The Brainwashing manual: Timeline

211 W. Douglas St.
Wichita, Kansas
May 14, 1951

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

[...]

If Russia possessed the notes I have on psychological warfare, she would be that much more potent.

[...]

I am applying to the Department of Defense for permission to deliver to them my work on psychological warfare. [...]

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We are appreciative of your letter of Sept 17.

We are indeed continuing Dianetics and we have asked you for several estimates.

We will give you the word on Civil Defense Handbook very shortly — Rest

Ron

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[...]

John Sanborne, who had been the editor of Hubbard's books since the early fifties, was there in 1955 at the manual's inception:

I suggested it. Just kidding around on his front porch. Slygo Avenue in Silver Springs, Maryland. Talking about how are we going to get these psychiatrists. I said, "What we need to do is take over their subject. What we need to put out is a manual of psych-military something or other...as coming from the communists and then put a lot of psychiatry in it." And we're sitting there, with our chairs tipped back on the front porch, tipped against the house, with our feet up on the railing, and all of a sudden he came down on his chair and he grabs me. And I thought, "I've had it!" And he said, "That's it!" Then he disappeared into the little front room which was sort of a bedroom and study, and you could hear him in there dictating this book.

[...]

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Office of Mary Sue Hubbard

July 27, 1955

E. E. Manney
The Manney Company
1041 Isbell Road
Forth Worth 14, Texas

Dear Manney:

Ron has asked me to send this letter on to you. He does not wish to have "Civil Defense" published but is very concerned about "Dianetics: Evolution of a Science." Do you know if and when you will be finished with this publication? We do need it very much.

We were very pleased and very delighted with the "Creation of Human Ability" and think its a very fine and pretty book. Thank you ever so much. My best to you and Mrs. Manney.

My regards,
[signed]
Mary Sue Hubbard

MSH/cy

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Box 242
Silver Spring, Md.
July 29, 1955

TO THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
   Communist Activities Division
Ref — my earlier correspondence.

Gentlemen:

[...]

The attack on HASI, like the attacks on the 1950 Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation found psychiatry and Communist connected personnel very much in evidence and both active with defamation and very unreasonable — and unsuccessful — attack. [...]

[...] I have received from an unimpeachable source an invitation to go to Russia. [...]

This is my third invitation to go to Russia. The first was extended to me by a member of Amtorg in New York in 1938 who knew of my work in the field of the mind. [...]

[...]

[signed]
L. Ron Hubbard

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Wichita Publishing Co.
451 North Main St.
Wichita 2, Kansas

Dear Manney;

I enclose a manuscript which I need done into a book on a hurry-emergency basis.

I need only 2,000 copies for the first run. The ms. is short being only 87 pages. I want it in an economical size booklet (according to the best paper cut you can make) around 5x7 inches. A paper cover, very cheap. Saddle stitched of course. The general appearance should be like an Army training manual.

You will get half the cost at once and half on delivery. Delivery of 200 by fastest means, of the remaining 1,800 by cheapest transport. Delivery to Box 242 Silver Spring.

I don't want proofs. I have to have SPEED!

This ms. is pretty violent stuff. A copy of it has been sent to the F.B.I. of course and there's no risk in printing it. I need it for circulation to various government agencies. By the time I get through I may need tens of thousands of them so save the type. However, in printing it I wouldn't let it get shown around as the government may want to get it classified.

You wire me the total cost and I'll zip half of that to you and we're on our way.

So glad you're in communication from there again. I have so much work to be done that it worries me that you aren't available to do it. Sure hope you are now.

Best to Mrs. Manney —

Ron

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Box 242
Silver Spring, Md.
Sept. 4, 1955

Dear Manney;

Under separate cover I am airmailing an ms to you. Its letter explains it.

On Dianetics, Evolution of a Science, please ship at once by fast means about 200. Ship the balance by cheap transport. Glad it finally came to light. We can sure use it here in the East.

We are out of Phoenix — too slow, too hot. We now have three buildings in Washington DC and everything is going fine.

I sure hope you can do work for us. We have been averaging about $1,000 a month for printing. I have three new books coming up soon.

The job I am sending is a hope that you really mean it on speed and production because we sure could use it.

Glad to hear you and Mrs. Manney are well and in there pitching.

Mrs. Hubbard sends her best.

[Signed]
Ron

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Dear Manney;

Here is the linotype ms of this do-in-ahurry book.

It has been proofed and smoothed out for typesetting.

Please send me back soon the unproofed ms I sent you for estimate as I want the original of it clean.

Also please salvage and return to me when completed this linotype copy of the ms. There is a degree of security involved with the work and we don't want this copy of the ms to get lost or any copies to go astray.

I have several pieces of work to do for submission to the government so lets get this one out of the way FAST so we can get on with the show.

If it wouldn't be much more we could run a second run of BRAINWASHING right along with the first run making another 5,000 or 7,000 in all.

Best
Ron

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Box 242
Silver Spring, Md.
Sept. 7, 1955

TO THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Communist Activities

Gentlemen:

[...]

In 1950 the Dianetics Foundations were violently attacked and discredited. The 200 Foundation employees, when screened, yielded 35 Communist-connected persons. That done the commotion stopped. After three quiet years in the Phoenix area we forwarded to the Defense Department data on brain-washing. Instantly we became the subject of violence. Four people were seized by psychiatrists in that area to date and to this day so far as I know are still being held, their sanity shattered.

After we so informed the Defense Department about brain-washing technologies in our hands and offered them, we have been in a state of siege. Understand that we accuse the D.D. of nothing.

[...]

I am getting additional copies of the material which we offered to the Defense Department since the agency has not acknowledged or returned anything shipped to it about brain-washing and when I have these copies I will send one to you for this is the only starting place I know of for this outbreak [...]

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Dear Manney:

Enclosed please find a check from the Hubbard Association of Scientologists International for $328.00 as the first payment on the book.

I am VERY glad you are back swinging. And I am glad you'll have this book done so quickly as we certainly can use it.

Hope Mrs. Manney is very well.

Best,
Ron

You can print the additional 5,000 with the first or second run at your choice. Consider it ordered.

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BRAIN-WASHING

A Synthesis of the Russian Textbook on Psychopolitics

PSYCHOPOLITICS — the art and science of asserting and maintaining dominion over the thoughts and loyalties of individuals, officers, bureaus, and masses, and the effecting of the conquest of enemy nations through "mental healing."

[Full scans from Mark O. Plummer: Front, back]

26th December, 1955

Federal Bureau of Investigation,
Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C.,
U.S.A.

Gentlemen:

We are enclosing our printing of what appears to be a Communist manual on Psychopolitics.

This was compiled from Communist sources for use of our research department and people.

It may be that we will also use this in anti-Communist campaigns.

As there is evidently a copy of Psychopolitics in full view in the Library of Congress, you evidently do not classify this subject.

We have been seriously hurt by Communists and Communism and we see nothing wrong in our using their tactics against them.

Should you run into this manual on how to brainwash people you will now be able to recognize it as printed and distributed by an anti-Communist group for their research.

Yours very truly,
[signed]
L. Ron Hubbard

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J Uniper 5-0855

January 4, 1956

E. E. Manney
1041 Isbell Road
Fort Worth, Texas

Dear Mr. Manney,

I hope that you have recovered from the flu now and I am supposing that it did not get any better because you did not send me the Problems of Work as you stated that you were when I called you the Monday before Christmas.

I hope, however, that you will get those Problems of Work to me just as soon as you can and if they are not printed, please put a big $1.00 on the cover of them, that's the front cover, so that we can start getting them out on to news stands and drug stores.

I also need a few thousand more Scientology, the Fundamentals of Thought and I would like the large "$1.00" on them also so we can get them on the news stands.

As you can tell by now, I haven't been able to get that money for you for Dianetics 55! but the Congress was fairly successful and I'll have some money for you very soon on those.

I guess that's all for this time, Mr. Manney. Please get for me those two books in quantity as soon as you can, particularly The Problems of Work. I need it right away. I have a man taking 800 to put on, who has a delivery route for newstands. And things are starting to get into high gear here now. How are you doing with the Defence Manual? I'll let you know as soon as Ron writes the new Brain Washing Book.

My best regards,
[signed]
Kenneth D. Barret

KDB/mr

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[ADDRESS BLOCK BLACKED OUT]

February 3, 1956

Federal Bureau of Investigation
Department of Justice
Pennsylvania Avenue at 9th NW
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:

Recently we received in the mail a copy of the pamphlet entitled Brain-Washing: A Synthesis of the Russian Textbook on Psychopolitics. This was sent to us by an organization entitled The Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation, Box 242, Silver Spring, Md.

According to a letter received from the same organization, a copy of the pamphlet had been sent to the FBI, and this resulted in an urgent "governmental request" that all copies of the pamphlet be recalled. A subsequent letter stated that "authorization" had now been received to release the book to "trusted members" for "research purposes."

This Church has no connection with the above-named foundation or with the subject known as "Dianetics", nor have we had any prior knowledge of this publication. We note that among its contents are various references to Christian Science, but we have no means of evaluating the contents of the book beyond judging it as any well-informed, intelligent citizen might do. We never heard of the "editor, Charles Stickley.

It occurs to us that, since the name of your organization has been invoked by the Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation, you might wish to have the above information. If you can do so with propriety, we should be glad to receive any information from you that would throw light on the authenticity or lack of authenticity of this alleged document. This would be especially helpful inasmuch as it is possible that we may have future inquiries about it, in view of the references to Christian Science it contains.

Very truly yours,

[SIGNATURE BLOCK BLACKED OUT]

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Director, FBI

COMMUNIST STRATEGY
"BRAIN-WASHING, A Synthesis of the Russian Textbook on Psychopolitics"
INTERNAL SECURITY - C

Reurlet dated April 6, 1956.

Captioned booklet has been read and reviewed by the Central Research Section. Several copies of this booklet have been previously received at the Bureau from various individuals, including L. Ron Hubbard, author of "Dianetics, The Modern Science of Mental Health."

[...]

The authenticity of this booklet seems to be of a doubtful nature since it lacks documentation of source material and communist words and phrases. Also, there are no quotations from well-known communist works as normally would be used in a synthesis of communist writings. In addition, the author himself admits that he cannot vouch for the authenticity of this booklet.

[...]

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Sender's name and address: L. Ron Hubbard,
HCO, 217[?] Kensington High Street,
LONDON, W. S., ENGLAND.

I have scheduled here a book, hard cover, on Brainwashing. I have Pavlov's secret ms that was never before out of the Kremlin. Would you like to publish it as publisher? Also one on Atomic Fission by myself and a leading English M.D. Will send further data. All well here. Best to Mrs. Manney — Regards - L. Ron Hubbard

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September 10, 1956

E. E. Maney
1041 Isbell Road
Fort Worth, Texas

Dear Mr. Maney:

Don Breeding has communicated to me your willingness to publish various manuscripts that I might have. I do have a manuscript of considerable importance to the United States, which I withheld from publication about two years ago.

As you may or may not know, I am a trained officer in civilian affairs at the Princeton School of Government, and was trained by the U. S. Navy to take care of disaster relief in Asia. Therefore, into my hands came an enormous amount of material which has, for some reason or other, never been released by the United States government. This material formed in such a way as to make an independent American action has been placed in a manual, and this manual would definitely have good circulation. I think that it would be of benefit if you released it at this time.

My very best regards to you and your lady,
[signed]
L. Ron Hubbard

LRH:dt
cc: R. F. Steves

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September 10, 1956

E. E. Maney
1041 Isbell Road
Fort Worth, Texas

Dear Mr. Maney:

I have received your communication regarding the new brainwashing book on which I am working, and wish to inform you that on my return to England I will complete this book, and send it to you so that you can publish it, if you wish.

Besr regards,
[signed]
L. Ron Hubbard

LRH/dt

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Dear Don:

It was simply impossible for me to get everything processed this past week, but I am going to work in the office this week-end, and try to make a little more headway.

Therefore, I cannot give you much of a report today, other then to state that we are striving to get all the loose ends pulled together. I should be able to know a lot more by Monday.

The manuscript, "The Problems of Work," came through in good time, addressed to our box. You were worrying about it before it had had time to reach us. It was mailed on October 22, and came through in about three day.

We have also received a couple of letter, from Donovan G. Crandell. (who is a new men in the picture to us) and we are giving immediate attention to his inquiry and to his instructions about some of the work.

We received Ron's manuscript on Civil Defense, and shall be making up a schedule for that right away.

In talking with Ron, don't forget to urge him along on the book on Psychopolitics.

Will report again on Monday. Regards to all the gang.

Sincerely yours,
[signed]
E. E. Manney

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November 27, 1956

Dear

Mr. Manney:

How are you getting along with the Civil Defense Manual.

How about letting us put a post-card in it sewed into the binding or something. We would use your address to so we don't get tangled up with the book and all the politics... Dianetics and Scientology have enough trouble with a direct connection with politics...

However, these cards would make a very good mailing list for Constitutional Administration Party as well as Dianetics and Scientology... Also, later work on Radiation......

Are you going to press with this yet? Let me know...

My best
[signed Kenneth D. Barret]

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It is doubtful if the Soviets ever can be induced to curtail their development of nuclear weapons. But they have another more deadly weapon, in case they do. This is BRAINWASHING or PSYCHOPOLITICS. Charles Stickley, in his translation of "The Russian Textbook on Brain-washing," reveals the Kremlin's definition of "Psychopolitics" as "The art and science of asserting and maintaining DOMINATION OVER THE THOUGHTS AND LOYALTIES of individuals, officers, bureaus and masses and effecting the conquest of enemy nations through 'MENTAL HEALING'" Unfortunately, we've developed no techniques for coping with this secret weapon. Sometimes it seems that we are rushing to embrace it and to submit to it.

JACK MOFFITT

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THE PUBLIC FORUM
[...]

Psycho-Analysis and Mental Health Propaganda

[...]

Accordingly, they have turned their attention to plaguing the country in the field of Mental Health as an effective means to accomplish the "coup de grace," namely the ultimate perversion of our citizens and the subversion of our Christian American ideals.

I have before me a mimeographed copy complete — text-book purported to be used by the students at the Lenin University in Moscow. The pages of this book are most frightening to read. It is titled "The Communist Manual of Psycho-Political Warfare".

On the first page, there appears a speech delivered by Commissar Laventri Beria (formerly head of the Soviet Secret Police) welcoming a group of American students at the University. Portions of Beria's speech are as follows:

[...]

JACKSON ADAMS

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BRAINWASHING

This is actually the "Communist Manual of Instructions of Psychopolitical Warfare" which was discovered in use by Communist agents operating in the United States.

The following is a portion of the 'Editorial note' taken from the text:

"on the following pages you will read a synthesis of the Communist Manual of Instructions of Psychopolitical Warfare. This is the art of applying psychology to politics. Testimony, under oath, of Mr. Kenneth Goff, before the House Un-American Committee (1) tells of this manual being used as a textbook not only in the Soviet Union, but right here in the United States......"

We urge you to acquire and read a copy of this book. It will serve to educate you in the tactics of the enemy as well as to alert you to the dangers of these tactics to America.

Price $1.25 plus 10¢ Postage

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