Quick Info
One of the most famous and entertaining stories in UFO lore claims that in the mid-1970s, President Richard Nixon secretly took his friend, the legendary comedian Jackie Gleason, to a military base to see actual alien bodies recovered from crashes.
The tale, primarily sourced from Gleason’s wife Beverly, has fascinated people for decades because of the unlikely friendship between the straight-laced president and the flamboyant “Great One.”
The Unlikely Friendship
Richard Nixon and Jackie Gleason were an odd pair but genuine friends. Nixon loved golf and Gleason was a massive golf enthusiast. They played together several times and shared a mutual respect.
Gleason was also deeply fascinated by UFOs and the paranormal. He had a large library on the subject and often spoke privately about his belief that extraterrestrials were visiting Earth.
The Night of the Secret Trip
According to Beverly McKittrick (Jackie Gleason’s wife at the time), one night in 1974 or 1975, Nixon arrived at their home in Florida unannounced. He told Jackie he had something incredible to show him and that it was top secret. The two men left together. When Jackie returned hours later, Beverly said he was visibly shaken and pale. He allegedly told her that Nixon had taken him to a secret hangar at Homestead Air Force Base where he was shown the preserved bodies of extraterrestrial beings recovered from crashes.
“Jackie said they were small, greyish, and looked like they had been dead for a while. He was really upset by what he saw.”
- Beverly McKittrick
Gleason reportedly never publicly confirmed the story during his lifetime, but those close to him insisted he believed it completely and was deeply affected by the experience. The story first gained widespread attention after Beverly spoke about it in interviews following Gleason’s death in 1987 at the age of 71.
Homestead Air Force Base and Its UFO Connections
Homestead Air Force Base in southern Florida has long been whispered about in UFO circles. Located roughly 35 miles southwest of Miami, the base has been mentioned in multiple accounts as a possible storage site for recovered extraterrestrial technology and biological material in the past. Homestead has appeared in other UFO reports over the years, including radar tracks of unusual objects and claims of secret underground facilities.
During the Cold War, Homestead was a major Strategic Air Command base, home to bombers and fighter jets. Its strategic location near the Caribbean and its high security made it a plausible candidate for black projects. Some researchers believe that if the U.S. government recovered alien craft or bodies, a secure southern base like Homestead would have been a logical choice for storage and study, especially given its proximity to the Kennedy Space Center and other sensitive installations.
“Nixon drove Jackie thirty five miles over to Homestead Air Force Base... armed guards took Gleason to a building at a remote location on the site.”
- Beverly McKittrick
While no official documents have ever confirmed the storage of alien bodies at Homestead, the base continues to appear in modern UFO lore. Witnesses have reported strange lights and unusual activity around the perimeter over the decades. The combination of its high security, strategic importance, and repeated mentions in credible second hand accounts has kept Homestead firmly on the map of alleged UFO related military sites.
The Details That Make It Fascinating
The tale includes many compelling specifics. Gleason was supposedly shown bodies preserved in glass cases. Nixon reportedly told him that the government had been recovering crashed alien craft for years and that the technology was being reverse-engineered. The story also claims that Nixon trusted Gleason because of his deep interest in the subject and his ability to keep a secret.
The Skepticism and Legacy
As with many extraordinary claims, there is no hard evidence or official documentation to confirm the event. Critics point out that the story relies heavily on second-hand accounts. However, the tale has endured because of the credibility of the people involved and Gleason’s known obsession with UFOs. It remains one of the most popular celebrity-related UFO stories of all time.
Timeline of the Nixon-Gleason Story
- Mid-1970s - Alleged secret trip takes place.
- 1987 - Jackie Gleason passes away.
- Late 1980s onward - Beverly McKittrick begins sharing the story publicly.
- 1990s–Present - The legend grows and becomes a staple in UFO folklore.
Great video on this story from @FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL on YouTube
More videos from @FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL on YouTube
What Do You Think?
Two larger-than-life figures, a serious President and one of America’s greatest comedians, supposedly sharing one of the biggest secrets in history. Did Richard Nixon really take Jackie Gleason to see alien bodies, or is this just a fantastic piece of UFO folklore that grew over time? The story continues to entertain and intrigue people decades later. I can't be sure the story is real or not, but I'm going to choose to believe it is as it's a great story either way. Would love to hear your thoughts on this one.
