Gerald Ford, former US President has passed away on Tuesday 26th December, 2006. He was 93 years of age and the 38th President in America’s history.
The American Chronicle reported on December 27th 2006, that Gerald Ford, then a Congressman, did not approve of the Air Force’s explanation of UFO’s and that he requested a Congressional Investigation of the phenomena. The Air Force had put J. Allen Hynek to the task of officially investigating the phenomenon and Hynek’s apparent explanation was that UFOs were the result of ’swamp gas’. Gerald Ford had made the request formally in response to his constituents.
In President Ford’s words:”In the firm belief that the American public deserves a better explanation than that thus far given by the Air Force, I strongly recommend that there be a committee investigation of the UFO phenomena. I think we owe it to the people to establish credibility regarding UFOs and to produce the greatest possible enlightenment of the subject.
I have taken special interest in these (UFO) accounts because many of the latest reported sightings have been made in my home state of Michigan…Because I think there may be substance to some of these reports and because I believe The American people are entitled to a more thorough explanation than has been given them by the Air force to date, I am proposing either the Science and Astronautics Committee or the Armed services Committee of the House, schedule hearings on the subject of UFOs and invite testimony from both the executive branch of the Government and some of the persons who claim to have seen UFOs…In the firm belief that the American public deserves a better explanation than that thus far given by the Air Force, I strongly recommend that there be a committee investigation of the UFO phenomena. I think we owe it to the people to establish credibility regarding UFOs and to produce the greatest possible enlightenment on this subject.”
Responding to criticism that he was wasting American tax payer’s money on requesting a full investigation, he stated: “Those who scoff at the idea of a congressional investigation of UFO’s apparently are unaware that the House Armed services Committee has scheduled a closed- door hearing on the matter Tuesday with the Air Force and that rep. Joseph E. Karth, D-Minn., headed a three man sub-committee which held two days of hush-hush hearings five years ago on behalf of the Science and Astronautics Committee. Karth has confirmed in conversation with a member of my staff that he conducted these secret hearings.