Documents / Official release
This file, released by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library under FOIA request 2006-0476-F, holds White House correspondence records for case 243544. In a July 8, 1997 letter to President Clinton, Kent Jeffrey of the International Roswell Initiative submitted more than 20,000 signed copies of the Roswell Declaration, which asks for an Executive Order declassifying UFO information. On December 9, 1997 the Air Force replied that such an order was unnecessary because declassification under E.O. 12958 was already underway.
“Terry”2 pages
> • Please Copy and Circulate ROSWELL DECLARArtON Forty~seven years ago an incident occurred in the southwestern desert of the United States that could have significant implications for all mankind. It involved the recov~ry by the U.S. Military of material alleged to be of extraterrestrial origin. The event was announced by the U.S. Military on July 8, 1947, through a press release th~t was carried by newspapers throughout the country. It was subsequently denied by what is now believed to De a cover story claiming the material was nothing more· than a , weather balloon. It has remained veiled in government secrecy ever since. The press release announcing the unusual event was issued by the Commander of the 509th Bomb Group at Roswell Army Air Field, Colonel William Blanchard, who ,later went on to become a four~ star general and Vice Chief of S~ff of the United States Air Force. That the weather balloon story was a coverup has been corifirnled by individuals directly involved, including the late General Thomas DuBose who took the telephone call from Washington, D.C., ordering thecoverup. Numerous other credible military and civilian witnesses have testified that the original p,[ess release was correct and that the Roswell wreckage was of extraterrestrial origin. Oue such iridlvidual was Major 'Jesse Marcel, the Intelligence Officer ofthe 509th Bomb Group and one of the first military officers at the scene. '" On January 12, 1994,United States Congre~sman Steven Schiff of Albuquerque, New Mexico, an nouncedto the press that he had been stonewalled by the Defense Department when requesting infor mation regarding the 1947 Roswell event on behalf of constituents and witnesses. Indicating that he was seeking further investigation into the matter, Congressman Schiff called the Defense Department's lack of response "astoundthgft and concluded it was apparently lIanother government coverup." History has shown that unsubstantiated official assurances or denials by government are often mean ingless. Nevertheless, there is a logical and straightforward way to ensure that the truth about Roswell ' will emerge: an Executive Order declassifying any information regarding the existence of UFOs or , extraterrestrial intelligence. Because this is a unique issue of universal concern, such an action would be appropriate and warramed. To provide positive assurance for all potential witnesses, it would need to be clearly stated and written into law. Such a measure is essentially what presidential candidate Jimmy Carter promised and then failed to deliver to the American people eighteen years ago in 1976. ". If, as is offiCially claimedrrio ,informa'iiOli·on Roswell, UFOs~ or'extraierre~triat intelligence 'jsbeiiig withheld, an Executive Order declassifying it would be a. mere formality, as there would be nothing to disclose. The Order would;llowever, have the positive effect of setting the record straight once and for all. Years of controversy and suspicion would be ended, both in the eyes of the United States' own citizens and in the eyes of the world. ' If, on the other hand, the Roswell witnesses are telling the truth and information on extraterrestrial intelligence does exist, it is not something to which a privileged few in the United States Government should have exclusive rights. It is knowledge of profound importance to which ali people throughout the world should have an inalienable right. Its release would unquestionably be universally acknowl edged as an historic act o~honesty and goodwill. ., " ( I support the request, as outlined above, for an Executive Order declassifying any U.S. Government' information regarding the existence of UFOs or extraterrestrial intelligence. Whether such informa , tion exists or whether it does not, lfeel that the people of the, world have a right to know the truth abqutthis issue and that it!is time toput an end to the controversy surrounciing it. ,'l. " '" -:I' L2, ~7tpu' 1C}dc <:•. /1:; C Q~ ,1 Signature Date /IJ A£:t?.·A-~ (..:/5;:.7 F (ie.eT) Occupation I Title , 'J '. '(:LI'// It.:[-L...) . i3.jQ E (Lt/t:7ZT M?tN1 -I- /I};;&s Degrees I Credentials, (If applicable) Uo L2...:WS fI L), bl~,)
Official release, from the nara collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 47 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.