A brief but revealing declassified letter from CIA analyst John S. Harman to a civilian named George Popowitch shows how, even in the early 1950s, ordinary citizens were directly challenging the government over its silence on unidentified flying objects-and sometimes getting answers.
The letter, a formal reply to a UFO inquiry dated January 21, is part of a pattern that would grow throughout the Cold War: public interest colliding with institutional secrecy.
"I am replying to your letter… concerning unidentified flying objects."
✉️ Civilian Pressure on Intelligence Agencies
Popowitch had written asking for details about UFO sightings and the CIA’s knowledge of the phenomenon.
Harman’s response is carefully worded, stating that:
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The CIA is not responsible for investigating UFOs
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The matter is handled by the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
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Any inquiries should be directed to the Air Force, not the CIA
While deflecting responsibility, the letter still acknowledges the existence of public concern and the need to answer it-even if only bureaucratically.
"The subject is not within the functions of this Agency."
🕳️ A Dismissal That Says Plenty
Although Harman provides no data, the letter itself is telling.
Why respond at all if the subject was irrelevant?
The tone is distant, but not mocking or hostile-a rare admission that government agencies felt obligated to acknowledge UFO-related questions from citizens, even if they had no intention of revealing anything.
The reply avoids debunking or ridicule. It does not label Popowitch’s concerns as fringe or unworthy.
Instead, it points him elsewhere.
A passive deflection, but one that affirms the government was listening.
📎 One Letter in a Long File
This kind of correspondence became increasingly common in the 1950s and 1960s, as more Americans reported sightings, read about cover-ups, and demanded transparency.
Most responses were just like this one-short, administrative, and dismissive.
But every letter like this built a paper trail.
One that shows the UFO issue was never truly ignored-only pushed down the line.
