Kennedy Inquiries
Allen W. Dulles, the MJ-12 Report, and UFO Secrecy
Overview
Allen W. Dulles directed the CIA from 1953 until his resignation in November 1961. He was a central figure in U.S. Cold War intelligence operations—from the U-2 program to orchestration of covert actions in Iran and Guatemala. His tenure overlapped both the rise of UFO cultural interest and evolving classified responses to unexplained aerial phenomena.
Kennedy’s Request & Dulles’s Response
In June 1961, President Kennedy requested a summary of psychological warfare activity related to the MJ-12 project—an alleged secret group managing UFO and extraterrestrial intelligence. On November 5, 1961, Dulles submitted a classified operations review. He stated that while 80% of UFO cases were explainable, the remaining 20% remained under review and could not be shared due to classification under the Atomic Energy Act.
Internal Resistance and MJ-12 Dynamics
Some analyses suggest Dulles maintained control over MJ-12-related matters, implicitly blocking Kennedy’s efforts at transparency. Memoranda imply that MJ-12 directives ruled out cooperation with Kennedy’s administration on UFO access and related files. The tension illustrates competing layers of classified secrecy even at the highest levels.
Implications
Dulles’s response to Kennedy underscores how UFO-related intelligence was tightly held within elite circles. His mention of MJ-12 in a top-secret report gives the concept institutional substance—regardless of its authenticity. The dynamic between Kennedy’s pursuit and Dulles’s controlled disclosures illustrates how the UFO issue intersected with interagency control, classification policy, and executive authority.
Forensic Assessment
Confirmed: Dulles led the CIA through key Cold War events and received Kennedy’s request. Documented: The November 5, 1961 report cites classified investigations into UFOs and mentions MJ-12. Conclusion: Whether MJ-12 existed or not, Dulles provided the strongest historical document-based connection between UFO secrecy and the executive office, reinforcing the project’s potential credibility or strategic utility.