A BBC Radio documentary about William Sargant, respected psychiatrist and author of Battle for the Mind (1957), one of the first books about mind control, the dangers of which the author was a firm believer in. In 1976 Sargant would be called as an expert witness at the Patty Hearst trial.
There was another aspect to Sargant, which the Scientology anti-psychiatry site Freedom helpfully describes:
And there was another dark, secret side to William Sargant. He had a voracious sexual appetite that could not be satisfied by a normal relationship. Even though he had married a delightful woman named Peggy, he had made it clear he wanted no children. Whatever Peggy may have suspected, she never challenged him about the way he regularly disappeared for a weekend. His destinations were mansions in the depths of the English countryside where those recovering from the dull gray years of World War II had found a new way to satisfy themselves at “swinger” parties. Many were out-and-out orgies—often attended by doctors, lawyers and pillars of their churches.
Listen or download the documentary via the excellent Speechification
Hullo Mark – I posted the doc at speechification, but I didn’t know about Sargant’s “other interests”… would love to know some more detailed sources for that but not sure I’ll find them at Freedom…
Hi James
Sargant’s proclivities were/are very well known (don’t worry it’s not just the $cientologists making sh*t up again).
Funnily enough a gentleman I know was his next door neighbour for many years and has some good stories. At one point I was going to be getting a piece about Sargant and Hearst for the Journal, but I don’t know if that’s happening now. I’ll try to dig out some published material on the matter for you anyway.
Cheers
Dear Mark,
I presented Revealing the Mind Bender General and would like to make contact with you. Perhaps you could drop me an email via my website?
Yours, James.
I was the second person on this programme. I liked the way it was put together. It was a cathartic experience for me, and helped to exorcise a ghost which had been hanging over me for many many years. I have read Dom. Streatfeild’s book, and found it very well written and interesting. In fact I tried to get in touch with him, but was unable to find a contact email. I have been in regular contact with the other person on the programme for about 6 months n ow, and that also has been very helpful, to be able to share thoughts and experiences. I never thought for one minute that this would come into the public eye. For a long time I thought of writing my own book, and I even tried….but I am not a good writer, so I was really glad to discover that someone as gifted as Dominic took up the challenge!