange for money or favors.

Jimmy Hoffa, the International Teamsters Union president, on the cover of the May 10, 1963 issue of The Tennessean.

Jimmy Hoffa, center, talks with reporters after arriving in Nashville June 9, 1963 on his private plane to face new federal charges against him. With him are Harold Dies, left, recording secretary for Nashville Teamsters Local 327, who meet Hoffa here, and William Bufalino, one of Hoffa’s attorneys from Detroit that arrived with him.

Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa, center, with his Detroit attorney William Bufalino, right, enter the Federal Courthouse in Nashville June 10, 1963 to enter an innocent plea on charges of jury tampering. Hoffa and 10 other defendants waive the reading of the indictments returned against them, charging that bribes totaling at least $75,000 wee offered to jurors and prospective jurors in an effort to gain votes of acquittal for Hoffa.

Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa, front, arrives at the Federal Courthouse in Nashville July 22, 1963 for a hearing before U.S. District Judge Frank Gray Jr. for a dismissal of his and six others defendants federal indictment of jury tampering. With Hoffa is one of his attorneys, William Bufalino, right, of Detroit.

Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa, right, is giving a reporter an interview in the lobby of the Federal Courthouse in Nashville July 22, 1963. Hoffa and six other defendants just lost the first round in their fight for dismissal of a federal indictment charging them with jury tampering. Looking on is William Bufalino, center, one of Hoffa’s attorneys.

Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa, left, is answering a question from The Nashville Tennessean reporter Nellie Kenyon in front of the Federal Courthouse in Nashville July 22, 1963. Hoffa and six other defendants just lost the first round in their fight for dismissal of a federal indictment charging them with jury tampering.

Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa, second from left, leaves the Federal Courthouse in Nashville July 22, 1963 with his defense attorneys. They are William Bufalino, left, Detroit; Z.T. Osborn Jr.; James E. Haggerty Sr., Detroit, wearing sunglasses; Harvey M. Silets, Chicago; and Dave A. Alexander, Franklin. Hoffa and six other defendants just lost the first round in their fight for dismissal of a federal indictment charging them with jury tampering.

Teamsters International President Jimmy Hoffa, right, greets a member of Nashville Local 327 outside Ryman Auditorium Nov. 24, 1963, as Ewing King, center, president of the Nashville local, looks on.

Teamsters International President Jimmy Hoffa announced all-out support for Ewing King's re-election as president of Teamsters Local 327 and delivered a blistering attack on King’s opponent, Don Vestal, at the Ryman Auditorium Nov. 24, 1963.

Teamsters International President Jimmy Hoffa announced all-out support for Ewing King's reelection as president of Teamsters Local 327 and delivered a blistering attack on King’s opponent, Don Vestal, at the Ryman Auditorium Nov. 24, 1963.

Walter Harper, left, foreman, and Alfred Dalton, two members of Jimmy Hoffa’s trial jury last year, leave the U.S. Courthouse in Nashville Dec. 3, 1963 after testifying in the federal grand jury’s jury-tampering probe. The grand jury is investigating charges that attempts have been made to tamper with jurors for the forthcoming jury-tampering trial of Hoffa.

International Teamsters Union president Jimmy Hoffa, second from left, arrives with his attorneys at the federal courthouse in Chattanooga, Tenn. Feb. 3, 1964 for his jury-tampering trial. The federal indictment under which Hoffa and five codefendants grew out of Hoffa’s 1962 Nashville trial.

International Teamsters Union president Jimmy Hoffa, center, and his attorneys are leaving the federal courthouse in Chattanooga, Tenn. Feb. 3, 1964 for his jury-tampering trial. The federal indictment under which Hoffa and five codefendants grew out of Hoffa’s 1962 Nashville trial.

International Teamsters Union president Jimmy Hoffa, center, and his attorneys are leaving the federal courthouse in Chattanooga, Tenn. Feb. 3, 1964 for his jury-tampering trial. The federal indictment under which Hoffa and five codefendants grew out of Hoffa’s 1962 Nashville trial.