Documents / Hearing transcript

Symposium on unidentified flying objects: hearings before the Committee on Science and Astronautics, U.S. House of Representatives, Ninetieth Congress, second session, July 29, 1968.

U.S. House of Representatives · 1968-07-29 · 256 pages · text from the file's own layer

This is the printed record of a July 29, 1968 symposium on unidentified flying objects held by the Committee on Science and Astronautics of the U.S. House of Representatives, chaired by Rep. J. Edward Roush. The committee heard statements from six scientists: J. Allen Hynek, James E. McDonald, Carl Sagan, Robert L. Hall, James A. Harder and Robert M. L. Baker. It also printed papers from Donald Menzel, Stanton Friedman, Frank Salisbury and others. Hynek argued that puzzling UFO reports from competent witnesses deserve serious scientific study.

  • p. 7 …of advanced technological ma- chinery manned by some kind of intelligence, that is, the extrater- restrial…
  • p. 9 …American Association for the Advancement of Science; Astronomy Society(secretary). Specialty: Astrophysics. Fields of Interest: Stellar…
  • p. 19 …The Air Force has no evidence that UFO's are extra-terrestrial or rep- resent advanced…
  • p. 24 18 (The biography of Dr.McDonald follows:) DR. JAMES E. MCDONAI,D Born: Duluth, Minn., May…
  • p. 29 …from some advanced technology sufficiently advanced to do what we cannot do in the sense of…
  • p. 32 …The possibility that these are extraterrestrial devices, that we are dealing with surveillance from some advanced…
  • p. 40 …THE UNCONVENTIONAL NATURE OF THE UFO PROBLEM To both laymen and scientists, the impressive progress that…
  • p. 48 …At first, they thought it was a jet, whose exhaust was somehow accounting for the advancing…
  • p. 59 …advanced civilization of extraterrestrial origin, the pattern of the observa- tions, the motivation of the surveillance…
  • p. 75 …To ignore most of the salient features of a sighting in order to advance an easy…
  • p. 94 …Now, if we want to assess the likelihood that there are intelligentcivilizations somewhere in advance of…
  • p. 95 …be far in advance of our own,and this,therefore raises the question of how likely…
  • p. 96 …that an advance civilization comes here very rarely. But I again emphasize the great uncertainty in…
  • p. 97 91 So, to conclude what I understand is the main reason why this committee has asked…
  • p. 100 …the possibility of its development by other civilizations. But if each of, say, a million advanced…
  • p. 101 …a race of advanced and benign creatures were devoted to our welfare. The interest in unidentified…
  • p. 111 …The possible value of contact for purposes of advancing our knowledge of our technology. Let's…
  • p. 112 …again the same possible great value from under- standing the phenomenon in order to advance our…
  • p. 116 …We must then concern ourselves with the possible consequences of contact with technologically advanced civilizations whose…
  • p. 117 111 the task. We must also 'be concerned with the risks of panic resulting in people…
  • p. 124 …Gravitation remains one of the enigmas of modern science, although there have been some advances in…
  • p. 125 …This will depend upon advances in many fields of science. Some of the things required will…
  • p. 130 …Gravitation remains one of the enigmas of modern science, although there have been some advances in…
  • p. 132 …Baker's professional society memberships include the American Associa- tion for the Advancement of Science, Phi…
  • p. 140 …There have been many debates on the technical capabilities or limits on the capabilities of advanced…
  • p. 141 135 area of forecasting the social characteristics of an advanced extrater- restrial civilization. Philosophers, social scientists…
  • p. 142 …in the environs of the earth, or to make dubious speculations either concerning "their" advanced scientific…
  • p. 143 …the gross characteristics of an advanced civilization. These studies (probablynot Government funded) should include the social…
  • p. 150 …Applications and Advanced Topics, Academic Press, New York, pp. 112-115 and pp. 376 to 392…
  • p. 153 147 00015 "Recent Advances in Astrodynamics," (with Samuel Herrick), Jet Propul- sion, 28, No. 10, 1958…
  • p. 154 …00040 "State-of-the-Art-1960 Astrodynamics,"Astronautics, 5, No. 11, 30, 1960. 00041 "Novel Orbit…
  • p. 157 …Makemson) 00071 Astrodynamics - Applications and Advanced Topics, Academic Press, New York, 1967. 00072 "Recent Advances in…
  • p. 171 …In the past five years, he has advanced from assistant bookkeeper to teller to head teller…
  • p. 174 …He has no desire to advance any further up the bank totem pole, says he never…
  • p. 189 …advanced radar systems air being de- vekii2ed for our missile defense systems, such as the ALTAR…
  • p. 190 …of the Earth or to make very dubious speculations 191, t101 either concerning "their" advanced scientific…
  • p. 203 …The primary attribute of an advanced intelligent civilization is its ability to create its own environment…
  • p. 204 …Menzel became acting Director of Harvard College Observatory and, in 1954, was advanced to the Directorship…
  • p. 207 …approach it or advances as you move away. As we look over the Air Force files…
  • p. 210 …Or at least that is the com- mon argument advanced by UFO buffs. Radar is cursed…
  • p. 212 …Life Member of American Association for the Advancement of Science. Professional Organizational Activities: State delegate to…
  • p. 217 …our level of advancement? As noted in the Special Report of the USAF Scientific Advisory Board…
  • p. 219 …Friedman has a relatively unique background in advanced technology, hav- ing been actively involved in the…
  • p. 222 …the existence of advanced civilizations. We frequently forget that the resolution of present photographs of the…
  • p. 223 …36, 37) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science is planning a UFO seminar…
  • p. 224 …reason, would not examine the data relevant to UFOs or advanced technology. Marcowitz was totally wrong…
  • p. 225 …reason, would not examine the data relevant to UFOs or advanced technology. Marcowitz was totally wrong…
  • p. 226 …B., "The Phenomenological Aspects of Magnetogasdynamic Re-entry." Presented at the 10th Midwestern Mechanics Conference, Colorado…
  • p. 227 …not alone in the Universe and surely some civilizations are more advanced than ours, but interstellar…
  • p. 233 …possible sites in advance, we could simply move in to recover the desired information after an…
  • p. 234 …The effectiveness of the proposed procedure would depend very heavily upon the amount of thought, care…
  • p. 237 …listed in advance on a 'standardized rating sheet. However this part of the experiment will not…
154
Ears: No pain or discharge. No previous infections or trauma. No ringing,
dizziness, or decrease in acuity.
Mouth: No difficulty with chewing or swallowing; no burning or biting of the
toneue. No history of dental problems.
Nose: No nosebleeds, trauma, difficulty with smelling or post-nasal discharge.
Neck: No history of trauma, difficulty swallowing; no limitation of motion, no
pain, sense of fullness, uncontrolled movements, or stiffness.
Cardiorespiratory: No difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or chronic cough,
no bloody sputum, night sweats, palpitation, or exertional dyspnea. No light-
heiviPdness on getting up, no chest pain.
Gastrointestinal: No nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea. No abdominal
pain, no history of bloody stools or changes in color of stool. No history of
hemorrhoids or rectal surgery.
Genitourinary: No dysuria, pyuria, or hematuria. No nocturia, no costovertebral
angle tenderness. No penile discharge or sores.
Endocrine system: No polydipsia or polyuria. Recent waning of appetite, however,
associated with his depression of the past two months. No history of increase of
hat, shoe, or ring size. No excessive sweating, heat intolerance, or loss of hair.
Sexual difficulties described in Section V (Psychiatric Anamnesis).
Allergic and Immunologic: The subject denies sensitivity to any foods or drugs.
He has had no rashes of a protracted nature. He has been immunized for smallpox,
tetanus, diphtheria, and polio (without adverse reactions).
C. General Physical Examination
General Appearance: The subject is of medium build, weighs 149 lbs. and is five
feet eleven inches tall. He has dark brown hair, is light-complexioned, appears
well-nourished and hydrated.
Vital Signs: Blood pressure: 140/80 right arm, 145/85 left arm. (On standing
the pressure in each arm dropped 10 mmHg. immediately and then returned to normal).
Temperature: 98.6; Respirations: 20 per minute; Pulse: 90 per minute and regular.
Skin: His face is ruddy with mild malar telangiectasia bilaterally. There is no
evidence of jaundice, cyanosis, or pallor. Hair distribution and texture is
normal. His nails are of good texture and clean. No scars or other skin lesions
are present.
Head: Normocephalic; no exostoses, tenderness, or bruits.
Eyes: No ptosis, exophthalmous, enophthalmous or scleral pigmentation. Mild
conjunctival injection bilaterally (for detailed examination and review, see
Section III. Neuro-ophthalmology).
Nose: No inflammation or discharge; both nostrils patent; no sinus tenderness.
Ears: Normal external configuration, no tophi discharge or tenderness. Both
external canals clear; tympanic membranes are glistening.
Mouth: No fissures, inflammation or ulceration around the lips. Oral mucosa
is clear and pink. Teeth are in good repair. Tongue shows moderate degree of
cigarette stain. Papillae appear normal.
Throat: No ulceration; moderate injection of posterior pharynx (consistent with
heavy smoking). No tonsils present.
Neck: Supple; trachea midline; carotids of good quality bilaterally without thrills
or bruits. No venous distension, masses, or tenderness.
Thorax: Symmetrical; breasts normal for male without masses or axillary adenopathy.
No increase in A-P diameter; fair diaphragmatic excursion.
Lungs: Few dry, basilar rales which cleared upon coughing. Otherwise, clear. No
fremitus, ronchi, or hyperresonance.

Cases discussed

About this file

Hearing transcript, from the govinfo collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 256 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.