Correspondence and News Releases Regarding Congressional Investigation of UFOs, 1966

This collection of documents from the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library details the efforts of then-House Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford to initiate a congressional investigation into Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) in 1966. Following a series of sightings in his home state of Michigan, Ford expressed dissatisfaction with the Air Force's handling of the reports, specifically criticizing the explanations provided by their consultant, Dr. J. Allen Hynek, as 'flippant.' Ford argued that the American public deserved a more credible and objective appraisal of the evidence than the Air Force's Project Blue Book was providing.

In his correspondence with the chairmen of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Science and Astronautics Committee, Ford advocated for public hearings that would include testimony from both executive branch officials and civilian witnesses. He cited public concern and the testimony of credible individuals, such as aeronautical engineers and retired military personnel, as justification for a formal inquiry. Ford also highlighted the need for an objective, respected panel to investigate the phenomena, noting that the Air Force's campaign to explain away all sightings as misidentifications of balloons, stars, or aircraft was misleading the public.

Ultimately, the Air Force responded to the pressure by announcing in October 1966 that it had selected the University of Colorado to conduct an independent scientific investigation into UFO reports. This study, directed by Dr. Edward U. Condon, was intended to analyze phenomena and provide recommendations on the Air Force's evaluation methods. While Ford initially preferred a congressional investigation, he acknowledged that the independent scientific study was a step in the right direction, provided the findings were made public. The documents illustrate the tension between congressional oversight and military management of UFO reports during the mid-1960s.