Turning Off Stanford Research Institute Program
TYPED SUBJECT LINE AS PRINTED. A hand has inserted 'the' before 'Stanford' and added 'Stanford Research Institute, Menlo Park, Ca.' below the subject line. The typed line is recorded; the ink is described in the page note and is not treated as the issuing body's wording.
What this is
That the CIA terminated its Stanford Research Institute parapsychology work in June 1973; that the decision was taken at the Director's level of management; that the stated reason was the risk of public exposure of the Agency's interest and not the competence or relevance of the work; that the termination was immediate and without exception; and that SRI's own president then contemplated ending all work in the area.
That the officer who carried out the 1973 termination recorded, at the time, his own prediction that Agency interest in paranormal abilities would return and that the decision to stop would be regretted.
2 passages read · 2 pages held · the rest is not described
Open the document at cia.gov →2 passages read
“27 June 1973. MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD. SUBJECT: Turning Off Stanford Research Institute Program. 1. On 13 June 1973, I personally discussed the reasons for terminating interest in the parapsychology investigations being completed by Dr. H. Puthoff and Mr. R. Targ. Dr. Puthoff and Mr. Targ were not present. The Stanford Research Institute personnel present were E. Jones group leader, B. Cox division chief, D. Shuich VP for research and C. Anderson president. Since the research of Puthoff and Targ is controversial even with SRI, I felt that to insure the reputations of the investigators was not unjustifiably harmed a more detailed explanation of our termination of the project was desirable and in the best interest of the Agency. 2. I explained that our interest in this area was at least temporarily being terminated not because of incompetency, lack of relevancy etc. Interest was being terminated because of a decision at the Director's level of management that the past publicity associated with various aspects of the investigations presented an unacceptability high potential for public exposure of the Agency's interest and consequent controversy for the Agency. The duration of this policy was unknown but it was effective immediately without exception. 3. All present seemed to understand our situation and attitude. Mr. Anderson, president of SRI, commented that perhaps SRI should terminate all work in this research area for analogous reasons. He expressed the feeling there was an inordinate drain of resources and management time concerning this research without correspondingly highly significant results. If Mr. Anderson's attitude remains unchanged, I expect all investigations in these areas will be terminated. It therefore appears that our decision will result in a complete cessation of active research in this area at SRI. 4. It would be unfortunate if this research area is buried because of its sensitivity. The results of the studies completed at SRI certainly indicate the existence of a type”
hand:'mixed'. The quoted text is typed. Two hand marks fall inside it: 'the' is inserted before 'Stanford' in the subject line, and 'temporarily' in paragraph 2 is struck through. THE STRIKE IS NOT INTERPRETED HERE - see the caution on this document. 'unacceptability high' is the page's own typing error and is transcribed as printed. The sentence beginning 'The results of the studies' completes on pdf page 2.
“of phenomena which is not well understood. This phenomena, if controllable does and will have profound implications for intelligence collection and security. I predict there will be renewed interest in paranormal abilities within the Agency at some future date and that the current decision for complete cessation of work will be regretted.”
hand:'typed' - the quoted sentences are typed body text. Ink elsewhere on the page does not touch them: the struck 'Eyes Only, Chief' line runs across the head, and 'OTS/CB' is handwritten below the redaction box at the foot. Neither is quoted and neither is treated as the issuing body's wording. THIS PARAGRAPH IS THE AUTHOR'S OWN VIEW - see the caution on this document.
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