Original Kennedy UFO Letter Sells on E-Bay

An original letter signed by  former Senator Robert Kennedy has just sold on the Ebay auction site. The letter written to a Mrs. Anne Epple of New York City, was written to address the UFO subject. The letter was dated September 10, 1966, and sold for  $220.28.

The Epple letter becomes the second known letter written by Robert Kennedy on the UFO subject.

The United States Senate

Washington D.C.

                                                                        September 10, 1966

Dear Mrs. Epple,

Thank you for your thoughtful letter on "unidentified flying objects".

Many reputable scientists also believe that there must be other beings in the universe. Dr. Harlow Shapley, for one, has stated that there is a high probability that there is other life in the universe. To believe that there is other life in the universe is not, however, to believe that "UFO's" are manned vehicles. One explanation of this phenomenon, in addition to those you mentioned, connects the lights that are seen with the gaseous tails of comets. A careful analysis of sighting to date has not given us any indication that "UFO's" are manned.

I appreciate hearing from you on this matter and look forward to hearing from you again.

Sincerely,

(Signature)

Robert F. Kennedy

The newly discovered letter is similar in content and style to another letter received on May 9, 1968 that Senator Kennedy sent to Gray Barker. At the time Barker was the publisher of Saucer News. In the Gray letter Senator Kennedy stated that he stated his interest in the UFO phenomena. He stated, “I am a card carrying member of the Amalgamated Flying Saucers Association. Therefore, like many other people in our country I am interested in the phenomenon of flying saucers.” 

UFO researchers like Dick Hall and Robert Barrow ( who both claim to have additional Kennedy letters in their collections) still hold reservations about the authenticity of the Barker letter from Kennedy, and maybe for good reason. Written almost two years after the Epple letter, one finds the type style almost amateurish compared to the earlier letter.

Dick hall was very blunt about his belief the Barker letter was undoubtedly a hoax. In an August 2, 2002 posting to the UFO Updates Board Hall wrote.

"There are other Kennedy letters and additional letters from Members of Congress in various collections, including mine. I'm willing to bet the Gray Barker letter is a hoax, which of course was one of his specialties. Robert Kennedy support Gabriel Green? Fat chance!"

Barrow recalled that his letters from Kennedy showed a man who came across as sceptical about UFOs. There were also not as spectacular as the ones shown below. "My Kennedy letters," wrote Barrow, " were brief and not nearly as intriguing as the ones that have come to light so far."

Both the buyer and seller of the new Kennedy letter were contacted by this author, but neither responded to the chance to discuss their transaction.