« , Approved For Release.29Q1)3/07 : Gen -00787RQO0G09100001-8 30 March 1973 MEMO FOR THE RECORD SUBJECT : SRI/Paranormal Trip Report, 27 - 29 March 1973 SGiL Summary. Arriving in S,F, at 1130 hrs on 27 March, I was met by Mr. | TSD and we spent the rest of the day (until 2400 hrs) discussing the aims and mechanics of the proposed expanded program with Mssrs Cox, Jones, Targ and SG1I Puthoff, BE cc parted early the following morning and I spent the entire day going over the results of earlier research, reviewing films of GELLER and nailing down the specifics of the agreement for expanded FY 73 research, See attachedfor SRI's draft proposal which will be sent formally to TSD once we have called them(SRI) to state that the proposal is acceptable in principle to ORD (i.e., that we are willing to transfer the $18,474 to TSD). Background, 2./SRI accepted without reservation the need to validate the phenomena with Agency-controlled test materials, understanding that a sesious program of longer- range research could be supported only if our management was persuaded of the existence of the phenomena via testing which incorporated techniques & devices (e.g., trapped envelopes, etc) which they understood and respected; I made it clear to them, however, that things were in such a state of flux that there could be no guaran- tee of a follow-on program no matter what kind of validation might be obtained. It was agreed to test our materials with GELLER (rather than SWANN) and at SRI (rather than in D,C,) for a variety of reasons: Swann's reliability appears to be much less than Gellers (thus far, at least, but they haven't yet begun to test him on those feats which he seemed most effective with; they start him on re-tests with the magne- tometer in a week or so); the things which Geller appears to do best are most suscep- tible to double-blind testing; Geller, they found out while I was there, is willing to return to SRI for further testing on 15 April--and he seems, now, to be more inter- ested than before in ‘understanding’ the phenomena. But, since Geller ostensibly has no inkling of government support for the research, there is simply no plausible way of explaining to him a change of venue to D.C, Nonetheless, the procedures outlined below seem to be iron-clad as far as validation is concerned. 3, Proposed Testing Procedures. They will begin re~testing G with their own materials on 15 April and will work in our materials as soon as they are available, In the meantime, however, they will try to get him accustomed to the lack of immed- iate feedback. In this context, they have just negotiated a one year contract with NASA and have permission from them eventually to publicize their support. As soon ) as this is done (it may be several weeks) they will be able to allude to NASA as the reason for the no feedback or, at least, delayed feedback routine. They urged me to be present during all tests using our material but (though we worked out a plausible cover for me to use in the event it becomes necessary--see below) I suggested that it would be much simpler for us to pouch our test materimls to our S,F, office and let our local man be present during the tests; this is acceptable to SRI, Our test materials will consist of the following--with, in each instance except for the last category, the stimuli material being written or drawn on unlined 3 x 5 cards with a blaApproyed For Release.2004/03102 c1CAPDRIG /QO7S ORIGIN QONN8, TSD-
SG1I _— . Approved For Relgas@g2001/03/07 : CIA-RDP96-00g97%@900400100001-8 ' trapped envelopes; no (a) five exemplars containing simple line-drawings, with/3-D effect (b) * " " three-digit numbers (using the 'European' seven) (c) "' " "block letters (d) five unsealed blank sheets of paper on which they will tell G that someone has implanted a strong mental image but which, in reality, will have been drawn on with various kinds of S/W. 4, If we wish, we can also use S/W for one or two of the exemplars in the first three categories. On the testing date our 5,F, rep will bring one batch to SRI, hand the envelopes to the investigators just before the test begins and watch the entire proceedings on TV monitor from the next room. After G has made his drawings they will be stapled to the appropriate envelope and all will be returned to our rep who will ship them back here to TSD for testing. (NOTE: The sealer & trapper should be designated by C/TSD and should be someone (unknown to i SG1I aan... myself) who is in no way associated with the project; he should also prepare the stimuli cards and/or S/W material, having been briefed by C/TSD on this score, and should keep in his own safe a record of what he put on each card-- keyed to numbers on the sealed envelopes.) The SRI reps suggested that G be told the general category of each batch (e.g., 'drawings', ‘numbers', etc) but I believe that they will accept the counter-paoposal that he first attempt to give readings without that advantage. They had also suggested that at the end of each series they call us to describe his Gi% rendition of each test so that we could give them (and they, him) specific feedback; again, they might agree to being given spefific feedback only after all the testing is completed--with only the number ‘right’ and ‘wrong! at the end of each day. 5. IF there should be early validation on the basis of these tests SRI will use the rest of the time and funds in further testing of G--to include (as they also plan for Swann) detailed physical/lab examinations and sense-acuity testing, as well as #YK telekinesis tests and, if we wish, long-range (telephonic) double-blind tests-~in which, for instance, we do the die-in-the-box bit. They were also eager to try validation with some of our other devices (electronic switches, etc) but, since there was no way that that could be performed on a double-blind basis, I told them to try it with their own electronic gear. Should there be success re validation they will bring G to NY or DC for low-key demonstrations for a few key people (under appropriate cover), Also they are sending me two TV tapes of G philosophyzing during his interview by ''Psychic'' magazine on 27 March, 6, Miscellaneous; a. Also met Hugh Crane of SRI (inventor of the nuerister(?)) who is to be added to the paranormal research team; b. Should I ever have to meet G or S, tentatively agreed I'd pose as a former govt employee & now SRI consultant in DC for govt contracts; c, Also saw a quite impressive film on their new ultrasonic camera (real- time X-Ray effect) which might be of interest to §$§ someone in the Agency d., Finally, got to know Cox, Jones, Puthoff & Targ reasonably well--and all went up in my estimation, especially Targ about whom ]'d been rather leary. Approved For Release 2001/03/07 : ——