Washington D.C.: UFO Symposium Hearings
House Committee on Science and Astronautics held a symposium on UFOs on July 29, 1968, with expert testimonies from Hynek, McDonald and others. Despite compelling statements, Congress took no further action.
Background
Event Overview
On July 29, 1968, the U.S. House Committee on Science and Astronautics conducted a Symposium on Unidentified Flying Objects. Rep. J. Edward Roush (D-Ind.) led most proceedings, with Rep. George P. Miller (D-Calif.) as committee chair. Rep. Donald Rumsfeld (R-Ill.) introduced J. Allen Hynek.
Key Testimonies
Experts including Hynek, James E. McDonald, Carl Sagan, Robert L. Hall (University of Illinois at Chicago), James A. Harder (UC-Berkeley), and Robert M. L. Baker Jr. (UCLA) provided oral statements. McDonald submitted 30 pages of UFO cases, concluding they likely represent extraterrestrial surveillance after two years of study. Harder argued UFO reality proven by evidentiary standards used in courts. Prepared papers came from Donald Menzel, R. Leo Sprinkle, Garry C. Henderson, Stanton T. Friedman, Roger N. Shepard, and Frank B. Salisbury. NICAP members were excluded from testifying.
Notable Claims and Responses
Some witnesses repeated NORAD claims about limited radar coverage, despite broader capabilities. Menzel dismissed UFOs as unworthy of study, likening them to folklore. The event yielded no legislative outcomes.
Connections
References
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