Bare-Faced Messiah, FBI Archives Letter about 'Dianetics - Science or Hoax?'

From the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

1 - Name Check Section

February 15, 1963

LAFAYETTE RON HUBBARD

The files of the FBI contain considerable information concerning the
captioned individual and his various business enterprises; however, this
Bureau has not conducted any investigation concerning Hubbard or his
organization.

L. Ron Hubbard was the founder and president of the Hubbard Dianetic
Research Foundation, Inc. (HDRF), which was incorporated in New Jersey
during April 1, 1950.

The December 5, 1950, issue of "Look" magazine contained an article
entitled "Dianetics - Science or Hoax?" which related that L. Ron Hubbard
was an obscure writer of pseudoscientific pulp fiction prior to the
publishing of his book entitled "Dianetics."  Hubbard's book asserts that
"the creation of dianetics is a milestone for Man comparable to his
discovery of fire and superior to his inventions of the wheel and the
arch...the intelligent layman can successfully and invariably treat all
psychosomatic ills and inorganic aberrations," according to Hubbard.
"These psychosomatic ills, uniformly cured by dianetic therapy, include
such varied maladies as eye trouble, bursitis, ulcers, some heart
difficulties, migraine headaches and the common cold."  According to the
article, Hubbard's book has "outraged scores of psychiatrists,
biochemists, psychologists, physicians and just-plain-ordinary scientists,
who look upon the astounding claims and the growing commercial success
of this strange new phenomenon with awe, fear and a deep
disgust...Hubbard's greatest attraction to the troubled is that his
ersatz psychiatry is available to all.  It's cheap.  It's accessible.
It's a public festival to be played at clubs and parties."

During March, 1951, the Board of Medical Examiners, State of New Jersey,
had a case against the HDRF scheduled for trial on the grounds that the
organization was conducting a school, teaching a branch of medicine and
surgery, without a license.

ORIGINAL AND 1 - HEW
Request received: 2-14-63   SEE NOTE ON YELLOW, PAGE 3
DRR:fjb (4)

This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions on the FBI.
It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its
contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.  This is in
answer to your request for a check of FBI files.

[page 2]

Lafayette Ron Hubbard

In 1951, the HDRF established national headquarters at Wichita, Kansas,
and sponsored the Allied Scientists of the World, which organization had
as its avowed purpose "to construct and stock a library...in an atomic
proof area where the culture and technology of the United States could
be stored in a state of use by science and preserve it in case of attack."

The April 24, 1951, issue of the "Times Herald," Washington, D.C.,
revealed that Hubbard's wife charged in a divorce suit that "competent
medical advisors recommended that Hubbard be committed to a private
sanitarium for psychiatric observation and treatment of a mental ailment
known as paranoid schizophrenia."

Allegedly during 1952, Hubbard formed the Hubbard Association of
Scientologists, an Arizona corporation, and reverted "dianetics" back to
its original name, "scientology."  Thereafter, offices were opened in
New Jersey and London, England.

During the early part of 1956, HDRF, Silver Spring, Maryland, was
circulating a pamphlet entitled "Brain-Washing, A Synthesis of the
Russian Textbook on Psychopolitics."  According to the book,
psychopolitics is the "art and science of asserting and maintaining
dominion over the thoughts and loyalties of individuals, officers,
bureaus, and masses, and the effecting of conquest of enemy nations
through mental health.'"

Hubbard has corresponded with the Bureau and the Department of Justice on
several occasions for various reasons, including complaints about his wife
and about alleged communists.  In one lengthy letter in May, 1951, it is
perhaps noteworthy the Hubbard stated that while he was in his apartment
on February 23, 1951, about two or three o'clock in the morning, his
apartment was entered.  He was knocked out.  A needle was thrust into his
heart to produce a coronary thrombosis and he was given an electric
shock.

He said his recollection of this incident was now very blurred, that he
had no witnesses and that the only other person who had a key to the
apartment was his wife.

Hubbard and various organizations with which he has been associated have
been the subject of numerous inquiries and complaints directed to this
Bureau.  He and

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[page 3]

Lafayette Ron Hubbard

his organizations operated in various parts of the country.  Under date
of October 8, 1957, we received a letter from Richard F. Steves,
"Organizationl Secretary" of "Scientology, United States, The Academy of
Scientology," 1812 - 19th Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C.  This letter
requested that the Bureau investigate an individual allegedly representing
himself as a "dianetic auditor" though not associated with any "Dianetic"
or "Scientology" organization.  The letter requested that this person be
investigated as to communist activities.  The letterhead listed seventeen
associated organizations and publications including the Hubbard
Association of Scientologists, International.  Three of the associated
organizations are purported churches of scientology.  Also listed as
associate groups are the Hubbard Guidance Center, Hubbard Dianetic
Research Foundation, Hubbard Research Foundation, and Hubbard
Communications Office.

In addition to the foregoing, you are advised that Hubbard has FBI
Identification Record Number 2440210-B.

Pursuant to your specific request, there are enclosed communications
received by this Bureau from Hubbard.  In addition, with regard to your
request for background information, this Bureau has been advised of a book
called "Brief Biography of L. Ron Hubbard."    This book reportedly states
the Hubbard is the so-called founder of "Scientology" and has traveled
most of the world.  He is reportedly sponsored by the Congress of
Scientologists, Washington, D.C.  According to this publication, Hubbard
served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy from 1941 to 1946.  It
is further reported that he has been previously committed to a mental
hospital.  A copy of the foregoing publication is not contained in the
files of this Bureau and the afore-mentioned information has not been
verified.

(62-94080)

Enclosures (5)

_NOTE:_ Request originated with [BLACKEDOUT] Food and Drug Administration,
to SA [BLACKED OUT] Bufiles reveal FDA on 1-4-63 seized various devices
and written material form D.C. headquarters of Hubbard's organization
and initiated legal action against Hubbard's group.

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