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.
“Spencer”1 page
Please Copy and Circulate ROSWELL DECLARATIONl . In July 1947 an incident oCcurred in the southwes.tern desert ofthe United States that could have signif icant implications for all mankind. It involved the recovery 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 that was carried by newspapers throughout the country. It was subsequently denied by what is now believed to be, a cover story claiming the material was nothi~g more than a weather bal loon. It has remained veiled in government secrecy ever since. . The press release announcing the unusual event was issued by the Commander of the S09th Bomb Group at Roswell Army Air Field, Colonel William Blanchard, who later went on to become a four star general and Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. That the weather balloon story was a coverup has been confirI.J;1ed by individuals directly involved, including the late General Thomas' DuBose who took the telephone call from Washington, D.C., ordering the cover up. Numerous other cr.edible military and civilian witnesses have testified that the original press· release was correct and that the Roswell wreckage was of extraterrestrial origin. One such individual was Major Jesse Marcel, the Intelligence Officer of the SOOth Bomb Group and one of the first military officers at the scene.. . (\n hnuary 1/', 1994, United·States Congressman Ste~~n Schiffof Albuquerque, New Mexico, an nounced to the press that he had been stonew;)lled·by the Defense D,epaI1ment 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 "astounding" and .concluded it was apparently "another government coverup." History has shown thafunsubstantiaied 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 i!Jformation regarding the existence of UFOs or extraterrestrial intelligence. Because this is a unique issue of universal concern, such an action wo'.;!d be appropriate and warranted. To provide positive assurance for all potential witnesses, i~ 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 while campaigning in 1976. . . ]f,as is officially.cla:imed,~noirtfo·nnatioh Oli RosweU,. UFOs, orextraterresiriarJntelligenctrjs:being.. :.~ .. withheld, an Executive Order declassifying it would be a mere formality, as there would be nothing to disclose. The Order would~!however, have the positiyeeffect of setting the,record straight once and. alt Years of controversy and suspicion would be ended, both in the eyes of the United States' OV..1 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 all people throughout the world should have an inalienable right. Its release would unquestionably be uiliversally acknowl- . edged as an historic act of honesty and goodw~ll. 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 whethe; it does not, I feel that the people of the world have a right to know the truth out this issue and that it is time to put an end to the controversy surrounding it. . ~~~~~ DrfJ/~L. bLlP ) . £r upation Tiile A~SI6-IJ@ 10· Se>97H .&M:8 Gp I),) JVI.. 19tf7 Degrees I.Credentials (If applicable) MA,e K SaN Eo Ie::]) U.S. Reoresentative N.S. citizens)
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.