Conversation so far:
What types of things was Linus Pauling criticized for?
Linus Pauling's critics, including scientists who appreciated the contributions that he had made in chemistry, disagreed with his political positions and saw him as a naïve spokesman for Soviet communism.
Who opposed Linus Pauling's works?
Linus Pauling's peace activism, his frequent travels, and his enthusiastic expansion into chemical-biomedical research all aroused opposition at Caltech.
What political positions made Linus Pauling unpopular?
In an article entitled The Collaborators in the magazine's July 17, 1962 issue, Pauling was referred to not only as a collaborator, but fellow proponents of Soviet-style communism.
Is there anything else unique about Linus Pauling's political beliefs besides being seen as a fellow traveler of proponents of Soviet-style communism?
In 1965, Pauling sued the magazine, its publisher William Rusher, and its editor William F. Buckley, Jr for $1 million. He lost both his libel suits and the 1968 appeal.
Were there any consequences for Linus Pauling's political criticism?
In 1958, the Caltech Board of Trustees demanded that Pauling step down as chairman of the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Division.

Question: Why did he sue a magazine for libel? What did they say about him?
Self-contained rewrite: Why did Linus Pauling sue a magazine for libel? What did they say about him?