Hearing / briefing · 29 July 1968 · U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. (House side)
House Science and Astronautics Committee — Symposium on Unidentified Flying Objects
Also known as 1968 UFO symposium, Roush symposium
A one-day symposium of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics on 29 July 1968, chaired by Rep. J. Edward Roush, held while the Condon study was still under way. Six scientists presented papers and took part in a roundtable with the committee: the astronomer J. Allen Hynek, the atmospheric physicist James E. McDonald, the astronomer Carl Sagan, the sociologist Robert L. Hall, the civil engineer James A. Harder and Robert M. L. Baker Jr., with further written submissions from other scientists.
It was the most serious congressional airing of the scientific case for studying UFOs in that era. No recording is known to survive; the printed proceedings, filed here, are the primary record.
Sources: 1968 House symposium proceedings
Facts and claims
- documented A one-day symposium held by the House Committee on Science and Astronautics and chaired by Rep. J. Edward Roush. Scientists presented testimony and papers on the UFO question while the Condon study was still under way. Source: doc-transcript-1968-07-29.pdf
- documented Participants included astronomer J. Allen Hynek, atmospheric physicist James E. McDonald (who argued that UFOs deserved serious scientific study and possibly extraterrestrial explanation), astronomer Carl Sagan, sociologist Robert L. Hall, engineer James A. Harder and Robert M.L. Baker, with further written submissions. Source: doc-transcript-1968-07-29.pdf
- documented The session was not broadcast: the House had barred television and radio coverage of its committee hearings since 2 February 1952 (Speaker Sam Rayburn's ruling), until the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 permitted committees to broadcast public hearings. Source: history.house.gov (archived)
Connected files
Documents
People
- J. Edward Roush (chaired by)
- Carl Sagan (testified at)
- Donald H. Menzel (testified at)
- J. Allen Hynek (testified at)
- James E. McDonald (testified at)
Videos
- Citizen Hearing 2013: Science & Technology (discussed in)
More hearings & briefings
- Congressional briefing: Understanding UAP — Science, National Security & Innovation
- House Armed Services Committee hearing on Unidentified Flying Objects
- Restoring Public Trust Through UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection
- Senate Armed Services Subcommittee hearing with AARO Director
- Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth
- UAP: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency