1960: UFO Spotting Low Point

Amidst the quietest year on record for new sightings, ufologist Donald Keyhoe and his group NICAP put great pressure on the authorities.

On July 15th, the Armed Services and Science and Astronautics committees of the US Government expressed unhappiness with the USAF policy regarding UFOs. They requested a meeting to discuss the matter, which was presided over by two CIA agents.

Abortive attempts were then made by the USAF to get the 'more relevant' NASA to take over the UFO program. In reality, the USAF simply wanted to be rid of the enormous public relations problem that UFOs had become.

NASA turned the idea down - and later even rejected a proposal by US President Jimmy Carter that they investigate UFOs. Carter (who had a personal sighting whilst still a state governor) had pledged to open the UFO debate to public accountability as part of his presidential campaign. After NASA said no, he broke his word and kept silent on the matter.

The dearth of UFO activity and the hysteria generated by the contactees during the past six years took its toll on Edward Ruppelt. He issued a revised version of his book denouncing UFOs as all mis-identification and myth. Some ufologists felt that this dramatic about turn was imposed upon him from above. His wife insisted it was a genuine change of mind. Either way, Ruppelt tragically died from a heart attack in 1960 at the mere age of 37.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed