CIA and UFO Reports from 1961

Summary

In 1961, the CIA responded to a query from Congressman Joseph B. Kert regarding rumors about UFOs. The letter revealed that since 1950, the agency had received multiple communications from Mr. Tavison, who claimed the CIA was involved in a psychological campaign to manipulate public perception of UFOs. The official response, signed by a high-ranking official, clarified that the CIA had no active involvement in UFO investigations since 1953, and that all correspondence had been referred to the Air Force. Despite this, the letter also mentioned that Tavison had been given a declassified version of a confidential 1953 scientific report, which was not enough to convince him of the CIA's innocence. The document noted that although there were rumors, there was no evidence the CIA was using UFOs as a propaganda tool. The official response also included a copy of the letter for the congressman's information and emphasized that the CIA had no interest in maintaining the notion of UFOs as a threat.

The official response also included a copy of the letter for the congressman's information and emphasized that the CIA had no interest in maintaining the notion of UFOs as a threat. However, the text suggested that the agency recognized the importance of the rumors for national security and had worked with the Air Force to assess them. Despite efforts to debunk the accusations, the document did not offer conclusive evidence to refute Tavison's suspicions, reflecting the ambiguity surrounding UFO reports at the time. The CIA insisted it had no involvement in UFO-related activities, but the tone of the letter indicated the issue remained sensitive and unresolved.