Documents / FOIA release
This CIA release, approved in 2001, reprints two 1967 and 1968 publications. The first is a set of Science letters from December 1967 answering Markowitz's article on UFO physics. The writers argue that his case against extraterrestrial control of UFOs is weak, and one criticizes his use of the Chiles-Whitted and Tombaugh sightings. The second is John G. Fuller's LOOK article "Flying Saucer Fiasco" on the University of Colorado UFO study. It covers Robert Low's "trick" memo, the firing of Saunders and Levine, and NICAP's break with the project.
“Condon”5 pages
Read from the scan by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word.
# Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP81R00560R000100010008-3 # "the trick would be" to "appear" objective On September 18, Condon, Low and Saunders met for the first time in many weeks. As a result of his reading of the memo, Saunders was deeply concerned about the negative approach to the ufo problem. It would be easy, he felt, to concentrate on the nut-and-kook cases and persuasively eliminate any serious consideration of the real problem. The meeting went on for three hours. Low did most of the talking. Condon seemed tired. Low's position was that Saunders was sticking his nose into something that was none of his business. Condon's position was that he didn't understand what Saunders was talking about. Saunders was led to believe that if by chance the Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (ETI) hypothesis was substantiated, the announcement would be sent by Condon directly to the Air Force and the President, and never be allowed to go to the public. This troubled him, because Saunders had been given a clear understanding that the report would go first to the National Academy of Sciences, then to the public and Air Force simultaneously. Saunders felt he could not let the problem drop. Another meeting was agreed to. At this point, Keyhoe suddenly sent word that NICAP was going to take a strong stand against the Condon committee and no longer would supply material and reports. The reason, Keyhoe said, was a new speech made by Condon at the Atomic Spectroscopy Symposium at Gaithersburg, Md., on September 13, 1967. A report of the new Condon speech had already reached Dr. McDonald in a letter from a colleague at the University of Arizona, William S. Bickel, assistant professor of physics on the campus. "... Dr. Condon's speech was funny and entertaining," Bickel wrote. "But to me, it was also disappointing and surprising. Dr. Condon emphasized mostly funny things. He told of an offer made to him by a contactee, who, for a sizable sum deposited in the right bank, would introduce him to a ufo crew. . . . He told how he tracked the case down and concluded that it was very likely a hoax. . . . My feelings about ufo's are similar to those of many people-I don't know what they are, I believe people are seeing real things, and I believe a scientific attack on the problem will solve the mystery-whatever they are. . . . The net effect of Dr. Condon's talk was zero, if not negative. . . ." In reply to Bickel, McDonald wrote, "... The crackpots are so immediately recognizable that one need not waste any time at all on them... I fail to understand why a scientific group should be given an address by any member of the Colorado team on the topic of the crackpot fringe..." Word came from Keyhoe that he was drafting a long letter to the Colorado study group, and NICAP would reconsider its cooperation only if the answers to a list of questions were satisfactory. On September 27, the Rocky Mountain News (Denver, Colo.) published this headline: UFO RESEARCH CHIEF AT CU DISENCHANTED. Condon was quoted as saying: "I'm almost inclined to think such studies ought to be discontinued unless someone comes up with a new idea on how to approach the problem. . . The 21st century may die laughing when it looks back on many things we have done. This [the ufo study] may be one." The majority of the staff began exploring several proposals, including the possibility of the entire staff resigning en masse or issuing a press release or a minority report. Another proposal was the establishment of an independent scientific group to explore the rational sighting reports and eliminate the crackpot-fringe static. There was general agreement that an objective study of the ufo problem should be made and that accurate and unbiased findings should reach the National Academy of Sciences, the public and the Air Force. A confrontation with Low and Condon was arranged. Condon expressed regret that his statements had appeared in the press. Several members of the staff told of their concern that the content and form of the final report would reflect what they now felt was continued # Get Magnavox excellence in the portable TV that suits you best. Lightweight. The Contempora, with all solid-state chassis for lasting reliability. Easy-viewing 11" diag. (71 sq. in.) picture. Only $119.90. Double-Duty. The Sun Valley gives you the versatility of an easily moved portable plus a big 16" diag. (141 sq. in.) picture in a handsome walnut cabinet. Mobile cart optional. Only $129.90. Low-Priced. The Suburbanite has power transformer and automatic gain control, for steady sharp pictures from the generous 11" diag. (71 sq. in.) screen. Only $89.90. Self-Powered. The Ranger, all solid state with brilliant 8" diag. (38 sq. in.) picture, plays anywhere from optional rechargeable battery or AC current. 00569R00100010008-3
FOIA release, from the cia-readingroom collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. The text was read from the page images by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word. 7 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.