Despite official statements, some prominent people remained interested in UFOs. In March 1961, House Majority Leader McCormack privately told Donald Keyhoe he had urged a UFO investigation by the Science and Astronautics Committee. Pressure was rising in Congress against UFO secrecy. In May, Congress announced a new UFO investigation to be headed by Congressman Joseph Karth of Minnesota. Among other things, the plan called for a statement by Hillenkoetter. NICAP also released a joint statement by twenty-one American scientists which demanded an open investigation of UFOs without secrecy, the need for the air force to improve its manner of investigation, and disclosure of all facts on major UFO sightings. By June, Congress had received many requests for an investigation of UFOs.152
Before matters could reach a breakthrough, however, they fizzled out. The air force wasted no time to kill the investigation and briefed key congressional committees in private between July 11 and 15, 1961. Once again, that was the end of the matter. Keyhoe seemed undaunted and continued to push for open hearings, full disclosure of UFO secrecy, and a government body authorized to release UFO data to the public. He thought it was still possible to make something happen during 1961, but began to consider early 1962 as more realistic.153
Soon enough, the air force Office of Legislative Liaison learned of Keyhoe’s new plans and directed its efforts toward heading them off. On August 4, 1961, Rep. Thomas W. Downing sent a letter to NICAP, advising them that “an investigation of the UFO phenomenon [was] being contemplated by the Science and Astronautics Committee.” He believed that Congressman Joseph Karth might serve as chairman of the three-man subcommittee. Meanwhile, Sen. Overton Brooks met privately with Hillenkoetter and Keyhoe. According to Keyhoe, Brooks asked them to bring a “cross section of [NICAP’s] strongest and best-documented evidence, also proof of official censorship.” Brooks set a UFO congressional conference for August 24.
But the Blue Book staff was also at work. In mid-August, Friend briefed Congressman Richard Hines on Blue Book’s operation, which favorably impressed him, and “enlightened” him about Keyhoe’s intentions. Accompanying Friend on this mission was J. Allen Hynek, who continued to provide valuable service to his benefactor, the air force, while helping to undermine NICAP. Hines immediately wrote back to Friend, informing him that Brooks had decided not to pursue UFO hearings after all. That would be putting it mildly. Overton Brooks suddenly became ill and died. Brooks’s successor was Congressman George P. Miller of California, who stated that he would not order UFO hearings.154
Once again, Roscoe Hillenkoetter placed himself on the public record for ending UFO secrecy. On August 22, 1961, he signed a NICAP letter to Congress urging immediate congressional action on the matter. It must have impressed a few members of Congress that a former director of the CIA should continually take such a stand on this matter:
Acting with the majority of the NICAP Board of Governors, I urge immediate congressional action to reduce the dangers from secrecy about unidentified flying objects.... Two dangers are steadily increasing:
1. The risk of accidental war, from mistaking UFO formations for a Soviet surprise attack.
2. The danger that the Soviet government may, in a critical moment,
Shortly after this (8/28), Karth sent a harsh letter to Keyhoe, attacking him for a “headline-seeking” desire to grandstand in a direct confrontation with the air force. “I am not a captive of the air force,” wrote Karth. Keyhoe apparently smoothed matters over, and on September 19, Karth wrote to Keyhoe that, “now that we better understand each other,” perhaps they could proceed with a new hearing early in 1962, “providing that the new chairman authorizes hearings.” But Miller, the new chairman, had no such intention. Another year was passing, and still no congressional hearings on UFOs. NICAP was chasing its tail.155
THE HILL ABDUCTION CASE
The case of Antonio Villas-Boas aside, the modern alien abduction era can be said to have started on September 19, 1961, near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. A couple driving at night lost over two hours without realizing it after seeing a UFO at close range. Under hypnosis much later, they gave detailed and similar accounts, which in turn correspond closely to many abduction claims starting in the 1970s.156
