Micheal Sala Pisses on Walter Cronkite
Gareth,
Here is a post from researcher/writer Richard Heiden who finally received a reply from Cronkite [note that some of the test is corrupted]:
From:
Richard W. Heiden <rwheidenu.nul>
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:30:43 -0800 (PST)
Fwd Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2006 07:49:12 -0500
Subject: Walter Cronkite & UFOs An Update
This is an update to my previous contribution on this
subject. That article at:
http://www.virtuallystrange.net/ufo/updates/2004/dec/m30-025.shtml
I am repeating the text below, followed by the update.
-----
This is slightly revised from the article I wrote for The Star
Beacon Vol. XVIII, No. 10, October 2004, pp. 12 and 16.
Address:
www.earthstarpublications.com
Earth Star
Publications,
P.O. Box 117;
Paonia, Colo. 81428-0117.
[The address may change in January 2007, but the Web site should
remain as
starbeacon.nul ]
The original April 2004 article was reprinted from Dr. Robert
Paul Jones's "MainStreet Outreach," which mistakenly bylined the
article as William Krill.
---
Walter Cronkite and UFOs
by Richard W. Heiden
The April 2004 "Star Beacon" published a reprint of
"Walter Cronkite=92s UFO encounter." Some Internet
research turned the article up on numerous sites, but
the original seems to be:
http://www.paranormalnews.com/article.asp?articleID=3D698
which Bill Knell posted Aug. 4, 2003. [One of the 35
Web sites I found Dec. 8, 2006
http://www.jumpx.com/articles/Entertainment/Walter-Cronkites-UFO-Encounter.h=
tml
dates the article even before that, on July 8, 2003. I was
searching for "UFO Knell Cronkite Pacific," trying - without
success - to find another expos=E9 of Knell's article. But it
seems mine was the only one.]
I have reason to be suspicious of this article.
Knell claimed that Walter Cronkite had confided in him his 1950s
UFO sighting while observing a USAF missile test in the Pacific.
This brings to mind Robin Leach=92s infamous interview of Cronkite
in the "National Enquirer" of Dec. 14, 1976 (p. 29), titled "Top
TV Newscaster Walter Cronkite: I=92m Convinced UFOs Exist."
Unfortunately, Leach=92s interview never happened. In Cronkite=92s
keynote speech at the Radio Television News Directors
Association convention in Bal Harbour, Fla., on Dec. 13, 1976
(the day before the "Enquirer"=92s cover date, but a few days
after its appearance on the newsstands), he roundly denounced
it. The Dec. 14 article in the Milwaukee "Journal" (citing
"Press Dispatches") reported, "His sharpest attacks were for a
recent full page National Enquirer story claiming that Cronkite
believed in flying saucers. Cronkite called it 'a total lie from
beginning to end.'"
The following June, the National News Council upheld a complaint
by MUFON=92s Elmer Kral about the "Enquirer"=92s UFO coverage,
specifically the Cronkite piece and another one that misquoted
Sen. Harrison Schmitt of New Mexico. (AP from New York in
Milwaukee "Journal", June 24, 1977.) At that time the "Enquirer"
made a pathetic attempt to defend its articles. But the next
month a lengthy article about the "National Enquirer" by John
Holusha in the Washington "Star" included this passage: "Since
the paper was deeply embarrassed by a mistake over Walter
Cronkite=92s attitude toward UFOs and the disclosure on national
television that it ran a faked picture, the "Enquirer" has gone
on an accuracy binge." (The picture is unrelated to the Cronkite
story.) Holusha=92s article was reprinted in the Appleton (Wis.)
"Post-Crescent" of July 24, 1977.
I can also provide some enlightenment about the 1950s UFO
sighting by Cronkite that he allegedly described to Knell. It
sounds an awful lot like the 1966 incident that took place in
the Caribbean, specifically on Andros Island in the Bahamas,
which Leach included in his article, allegedly quoting Cronkite.
However, Cronkite was reporting it second hand. Later in the
article, Leach said that "Cronkite himself has never spotted a
UFO."
It is because of the Andros Island case that I have taken an
interest in the "Enquirer"=92s supposed Cronkite interview, after
meeting noted Spanish UFO researcher, the late Antonio Ribera,
at the Acapulco UFO congress of April 1977. The Andros Island
witness had reported it to Ralph Blum after seeing him on a
Florida television show, because the San Jos=E9 de Valderas photo
(now considered a hoax =97 R.W.H.) shown on the program had the
UMMO symbol that was also seen on Andros Island.
Antonio heard about it from Willy Smith, and included it briefly
in his book "Los Doce Tri=E1ngulos de la Muerte" (A.T.E.,
Barcelona, Spain, 1976, p. 44), but asked me to try to get more
details. After some correspondence with Blum, he eventually
referred me to veteran ufologist Ted Bloecher. Ted sent me his
transcript of Blum=92s interview with the witness. The exact date
of the incident was May 21, 1966. Ted told me the name of the
man he is convinced heard about the Andros Island case from Blum
and passed it on to Leach; however, the individual denied it.
Antonio included more details on Andros Island and the
Enquirer/Cronkite affair in his subsequent books "El Misterio de
Ummo" (Plaza y Jan=E9s, Esplugas de Llobregat [Barcelona], Spain,
1979, pp. 111-116) and (especially) "Ummo: La Incre=EDble Verdad"
(Plaza & Jan=E9s, Esplugues de Llobregat [Barcelona], Spain, 1985,
pp. 368-413).
For more expos=E9s of the "Enquirer"=92s Cronkite interview, see:
Green Bay (Wis.) "Press-Gazette", March 5, 1978; "GSW Bulletin",
Dec. 1977; "Contactos Extraterrestres" (Mexico City UFO
magazine), no. 21 (my own letter to the editor); and Allan
Hendry, "The UFO Handbook", p. 222.
This author attempted to reach Walter Cronkite numerous times
(23 times from May 9 through Dec. 18, 2004) for his comments on
this matter, using two e-mail addresses found on the Web
(
mail.nul and info.nul). So far there
has been no reply.
---
Here ends my previous post. Eventually I did hear from
Walter Cronkite. What follows is a compilation of my
correspondence with him (almost all of it one-way):
---
E-mails addressed to:
mail.nul, info.nul
May 9, 15 (adding 2nd address), 24; June 2, 11, 17;
July 7, 14, 26; Aug. 18, 2; Sep. 3, 17, 21, 28; Oct.
6, 16, 27; Nov. 6, 18, 24; Dec 10, 18, 2004; Jan. 15;
Feb. 5; March 5, 21; April 6&21; May 27, June 3, 2005
E-Mails addressed to Cronkite via "The Connection":
http://www.theconnection.org/contactus/
on 11/6/04, the Web site said that an interview with
Cronkite was broadcast "this week"; 11/6/04, 1/15/05;
2/5/05, 3/5, 3/21, 4/6, 5/27
---
Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2005 10:40:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Rich Heiden"
rwheidenn.nul
Subject: for Walter Cronkite
To:
mail.nul, info.nul
CC: "Ann Ulrich Miller"
ulrichac.nul
[her more permanent e-mail address is
UFOeditor.nul -
R.W.H., Dec. 2006]
Website about you and UFOs
May 9, 15 (adding 2nd addressee), 24; June 2, 11, 17;
July 7, 14, 26; Aug. 18, 2; Sep. 3, 17, 21, 28; Oct.
6, 16, 27; Nov. 6, 18, 24; Dec 10, 18, 2004; Jan. 15
(2005); Feb. 5; March 5, 21; April 6; May 27; June 3
Dear Mr. Cronkite,
I know that back in 1976, you repudiated a fictional National
Enquirer interview by Robin Leach (Dec. 14, 1976) in which you
supposedly expressed an acceptance of UFO reports, and included
a 1966 Andros Island sighting you had heard about.
I recently read a published article that seems to be based on
the Enquirer story, but moving the Andros Island incident to the
Pacific in the 1950's, and claiming that you were a witness to
it yourself. Some Internet research turned this up on numerous
sites, but the original seems to be:
http://www.paranormalnews.com/article.asp?articleID=3D698
It was posted by Bill Knell on Aug. 4, 2003. His article was
allegedly based on what you told him when he was on your 1973 TV
special about UFOs. (I don't remember such a program; maybe it
was the 1966 show.)
I only looked at the first 13 of 31 pages of "hits,"
but didn't find any response by you to the article.
Maybe you are just learning about it now. I have
already composed an expos=E9 of Knell's article, but any
comments by you that I could add would be most
appreciated. (I'm sorry, but I can't e-mail my article
now - I submitted a paper copy to the newsletter where
I first saw Knell's article [it gave his name
incorrectly as William Krill], and asked the editor to
e-mail it back when she types it for publication, but
she hasn't done so yet. The publication's web site is
http://earthstar.tripod.com/
but the April issue is not there anymore.)
Please address Bill Knell's article point-by-point - including
specifically your belief in UFOs, the personal sighting, the
1973 TV show, and your having lunch with him. Even apart from
the accuracy of that particular article by Bill Knell, I am
interested in your present opinions on UFOs. Though in 1976 you
apparently didn't "believe in" them, your opinion might have
changed since then. I know of a number of UFO scoffers who came
to change their mind after reading some well-documented books on
the subject, or hearing about a sighting by a friend or
relative. [This paragraph expanded Nov. 6, 2004.]
Thank you very much for your reply. Please reply directly to me,
as my local newspaper does not carry your column (and in fact I
didn't know about it until looking for your e-mail address now),
though I read July 14
http://www.jsonline.com/enter/tvradio/jul04/243320.asp
that you are dropping the column anyway.
Sincerely yours,
Richard W. Heiden
4076 N. 70 St.
Milwaukee WI 53216-1129
P.S. If you want to see my article, I will remind the newsletter
editor to e-mail it to me. (July 14 [2004], I added her address
for Cc.)
---
From: "Sukman, Julie P"
jpsukman.nul
To: "'Rich Heiden'"
rwheidenn.nul
Subject: RE: for Walter Cronkite: Website about you and UFOs
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2005 12:26:41 -0400
[Despite the June 7 date of his e-mail, it was specifically my
e-mail of Jan. 15 that she was replying to]
Dear Mr. Heiden:
Please forgive the unforgivable delay in answering your email.
It has been going to the site listed for Mr. Cronkite's column
which has undergone some construction, moving around, etc.
I will send Mr. Cronkite a copy of your email, along with Mr.
Knell's article, as soon as possible and will keep you abreast
of anything Mr. Cronkite feels he may need to address.
Thank you for your enduring patience!
Best,
Julie
Assistant to Mr. Cronkite
---
From: "Sukman, Julie P"
jpsukman.nul
To: "'
rwheidenn.nul'" rwheidenn.nul
Subject: Response from Walter Cronkite
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 15:42:11 -0400
Dear Mr. Heiden:
The Enquirer article to which you refer was entirely fictitious.
No such interview ever took place.
I did not then and do not now give any credence whatever to the
existence of UFOs.
I cannot in any instance recall such a story as is claimed I
told to Bill Knell regarding a missile test on a remote island.
I am sure that if I had witnessed such an incident I would have
at some point reported it -- most certainly in my book A
Reporter=92s Life.
Sincerely,
Walter Cronkite [My Emphasis]
---
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 06:31:14 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Rich Heiden"
rwheidenn.nul
Subject: Mr. Cronkitie, thank you for your reply
To: "Sukman, Julie P"
jpsukman.nul
Dear Mr. Cronkite:
Thank you so much for your reply to my letter about your
supposed "belief in" UFOs, and personal sighting.
I have to say that I am disappointed that you are still anti-
UFO. You added that if you had heard from a first-hand witness
to an incident like the one at Andros Island, you would have at
least included it in your memoirs. But I do appreciate the fact
that you have not really been outspoken on the subject, other
than in response to the Enquirer piece, so it isn't as though
you have gone out of your way to criticize UFOs. And maybe the
1966 CBS "documentary" you narrated, entitled "UFOs: Friend,
Foe, or Fantasy," was just another job to you.
Just recently I read a passage that I think speaks to the
attitude of you and others. Although Budd Hopkins was talking
specifically about UFO abductions, I think it is equally
applicable to UFOs in general:
"I have found that journalists, scientists and academics fall
into two basic groups with respect to the UFO abduction
phenomenon. The first, as exemplified by those I have mentioned
here, along with scores of others, are initially skeptical but
open-minded, even curious about the abduction accounts. They
recognize that if we are actually being visited by another, non-
human intelligence, then nothing could be more important, and
they have therefore taken steps to educate themselves. The
second, much larger group is made up of those (usually
skeptical) individuals who are woefully uninformed about the
phenomenon. Many, exercising a kind of intellectual snobbery,
hold the subject beneath contempt because of its admittedly
bizarre nature. Others are more innocent in their ignorance,
having never bothered to pay these consistent reports any
attention - though they often feel qualified to discount them,
nevertheless." (From his chapter in David M. Jacobs, ed., "UFOs
and Abductions," University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kans.,
2000, pp. 239-240.)
Do you find yourself in the last group? (I mean, specifically,
the second subset of the second group.) Or have you undertaken
to learn a bit more about UFOs since the 1966 program? Even if
you didn't, maybe somebody has at least called these facts to
your attention in the intervening years:
1. When a USAF spokesman claimed on that program that no UFOs
have been seen on radar, it was a blatant lie. There have been
numerous radar (and radar/visual) incidents. One series of
famous incidents took place over and near Washington, D.C., in
July of 1952.
See
http://www.nicap.dabsol.co.uk/wns.htm,
http://dewoody.net/ufo/Wash_DC_UFO.html
and
http://www.project1947.com/fig/1952d.htm
By Dec. 8, 2006, the second URL address didn't work anymore.
2. Thornton Page, a participant in the 1953 CIA-sponsored
"Robertson Panel" on UFOs (which led to years of "debunking" by
the Air Force), wrote shortly after your 1966 program that he
had "helped organize the CBS TV show around the Robertson Panel
conclusions."
See paragraph 5 of
http://www.ufoevidence.org/documents/doc947.htm
[By Dec. 8, 2006, this no longer worked; see instead
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robertson_Panel and
http://www.virtuallystrange.net/ufo/updates/2002/aug/m16-030.shtml
among others].
In case you do feel motivated to learn more about the subject of
UFOs, I highly recommend the above-cited book edited by David
Jacobs. If your interest is more than superficial, I could
suggest additional titles; just ask me. On the other hand, if
you have no curiosity whatsoever in the subject, you need not
reply, and I will understand from that what your attitude is.
Thank you again for your letter, and for your further
consideration.
Richard Heiden
4076 N 70 St.
Milwaukee, WI 53216-1129
-----
Despite a second mailing of the above letter on Dec. 11, 2006,
Walter Cronkite did not reply.
.
