Ask the Scholar
Page 2 of 2
I can add historical knowledge about this page.
Page image
OCR
GALLUP POLL
For Release: Sunday, May 8, 1966
The
More
Than
5 Million Americans
Library
Claim
to
Have
Seen
Flying
Saucers'
By George Gallup
More than five million Americans claim to have seen
Further analysis of these data show
without explanation. Persons with
something they believed to be a "flying saucer". And,
that flying saucer sightings are not
college training are more likely to
about 10 times as many people - or nearly half of the
necessarily a phenomenon of certain
believe in the reality of flying saucers
THE FINDINGS OF THIS SURVEY
U.S. adult civilian population - believe that these fre-
population groups. Similar proportions
than are persons with a high school
"Have you ever heard or read
quently reported flying objects, while not necessarily
of college educated persons, and those
background, or less.
"In your opinion, are they some-
about flying saucers'?
"saucers", are real and not just a figment of the
who have not gone beyond grade school
thing real, or just people's imagin-
Among those persons who believe
Yes. No
ation."*
imagination.
claim to have seen them.
flying saucers have an explanation,
%
%
Imagina-
These are the principal findings in
(that is, those who think they are
National Totals
96
4
Real
tion
a nationwide Gallup survey of the
Real or Imaginary?
"real"), here is how they describe
%
%
American people on this subject, when
Are flying saucers a hoax? Philip
Are flying saucers real or imaginary?
them:
Sex
National Totals 46
29
survey percentages are translated into
Easter of Baltimore, Md., told one of
We asked this question, with surprising
Men
96
4
our interviewers this story: "It was
Sex
numbers of people.
results. Although the Air Force claims
1) Experimental projects, Air Force
Women
95
5
dark and I had just come out of a
Men
41
34
Since late in the 1940's, scientists and
that nearly all of the reported "saucer"
tests
building. I looked up and saw this
Women
50
25
military officials have been investigating
sightings are easily explained, as
2) Actual vehicles from outer space
object hovering in the dark sky above
hundreds of reported sightings of un-
meteors, weather balloons, swamp
3) Burning gas, "swamp gas"
"Have you, yourself, ever seen
Education
me. It was very bright and stayed in
4) Meteors, shooting stars
anything you thought was a flying
College
51
26
identified flying objects. A recent rash
about the same position for several
gasses, planets, etc., more Americans
5) Weather balloons
saucer' ?"*
High School
51
27
of sightings prompted a Congressional
minutes. At first I thought it was a
think they are "real" than believe they
Yes
No
hearing last month and also this special
are "imaginary." Forty-six per cent
6) Supernatural revelations
Grade School 33
36
planet, but I knew it couldn't be be-
%
%
survey.
cause of the way it moved."
(or about half of the U.S. adult popu-
Those who believe they are from
National Totals
5
95
"Do you think there are people
How do typical Americans feel about
lation) hold this opinion, while 29
Harold Stoops tells of the time last
outer space account for 6 per cent.
somewhat like ourselves living on
Aying saucers? How many people have
per cent describe them as "a figment of
Sex
June when he was driving through
other planets in the universe?"
seen them? Are they real or imagin-
the imagination." The rest cannot
Men
4
96
Topeka, Kansas:
Life on Other Planets?
Yes
No
ary? Do people believe there is life,
make up their minds
Women
6
94
%
%
as we know it, on other planets?
"It was very late - about 2:30 in
This represents quite a change in
Do people who are living in the space
National Totals
34
46
the morning. I saw this round-shaped
More than 150 Gallup Poll inter-
public attitudes toward the credibility
age believe there is life, as we know it,
Education
Sex
object in the sky ahead of me. It was
viewers have been out questioning
of "flying saucers" since a Gallup sur-
on other planets?
College
6
94
Men
35
42
extremely bright and I could notice a
typical Americans - men and women,
vey conducted almost 20 years ago. At
High School
4
96
Many scientific authorities believe
Women
33
48
greenish hue. By the time I stopped
people of all ages in all educational
that time - shortly after the flying
Grade School
6
94
the car and got out, it had disappeared."
that intelligent life must exist else-
Education
levels and in every region of the
saucers were first noted - four out of
where in the universe, because the
Region
College
37
44
nation. Tabulation of their statements
A New Jersey housewife was startled
every ten called the saucers either a
statistical odds are large that there are
East
High School
38
44
and views reveals the following:
during the night recently:
hoax or the product of some overheated
5
95
millions of planets in the universe
First, almost everyone (96 per cent)
"It was about three in the morning,"
imagination. In 1950, another Gallup
Midwest
Grade School
25
46
6
94
enough like our own to support life,
has at least heard or read something
she relates, "I was suddenly awakened
survey showed that attitudes had begun
South
5
95
as we know it.
*based on persons who heard or
to change. More persons that year
West
3
97
about flying saucers. For something
by a very bright light outside. I got
read about flying saucers.
up and looked out the window. The
held the view that the saucers were a
One person in every three (34 per
so highly publicized as these objects,
cent) who participated in this survey
this finding may, at first, not seem un-
whole area seemed to be lit up like
reality.
usual. However, in terms of the his-
a phosphorous fire. I could hear
In weighing what evidence there is
said they believe life does exist on other
tory of the public's awareness of other
strange sounds, like the ringing of bells.
about the credibility of flying saucers
planets.
Copyright, 1966,
incidents or events, this figure is extra-
I know it sounds strange, but the next
it is important to note that while most
Again, persons with the most educa-
American Institute of Public Opinion
ordinarily high. In fact, this awareness
day several people about 20 miles away
of the reported sightings have been
tion are most inclined to believe in the
score is one of the highest in the 30-year
reported a similar experience and at
explained, according to Air Force re-
existence of intelligent life on other
history of the Gallup Poll.
almost exactly the same time."
ports, there are still many sightings
planets.
Page data
- Page
- 2
- Source index
- 0
- Type
- document
- Media ID
- b181ebdc6871f982
- Size
- unknown
Document data
- ID
- 493468604
- Core
- doc
- Type
- document
DTO data
{
"id": "493468604",
"sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/493468604",
"contentType": "document",
"title": "Gallup Poll regarding flying saucers",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/493468604",
"collections": [
"Eisenhower, Dwight D.: Papers, Post-Presidential",
"Principal Files"
],
"iiifBase": "https://s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/eisenhower/dde-epost/601824/601824_01_01.jpg",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/eisenhower/dde-epost/601824/601824_01_01.jpg",
"largeImageUrl": "https://s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/eisenhower/dde-epost/601824/601824_01_01.jpg",
"imageCount": 2,
"hasImages": true,
"source": "import",
"hasTranscription": false
}
Context sent to Scholar
Document identity
{
"localId": "493468604",
"label": "Gallup Poll regarding flying saucers",
"core": "doc",
"dtoType": "document",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/493468604"
}
Document source metadata
{
"id": "493468604",
"sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/493468604",
"contentType": "document",
"title": "Gallup Poll regarding flying saucers",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/493468604",
"collections": [
"Eisenhower, Dwight D.: Papers, Post-Presidential",
"Principal Files"
],
"iiifBase": "https://s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/eisenhower/dde-epost/601824/601824_01_01.jpg",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/eisenhower/dde-epost/601824/601824_01_01.jpg",
"largeImageUrl": "https://s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/eisenhower/dde-epost/601824/601824_01_01.jpg",
"imageCount": 2,
"hasImages": true,
"source": "import",
"hasTranscription": false
}
Document source extras
{
"url": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/493468604",
"naId": 493468604,
"levelOfDescription": "item",
"recordType": "description",
"ocrSource": "nara-archive"
}
Page context
{
"seq": 2,
"pageIndex": 0,
"type": "document",
"url": "https://s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/eisenhower/dde-epost/601824/601824_01.pdf",
"mediaId": "b181ebdc6871f982",
"ocrText": "GALLUP POLL\nFor Release: Sunday, May 8, 1966\nThe\nMore\nThan\n5 Million Americans\nLibrary\nClaim\nto\nHave\nSeen\nFlying\nSaucers'\nBy George Gallup\nMore than five million Americans claim to have seen\nFurther analysis of these data show\nwithout explanation. Persons with\nsomething they believed to be a \"flying saucer\". And,\nthat flying saucer sightings are not\ncollege training are more likely to\nabout 10 times as many people - or nearly half of the\nnecessarily a phenomenon of certain\nbelieve in the reality of flying saucers\nTHE FINDINGS OF THIS SURVEY\nU.S. adult civilian population - believe that these fre-\npopulation groups. Similar proportions\nthan are persons with a high school\n\"Have you ever heard or read\nquently reported flying objects, while not necessarily\nof college educated persons, and those\nbackground, or less.\n\"In your opinion, are they some-\nabout flying saucers'?\n\"saucers\", are real and not just a figment of the\nwho have not gone beyond grade school\nthing real, or just people's imagin-\nAmong those persons who believe\nYes. No\nation.\"*\nimagination.\nclaim to have seen them.\nflying saucers have an explanation,\n%\n%\nImagina-\nThese are the principal findings in\n(that is, those who think they are\nNational Totals\n96\n4\nReal\ntion\na nationwide Gallup survey of the\nReal or Imaginary?\n\"real\"), here is how they describe\n%\n%\nAmerican people on this subject, when\nAre flying saucers a hoax? Philip\nAre flying saucers real or imaginary?\nthem:\nSex\nNational Totals 46\n29\nsurvey percentages are translated into\nEaster of Baltimore, Md., told one of\nWe asked this question, with surprising\nMen\n96\n4\nour interviewers this story: \"It was\nSex\nnumbers of people.\nresults. Although the Air Force claims\n1) Experimental projects, Air Force\nWomen\n95\n5\ndark and I had just come out of a\nMen\n41\n34\nSince late in the 1940's, scientists and\nthat nearly all of the reported \"saucer\"\ntests\nbuilding. I looked up and saw this\nWomen\n50\n25\nmilitary officials have been investigating\nsightings are easily explained, as\n2) Actual vehicles from outer space\nobject hovering in the dark sky above\nhundreds of reported sightings of un-\nmeteors, weather balloons, swamp\n3) Burning gas, \"swamp gas\"\n\"Have you, yourself, ever seen\nEducation\nme. It was very bright and stayed in\n4) Meteors, shooting stars\nanything you thought was a flying\nCollege\n51\n26\nidentified flying objects. A recent rash\nabout the same position for several\ngasses, planets, etc., more Americans\n5) Weather balloons\nsaucer' ?\"*\nHigh School\n51\n27\nof sightings prompted a Congressional\nminutes. At first I thought it was a\nthink they are \"real\" than believe they\nYes\nNo\nhearing last month and also this special\nare \"imaginary.\" Forty-six per cent\n6) Supernatural revelations\nGrade School 33\n36\nplanet, but I knew it couldn't be be-\n%\n%\nsurvey.\ncause of the way it moved.\"\n(or about half of the U.S. adult popu-\nThose who believe they are from\nNational Totals\n5\n95\n\"Do you think there are people\nHow do typical Americans feel about\nlation) hold this opinion, while 29\nHarold Stoops tells of the time last\nouter space account for 6 per cent.\nsomewhat like ourselves living on\nAying saucers? How many people have\nper cent describe them as \"a figment of\nSex\nJune when he was driving through\nother planets in the universe?\"\nseen them? Are they real or imagin-\nthe imagination.\" The rest cannot\nMen\n4\n96\nTopeka, Kansas:\nLife on Other Planets?\nYes\nNo\nary? Do people believe there is life,\nmake up their minds\nWomen\n6\n94\n%\n%\nas we know it, on other planets?\n\"It was very late - about 2:30 in\nThis represents quite a change in\nDo people who are living in the space\nNational Totals\n34\n46\nthe morning. I saw this round-shaped\nMore than 150 Gallup Poll inter-\npublic attitudes toward the credibility\nage believe there is life, as we know it,\nEducation\nSex\nobject in the sky ahead of me. It was\nviewers have been out questioning\nof \"flying saucers\" since a Gallup sur-\non other planets?\nCollege\n6\n94\nMen\n35\n42\nextremely bright and I could notice a\ntypical Americans - men and women,\nvey conducted almost 20 years ago. At\nHigh School\n4\n96\nMany scientific authorities believe\nWomen\n33\n48\ngreenish hue. By the time I stopped\npeople of all ages in all educational\nthat time - shortly after the flying\nGrade School\n6\n94\nthe car and got out, it had disappeared.\"\nthat intelligent life must exist else-\nEducation\nlevels and in every region of the\nsaucers were first noted - four out of\nwhere in the universe, because the\nRegion\nCollege\n37\n44\nnation. Tabulation of their statements\nA New Jersey housewife was startled\nevery ten called the saucers either a\nstatistical odds are large that there are\nEast\nHigh School\n38\n44\nand views reveals the following:\nduring the night recently:\nhoax or the product of some overheated\n5\n95\nmillions of planets in the universe\nFirst, almost everyone (96 per cent)\n\"It was about three in the morning,\"\nimagination. In 1950, another Gallup\nMidwest\nGrade School\n25\n46\n6\n94\nenough like our own to support life,\nhas at least heard or read something\nshe relates, \"I was suddenly awakened\nsurvey showed that attitudes had begun\nSouth\n5\n95\nas we know it.\n*based on persons who heard or\nto change. More persons that year\nWest\n3\n97\nabout flying saucers. For something\nby a very bright light outside. I got\nread about flying saucers.\nup and looked out the window. The\nheld the view that the saucers were a\nOne person in every three (34 per\nso highly publicized as these objects,\ncent) who participated in this survey\nthis finding may, at first, not seem un-\nwhole area seemed to be lit up like\nreality.\nusual. However, in terms of the his-\na phosphorous fire. I could hear\nIn weighing what evidence there is\nsaid they believe life does exist on other\ntory of the public's awareness of other\nstrange sounds, like the ringing of bells.\nabout the credibility of flying saucers\nplanets.\nCopyright, 1966,\nincidents or events, this figure is extra-\nI know it sounds strange, but the next\nit is important to note that while most\nAgain, persons with the most educa-\nAmerican Institute of Public Opinion\nordinarily high. In fact, this awareness\nday several people about 20 miles away\nof the reported sightings have been\ntion are most inclined to believe in the\nscore is one of the highest in the 30-year\nreported a similar experience and at\nexplained, according to Air Force re-\nexistence of intelligent life on other\nhistory of the Gallup Poll.\nalmost exactly the same time.\"\nports, there are still many sightings\nplanets."
}