Jody Powell Statement: Government Expected to Make 'Unsettling Disclosures' About UFOs
Carter's Press Secretary Jody Powell is the source of a statement carried in the April 1977 U.S. News and World Report: 'Before the year is out, the Government — perhaps the President — is expected to make what are described as unsettling disclosures about UFOs, unidentified flying objects. Such revelations, based on information from the CIA, would be a reversal of official policy that in the past has downgraded UFO incidents.' Philip Klass immediately writes to the magazine offering 100-to-1 odds against any such disclosures. Todd Zechel visits former high-ranking CIA official Arthur Lundahl, who had reportedly briefed three Presidents on UFOs. The story is ultimately denied as a 'misunderstanding' by the White House.
Background
EVENT TITLE: Jody Powell Statement: Government Expected to Make 'Unsettling Disclosures' About UFOs
EVENT DATE: 1977-04-01
EVENT TYPE: disclosure
EXISTING SUMMARY: Carter's Press Secretary Jody Powell is the source of a statement carried in the April 1977 U.S. News and World Report: 'Before the year is out, the Government — perhaps the President — is expected to make what are described as unsettling disclosures about UFOs, unidentified flying objects. Such rev
1. In April 1977, U.S. News and World Report carried a statement attributed to Jody Powell, President Carter's Press Secretary, regarding potential government disclosures about UFOs. The statement suggested that "unsettling disclosures" were expected before the end of the year, possibly involving the President himself.
The Incident
* The statement, sourced to Jody Powell, indicated that the government anticipated making "unsettling disclosures" about UFOs.
* The report appeared in the April 1977 issue of U.S. News and World Report.
* The statement implied that the President might be involved in these disclosures.
Investigation
There is no indication in the provided text of any formal investigation into the statement itself. However, the source text does mention that President Carter permitted the release of documents describing illegal military and government activities during his first year in office. Researcher Grant Cameron studied the evolution of Carter’s pledge regarding UFOs, noting that it changed slowly until it completely disappeared. Carter's science advisor, Dr. Frank Press, expressed a lack of interest in UFOs.
Significance
The statement is significant because it suggests a potential shift in the government's stance on UFOs during the Carter administration. Despite Carter's campaign pledge to address the UFO issue, he later distanced himself from the topic. The statement, even if ultimately unfulfilled, reflects a period of heightened public interest and expectation regarding government transparency on UFOs. The fact that Carter's pledge never made it to his compilation of campaign pledges further highlights the ambiguity surrounding his position on the matter. The release of the Sturrock study on UFO sightings and beliefs of professional American astronomers in January 1977 provided a potential pretext for Carter to address the issue, but he did not pursue it.