MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD SUBJECT: CONVERSATION VIA TELEPHONE WITH PUTHOFF

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: STARGATE
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96-00788R001700030002-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 4, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 24, 1998
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 10, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001700030002-0
DT??S 10 December 1985
SUBJECT: Conversation via Telephone with Puthoff
1. The following is a general summary of a conversation between
SG1J Hal Puthoff and 1100 hours, 1.0 December 1985,
concerning a news reporter-Is conversation and attempted
elicitation of information from Russel Targ, on or about 9
December 1985:
Carol Murphy, of the Washington Post, working on behalf of
(FNtJ) Babcock, an investigative reporter affiliated with the
Post for 10 years, contacted Tara, requesting information
about GRILL FLAME at SRI-I, which was known by her to have
been in effect for 15 years. Targ confirmed the program,
declined to talk further about it, but did concede it was
still in operation.
Murphy was aware that Targ & Puthoff had left the program, &
wanted to know who was running it. Targ said Ed May was.
Murphy stated she was particularly interested in the "Ft.
Meade Program," the one Gen. Stubbl.ebine had overseen, had
"taken over after Watt had left and Jachim took over,"
sometime "after the program emphasis shifted from Vorona at
DIA to Army." She believed it was a "big activity" at Ft.
Meade, in cooperation with Walter Reed, and involved
training people at Monroe Institute of Applied Sciences just
like SRI is training people at Ft. Meade. She mentioned
that Stubblebine was an "ally" who had taken over to help
"get around the Perry memorandum," in helping the program to
continue.
She wanted to know why the program was classified. Targ
declined to say. Was it because "they" were "afraid of the
Golden Fleece?" she wanted to know. Targ said yes.
Puthoff stated that Targ had told him that Murphy had not
mentioned any other project-connected names other than those
listed above, and that Puthoff had in fact directly asked if
any other names were mentioned, whether of viewers or
project officers, and used as an example
name. Targq responded in the negative.
SG1J
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001700030002-0
 Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001700030002-0
The balance of the information disclosed by Murphy was
apparently extracted from previous Jack Anderson articles.
She wanted to know who the viewer was that was involved in
the Backfire bomber incident, and apparently knew of the
"Peanuts" briefing. Targ reportedly provided no further
information.
When asked the' purpose of her information search, Murphy
responded that it was for an article Babcock was writing,
intended to be released around the "beginning of next week"
(15 thru 21 Dec 85).
Puthoff was queried as to whether Targ had mentioned
specific contracts or contract funding amounts provided by
the reporter. He responded that Targ had not mentioned
anything, but that he had not asked that specific question,
either. Puthoff further stated that he suspected the
information could only have been obtained from some East
Coast source, as some of the new information was not known
by anyone on the West Coast.
2. Puthoff was to attempt to obtain more information at the
SRI-I offices during the day, and would contact or would be
contacted by this office later on 10 December 1985,
/?
WILLIAM G. RAY
MAJ, MI
Ch, SSPD
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001700030002-0