The National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (Nicap)

JOHN W. MCCORMACK

12TH DWY., MASSACHUSETTS

Congress of the United States

House of Representatives

Office of the Majority Leader

Washington, D.C.

November 4, 1960

Boston Office

JAMES V. MARTREY

SECRETARY

WASHINGTON OFFICE

MARTIN SWEIG

SENIORITY

Major Donald E. Kahoe National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena 1536 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Washington, D. C.

Dear Major:

I in receipt of your letter of October 28, with enclosure. I am glad you wrote me on the subject matter mentioned in your letter and the enclosure. Some three years ago as Chairman of the House Select Committee on Outer Space out of which came the recently established NASA, my Select Committee held executive sessions on the matter of "Unidentified Flying Objects." We could not get much information at that time, although it was pretty well established by some in our minds that there were some objects flying around in space that were unexplainable.

I assume you have written a letter to the Members of the House and Senate Committee on Science and Astronautics, if not I suggest you do so.

Senator Alan Bible (D. Nev.) - December 6, 1960

"Dear Major Keyhoe: Thank you for sending on to me the Confidential Report on Unidentified Flying Objects.

"I found this Report to be very interesting and I certainly do appreciate your thoughtfulness in making it available to me."

## 1961

Senator Wallace F. Bennett (R. Utah) - February 16, 1961 "Dear Major Keyhoe: Thank you for your letter of February 12, concerning unidentified flying objects.

"Certainly, this is an area which deserves our careful study and I hope that the Air Force will not keep any essential facts from the public."

The Late Senator Estes Kefauver (D. Tenn.) - March 30, 1961 "Uncertainty over UFOs certainly exists and I think it is wise to keep an open mind about them. I occasionally hear from Major Keyhoe who is with the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena here in Washington, and while I am not able to evaluate the Committee's work, I think it should be continued. . ."

Congressman Daniel B. Brewster (D. Md.) - April 21, 1961 "The Air Force has consistently said, after extensive investigations, that it can find no information to support the contention of some that Unidentified Flying Objects are under intelligent control. . In this connection, the Air Force has also said that it has no classified information which would show, or tend to show, such intelligent control. In my judgment, this is the salient point to be remembered in connection with any allegations that classified information, which is pertinent to the point under consideration, is being suppressed. Repeated inquiries and other efforts by the Committee failed to disclose any derogatory information on this point. Under all prevailing circumstances, it is my current judgment that the Committee should not undertake a Congressional investigation of Unidentified Flying Objects. . "

Congressman Horace R. Kornegay (D. N.C.) - May 3, 1961 "I had a very interesting conference with Major Keyhoe [NICAP Director], and I am continuing to urge the Majority Leader, Mr. McCormack, and the Committee Chairman, Mr. Overton Brooks, to hold hearings to bring all data and new information up to date relative to Unidentified Flying Objects.

"As you know, I am a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and this Committee is frequently briefed on the subject matter of your communication. Access to U.F.O. files is necessarily restricted. . ."

Congressman Perkins Bass (R. N.H.) - May 17, 1961

"I have just been put on a small 3-man subcommittee of the House Space Committee to investigate this UFO situation. We will hear various witnesses from the Air Force, NASA, and other Defense Department officials, but these will probably not be public hearings. .and would appreciate your sending me along any particular points or questions I might ask of these Defense Department officials which might throw more light on the matter and answer some of the questions in your own mind. ."

June: News stories began to appear stating that the House Committee on Science & Astronautics was considering holding hearings on UFOs.

Waterbury (Conn.) Republican, June 20: Bulkley Griffin, reporting from Washington, said the House Space Committee would conduct hearings, "according to present plans of Chairman Overton Brooks. He is designating a subcommittee to hear witnesses. Rep. Joseph E. Karth, (D.Minn.), will head the subcommittee it is stated. . . The question whether all the subcommittee sessions will be secret or whether some will be public, has not been finally decided."

In their column June 26, Robert S. Allen and Paul Scott reported: "The Unidentified Flying Objects, that have been mysteriously appearing over the U. S. for years, are going to be investigated by the House Space Committee."

July 3, Newsweek, in its "Periscope" column, reported that a three-man House subcommittee would soon start a UFO probe, beginning with Air Force reports.

(By August 6, Bulkley Griffin reported a hitch in the investigation. In a story headlined "Flying Object Probe Out This Session," the Waterbury Republican said no investigation would be held. "The Air Force is understood to have succeeded in blocking it. . . (Rep.) Karth has declared he won't serve unless some public hearings are permitted and (Chairman) Brooks has always been against public hearings. It is believed, however, that the Air Force, as usual, has been urging against any UFO hearings at all."

Congressman Thomas N. Downing (D. Va.) - August 4, 1961 "The Bureau manager of Newsweek informs me that his information indicates that an investigation of the UFO phenomenon is being contemplated by the Science and Astronautics Committee. The information that I was provided indicates that Congressman Joseph E. Karth of Minnesota may serve as Chairman of the three-man Subcommittee. . ."

Senator Leverett Saltonstall (R. Mass.) - August 18, 1961 "I can assure you that Congressional hearings have been held on UFOs, and the responsible committees continue to receive up-to-date reports."

Congressman Dominick V. Daniels (D. N.J.) - September 12, 1961 "I have discussed your letter with Congressman Karth and I understand that attention will be focused on the UFO problem during the next Congressional session. Presumably many of the issues which you raise will be investigated at that time. . ."

Congressman Joseph E. Karth (D. Minn.) - September 19, 1961 (To Major Keyhoe, after misunderstanding about Congressional protocol was cleared up.)

"Now that we better understand each other, I would hope we could properly proceed with a hearing early next year - providing the new chairman authorizes hearings."

Congressman Joseph E. Karth (D. Minn.) - October 3, 1961 "Chairman Brooks with whom I had the agreement to conduct hearings, as you know, has passed away. What the new Chairman will decide, I do not yet know. Sorry I cannot answer your question, as to whether or not hearings relative to unidentified flying objects will definitely be held, in a positive manner at this time..."

Congressman Bruce Alger (R. Tex.) - November 28, 1961 "I have studied some of Major Keyhoe's works and have discussed this matter with a number of people in my office in Washington. Certainly, I will not dismiss the questions which