Suppress His Name

The following document is from L. Ron Hubbard's FBI file, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. It contains the text of a leaflet, explaining the importance of free speech, that was distributed by the Church of Scientology. In relating the Secret Service agents' intimidation tactics, Hubbard unwittingly describes the actions of the Church's own secret service, OSA, against its critics.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Miami, Florida

M E M O R A N D U M

Re: THE FOUNDING CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY

On May 23, 1960  [masked masked masked masked masked masked masked masked]  made available a mimeographed leaflet which had been received by  [masked]  who is a member of The Founding Church of Scientology of Florida, and who resides in Miami, Florida.

 [masked]  said that  [masked]  had shown him this leaflet and he had requested of  [masked]  that he might borrow the leaflet for a short time.

 [masked]  said that the leaflet had been mailed from Washington, D.C., on approximately May 16, 1960, by First Class Mail, and he learned from  [masked]  that the Hubbard Communications Office, East Grinstead, Sussex, England, regularly sends out bulletins to the members of The Founding Church of Scientology in the United States.

 [masked]  advised that  [masked]  estimated the membership of this organization in the United States as being 300,000, all of whom are on the mailing list of this organization.

The following is a transcript of the leaflet received by  [masked]  as made available by  [masked] .

"HUBBARD COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
"Saint Hill Manor, E. Grinstead, Sussex

"HCO BULLETIN OF APRIL 24, 1960

"U. S. Fran. Hldrs.

"CONCERNING THE CAMPAIGN
FOR PRESIDENCY :

"A person named RICHARD M. NIXON will enter his name this Fall at a convention as a citizen aspiring to the Presidency of the United States. Many Scientologists think he is all right because I once quoted him. This is very far from the facts and I hasten to give you the real story why RICHARD M. NIXON must be prevented at all costs from becoming President.

"Two years ago in Washington this man's name appeared in a newspaper article as uttering an opinion about psychology. I called attention to this opinion as a matter of banal interest in an article.

"Shortly two members of the United States Secret Service, stating they had been sent directly by NIXON, entered the establishment of the Founding Church of Washington, D. C., armed with pistols, but without warrant or formal complaint, and with foul and abusive language, threatened the girls on duty there.

"Hulking over desks, shouting violently, they stated that they daily had to make such calls on 'lots of people' to prevent NIXON's name from being used in ways NIXON disliked.

"These two men stated they were part of NIXON's office and were acting on his express orders. They said that NIXON believed in nothing the Founding Church of Scientology stood for.

Their conduct before the ladies present was so intolerable, that MARY SUE, having heard the shouting and curses from her office, had to come and force these men to leave, which they finally did, but only after she threatened to call the police.

"As Scientologists were present, much information was obtained, of course, from these agents as to their routine activities. These were not creditable. NIXON constantly used the service against the voteless and helpless people of Washington to suppress the use of his name.

"I am informing you of an exact event. It convinced me that in my opinion NIXON is not fitted to be a President. I do not believe any public figure has a right to suppress the use of his name in articles. I do not believe a public figure should enforce his will on writers or organizations by use of the Secret Service. I believe a democracy ceases to exist when deprived of freedom of speech. I do not believe any man closely connected with psychiatry should hold a high public office since psychiatry has lent its violence to political purposes.

"Would you please write your papers and tell your friends that NIXON did this and that his actions against private people in Washington causes us to defy his cravings to be President.

Note: This political advice would jeopardize the Church's tax-exemption today, according to IRS regulations for religious entities.

"It is my hope you'll vote and make your friends vote. But please don't vote for NIXON. Even his own Secret Service agents assure us he stands for nothing we do.

"I do not tell you this because MARY SUE came close to serious injury at NIXON's hands. I tell you this because I think psychiatry and all Fascist-Commie forces have had their day.

"We want clean hands in public office in the United States. Let's begin by doggedly denying NIXON the Presidency no matter what his Secret Service tries to do to us now in Washington. It is better, far better, for us to run the risk of saying this now, while there's still a chance, than to fail to tell you of it for fear of reprisals and then be wiped out without defense by the Secret Service or other agency of NIXON became President. He hates us and has used what police force was available to him to say so. So please get busy on it. I am only telling a few friends.

/s/"L. Ron HUBBARD.

"LRH;jl
Copyright (c) 1960
by L. Ron Hubbard.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED."

* * * * * * *

Property of the FBI — This memorandum is loaned to you by the FBI, and neither it nor its contents are to be distributed outside the agency to which loaned.