In 1964 LRH wrote about an article published by those whose only wish is to destroy:
“This ‘article’ is a rather clumsy effort to discredit the leader of a movement by direct personal attack. This is in actual fact assassination of character. They cannot simply shoot one – for that makes a martyr. So they assassinate one’s character.
“By misquotes and inferences, statements out of context and avoiding all actual values, they seek to kill confidence and therefore the movement. ...
“By seeking to discredit the person at the head of the movement and not the work itself, such an article avoids the delicate fact that the work might be valuable. ...
“In this article, it is of interest to note that the Scientologist is no longer portrayed as a peaceful person. He is characterized as threatening and violent.
“Peaceful movements get very badly mauled as history shows. So it is not bad to be considered dicey to fool with.
“But this invention of the violent Scientologist is a new lie we will see more of, no doubt.”
– L. Ron Hubbard
From HCO Information Letter
16 March 1964