Title: Ted Kaczynski's 1969 Journal
Author: Ted Kaczynski
Date: 1969
Source: A Review and Compilation of the Writings of Ted Kaczynski. California University Archive Source: Part #1, #2 & #3. Archived Link.

Ted:[1]

These are journals that I kept over a span of more than twenty-five years. Some contain accounts of my personal experiences. Some are filled with my thoughts and ideas, and quotations from my reading. Some contain mixed materials. The journals are highly reliable, since they are completely honest and nearly all of the information about personal experiences was written down within a few days of the events.

The journals are divided into eight series, as follows:

  • Series I, #1 through #7

  • Series II, #1 through #6

  • Series lII, #1 through #8

  • Series IV, #1

  • Series V, #1

  • Series VI, #1 through #5

  • Series VII, #1 through #4

  • Series VIII, #1

Journal 1 of 7, from Series I, described by the U. of Michigan as dating from 1969:[2]

Journal series I #1, 1969: K2046F Mixed Materials 82, Folder 1

The quote below that Ted wrote in his journal is from The Hidden Persuaders, by Vance Packard.



“The ultimate achievement of biocontrol may be the control of man himself ... The controlled subjects would never be permitted to think as individuals. A few months after birth, a surgeon would equip each child with a socket mounted under the scalp and electrodes reaching selected areas of the brain ..."

... I think it is very probable that individual liberty will gradually disappear completely and permanently ... Consider all the evils that are imposed on the individual by the system. To mention a few: air and water pollution; the threat of atomic war; overcrowding and traffic congestion, noise; bureaucratic red tape; the draft; destruction of the wilderness; the omnipresence of vulgar, intrusive, manipulative advertising; etc...Furthermore, the individual living independently can at least reasonably attempt to alleviate his hardships. If he is cold he can make a fire or build a better hut. If game gets scarce he can try, at least, to find an area where it is more plentiful. His decisions count; he is not helpless. But what can the individual do about air pollution or overpopulation? ...The point I am trying to make here is that the important things in an individual’s life are mainly under the control of large organizations; the individual is helpless to influence them ...

... Still more dangerous are scientific advances which make it possible to control people’s minds. Scientists have already had great success in controlling animals by means of electrodes inserted in their brains, and these techniques have even successfully applied to human mental patients ... Psychological techniques for manipulating people also are meeting with increasing success ... Quite likely the invasion of liberty will proceed most quickly in the “education” of children and the “rehabilitation” of criminals and insane people ...

... Sticking electrodes into people’s heads makes us feel squeamish, but what is the difference whether we manipulate a person by sticking electrodes in his head or by educational techniques if both methods are equally effective in engineering his personality? ...


[1] Truth Versus Lies (Original Draft)

[2] Ted Kaczynski Papers Finding Aid