Arthur Sylvester

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Arthur Sylvester

Illustration of lights in formation over the landscape — Illustration: lights in formation over the landscape. An artist's impression drawn for this site, not a photograph of the event.

Type	Person
On the Timeline	1 event, 1962

Arthur Sylvester (1901–1979) was a journalist who served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs from 1961 to 1967.

Government secrecy

Illustration of a military base at night — Illustration: a military base at night. An artist's impression drawn for this site, not a photograph of the event.

During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, Sylvester defended the government's right to withhold or manage information in the national interest, famously saying the government had a right to lie in certain circumstances. His remarks drew strong criticism from the press. UFO researchers often cite them as evidence that officials were willing to mislead the public about sensitive subjects, including UFOs.

On the UAP Timeline

John F. Kennedy , photograph in the Oval Office. — John F. Kennedy , photograph in the Oval Office. Photo: Cecil W. Stoughton · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

Arthur Sylvester's "right to lie" remarks (29 October 1962) — A Pentagon spokesman defends withholding information when it's in the public interest.

Connected articles

References

Arthur Sylvester — Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · archived copy

Categories: Donald keyhoe | John f kennedy | Person | Unidentified flying object

This page was last edited on 29 October 2026. Articles are written in our own words from the sources listed under References; disputed claims are attributed to the people who made them.

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