Robertson Panel Report

Approved Fo.:l:a.se 2001/08/07: CIA-RDP81R005.00100030027-0
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levels in such education from enlisted personnel to commend end rec:eP.rch
personnel. Relative emphasis t'lnc_ oec;ree of explan2tion of <iifferent
prof.rrms 1A'Ould correspond to the cataeories of duty (e.g., r2dar operatorf';
!Jilot8; control tmv-er operators; Grotmd Observer Corps personnel; anci
officE.rs and enlisted men in other catP_gories.) This treining should
result in a marl!'eci reduction in reports c2.1..1.sed by misi<ientification
and result~mt confusion.
The 11 cebunkine;11 a:iJn uould result in reduction in public interest
in Hflyinc; saucers" vJhich tode1.y evoke~ a strong psychological reaction.
This education could be accom:;lished by mass me<iia such television,
motion pictures, and popular articles. Basis of such Education t·muld
be actual case histories which had been puzzline; at first but later
exple :ined. As in the ease of conjuring :);ricks, there is much less
stimulation if the 11 secret 11 is known. Such a prop;ram should tend to
reduce the current gul:tibility of the public mel consequently their
susceptibility to clever hostile propaganda. The Panel noted that the
general absence of Russian propae;anda based on a subject 1rl. th so many
obvious possibilities for exploitation rd.cht indicate 2 possitle Russian
official policy.
I1ember-s of the Panel had ve.rious sup;~::estions related to the planning of
such an educP.tional program. It 1.va s ::elt s·C.ronr;ly that psychologists fwniliar
vJith mass psycholocy should advise on the nature and extent of the
pro~ram. In this eonncction, Dr. Hac"ley Cantril (Princeton University)
-.:m.s sup:p:ested. Cantril authored 11 Inva8:'_on from lvlars 1', (a study in the
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Approved For Release 2001/08/07: CIA-RDP81R00560R000100030027-0