July 20, 1952: President Harry Truman press conference talking about UFOs
Transcript of rare footage (certainly in full) of a press conference with president Harry S. Truman that dates to July 20, 1952, just after a major UFO wave over Washington, D.C.:
REPORTER: "Did the Joint Chiefs of Staff talk to you or concern you about the unknown, or unindentified, flying objects? I'm speaking of the flying saucers."
TRUMAN: "Oh yes, we discussed it at every conference that we had with the military and they were never able to make me a concrete report on that."
REPORTER: "Do you have anything on the subject, Sir?"
TRUMAN: "No, I have not. I haven't anything on the subject, and... There's always things like that going on, flying saucers and, er, we've had other things, you know..."
Video:
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trumanlibrary.gov/library/oral-histories/landryr (accessed: Jan. 10, 2024; 'Oral History Interview with Robert B. Landry ... Executive Officer to Army Air Force Chief of Staff, General Carl Spaatz, 1947; United States Air Force Aide to President Truman, 1948-53'):
"In any case, I was called one [1948] afternoon to come to the Oval Office--the President [Truman] wanted to see me. We talked about UFO reports and what might be the meaning for all these rather way-out reports of sightings, and the subject in general. The president said he hadn't give much serious thought to all these reports; but at the same time, he said, if there was any evidence of a strategic threat to the national security, the collection and evaluation of UFO data by Central Intelligence warranted more intense study and attention at the highest government level.
"I was directed to report quarterly to the President after consulting with Central Intelligence people, as to whether or not any UFO incidents received by them could be considered as having any strategic threatening implications at all.
"The report was to be made orally by me unless it was considered by intelligence to be so serious or alarming as to warrant a more detailed report in writing. During the four and one-half years in office there, all reports were made orally. Nothing of substance considered credible or threatening to the country was ever received from intelligence."
Note: the Air Force had been charged by the Department of Defense with the collection and evaluation of UFO data from all sources such as the other services, the National Weather Service, and any other reliable source.