The Presidents and UFOs: A Secret History from F.D.R. to Obama

Ufologist Holcomb, who has spent more than 50 years researching and compiling evidence of extraterrestrial activity, incorporates newly declassified Freedom of Information Act documents, copious eyewitness accounts, and the work of fellow ufologists into this detailed assessment. He frames his narrative according to presidential administrations, keeping an otherwise repetitive narrative moving. The basic story—a strange object is seen by civilians and/or the military, viewers are told to keep quiet as the story is debunked by the Air Force, additional details later leak out—is repeated ad infinitum and will be instantly recognizable to most readers. Holcomb’s inclusion of official documents lends his topic an elusive validation, adding weight to his story. There’s a cinematic undercurrent that runs through the book, most notably in the revelation that there was a CIA insider known as “the Caretaker” who briefed Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Reagan (and notably not Carter) on the topic of UFOs. According to the Caretaker, there were “four... races of extraterrestrials that visit Earth, one of which is considered hostile.” Frustratingly, Holcomb doesn’t reach any definitive conclusion on UFOs, but he raises many questions and offers plenty of evidence to keep fellow ufologists debating the topic for years to come. (Mar.)