From the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of
Justice, Washington, D.C.
[illegible form information]
UNITED STATES G[_______]NT
Memorandum
TO : Mr. A.H. Belmont
DATE: August 30, 1960
FROM : W.C. Sullivan
SUBJECT: REQUEST FROM DIRECTOR RE
"BRAINWASHING, A RUSSIAN TEXTBOOK ON PSYCHO-POLITICS"
(CENTRAL RESEARCH MATTER)
Reference is made to the Director's request "Do we know about publication
referred to in Cobina Wright's column?" Enclosed with the Director's
routing slip was Cobina Wright's column from the _Los Angeles Herald &
Express_ of August 24, 1960, in which the publication "Brainwashing" was
underscored. The publication was described in the column as a Russian
textbook on psycho-politics.
It is believed that Cobina Wright was referring to a 64-page booklet
entitled "BRAIN-WASHING, A synthesis of the Russian Textbook on
Phychopolitics [sic] edited by Charles Stickley, New York City, 1955, and
given a wide distribution since that time. Issued by the "Hubbard
Dianetic Research Foundation, Inc.," Box 242, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Various copies of the booklet have been received by the Bureau from
individuals from coast to coast and even from Australia, together with
inquiries concerning its authenticity.
It appears that Cobina Wright took her quotation from pages 26 and 27 of
the booklet on which appear the following paragraphs:
"By making readily available drugs of various kinds, by giving the
teen-ager alcohol, by praising his wildness, by stimulating him with sex
literature and advertising to him or her practices as taught at the
Sexpol, the psychopolitical operator can create the necessary attitude of
chaos, idleness and worthlessness into which can then be cast the solution
which will give the teen-ager complete freedom everywhere--Communism.
"Should it be possible to continue conscription beyond any reasonable
time by promoting unpopular wars and other means the draft can always
stand as afurther barrier
Enclosures (2)
CBP:des (8)
1 - Mr. M.A. Jones
1 - Mr. Mohr
1 - Mr. Belmont
1 - Mr. Parsons
1 - Mr. DeLoach
1 - Section tickler
1 - Mr. Sullivan
[page 2]
Memo to Mr. A.H. Belmont
Re: Request from Director re "Brainwashing,
A Russian Textbook on Psycho-Politics"
to the progress of youth in life, destroying any immediate hope to
participate in his nation's civic life.
"By these means the patriotism of youth for their Capitalistic flag can
be dulled to a point where they are no longer dangerous as soldiers. While
this might require many decades to effect, Capitalism's short term view
will never envision the length across which we can plan.
"If we could effectively kill the national pride and patriotism of just
one generation we will have won that country.. Therefore there must be
continual propaganda abroad to undermine the loyalty of the citizens in
general and the teen ager in particular."
In his "Editorial Note" at the beginning of the booklet, Stickley does not
attribute the material to having come from a Russian textbook at all, but
states, "This book is a synthesis of information gathered through
observation, discussion, investigation and experience over the last ten
years. I cannot entirely vouch for its authenticity..." Bureau files
contain no previous record of Stickley.
The "Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation, Inc." is the brainchild of L.
Ron Hubbard, who is also connected with the Hubbard Association of
Scientologists International, and the Academy of Scientology. His
organizations allegedly advance a new method of curing mental illness
known as "dianetics." The April 24, 1951, issue of the _Times Herald_,
Washington, D.C., revealed that Hubbard's wife charged in a divorce suit
that he was "hopelessly insane" and had subjected her to "scientific
torture experiments." According to the article "competent medical
advisors recommended that Hubbard be committed to a private sanitarium for
psychiatric observation and treatment of his mental ailment known as
paranoid schizophrenia." The Bureau has received numerous inquiries
concerning the booklet described above, as well as concerning Hubbard
and his organizations.
RECOMMENDATION: For the information of the Director.
- 2 -
For L. Ron Hubbard's Navy war records, here is Ron the War Hero.
For further information on the Scientology organization's ideals and for copies of their once-secret documentation, here is Operation Clambake.