Operation Clambake presents:
FBI

The H Files

FBI files on L Ron Hubbard


FROM THE FILES OF THE FBI #82

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.

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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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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, "Organizational 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 [BLACKED OUT] 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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