Area 51: Barry Goldwater on UFO secrets

Event Overview On October 1, 1994, TV host Larry King aired a live special titled "Larry King Live at Area 51" from Rachel, Nevada, near the secretive base. The broadcast included expert panels and prerecorded segments exploring UFO evidence and alleged cover-ups.

Key Testimony A highlight was footage of former U.S. Senator and Air Force Reserve Major General Barry Goldwater, interviewed from his ham radio shack in Phoenix. He expressed belief that authorities possess information on unidentified flying objects, particularly at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Goldwater revealed he once contacted General Curtis LeMay, requesting entry to a secure area storing classified UFO-related items. LeMay reportedly became furious, cursed, and ordered him never to inquire again.

Witnesses and Context Goldwater, a prominent politician and 1964 presidential candidate, had long shown interest in the topic, including prior letters and interviews confirming restricted access. The show also featured ufologists like Stanton Friedman, Steven Greer, and Kevin Randle, discussing Area 51's role in reverse-engineering claims post-Bob Lazar's 1989 disclosures.

Significance This public statement by a high-ranking figure underscored persistent rumors of government secrecy on aerial phenomena, fueling debates on transparency. The full episode, available on YouTube, preserves the exchange as key historical testimony.