Stargate Collection: Hal Puthoff Responds to James Randi’s Book “The Magic of Uri Geller”

Stargate Collection: Hal Puthoff Responds to James Randi’s Book “The Magic of Uri Geller” Released 2023-04-02, The Black Vault entry: https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/stargate-collection-hal-puthoff-responds-to-james-randis-book-the-magic-of-uri-geller/ This document, part of the CIA's Stargate program collection, is an undated rebuttal to James Randi's book, "The Magic of Uri Geller." Dr. Hal Puthoff presents a fact sheet to correct misconceptions and errors put forth by Randi in his book, shedding light on the world of the Stargate program. The document begins with a response to Randi's preface, where he claims Uri Geller convinced executives and researchers at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) that he could distort solid metallic objects. However, Puthoff cites a Nature publication from 1974, stating that while metal bending by Geller was observed, it was not supported by controlled experiments. The publication reads, "It has been widely reported that Geller has demonstrated the ability to bend metal by paranormal means. Although metal bending by Geller has been observed in our laboratory, we have not been able to combine such observations with adequately controlled experiments to obtain data sufficient to support the paranormal hypothesis." Puthoff also addresses Randi's claim that few Geller experiments include the fact that Shipi Strang, Geller's cousin and brother, was present during the SRI experimentation. Puthoff states that during the SRI experimentation, neither Shipi nor any other potential confederate was permitted in the target area, a pre-condition for experimentation adopted on the basis of advice by project consulting magicians. The document continues to refute Randi's claims, citing the involvement of magicians in the project, including a Bay Area magician who specializes in exposing fraudulent poltergeist activity. Puthoff also addresses Randi's claim that he was not given the courtesy of a reply after offering his services to the SRI project. Puthoff notes that Randi's letter was dated September 6, 1973, months after the completion of the SRI work with Geller. Puthoff also addresses Randi's claim that the vast majority of scientists have no interest in psychic phenomena. However, Puthoff cites a recent survey reported by Chris Evans in New Scientist, which found that 67 percent of responding scientists considered ESP to be an established fact or a likely possibility, and 88 percent held the investigation of ESP to be a legitimate scientific undertaking. The document also addresses Randi's claim that Puthoff reprinted a Nature article without the page-and-a-half introduction, implying editing out of material unfavorable to the paper. Puthoff explains that the reprint is the standard Nature reprint sent to authors, and the introduction Randi refers to is an editorial at the front of the magazine, several pages earlier. Puthoff also addresses Randi's claim that he was not given access to the SRI film, and that the compass sequence and spoon-bending sequence of the SRI film "Experiments with Uri Geller" are examples of where SRI scientists were taken in by magic tricks. However, Puthoff cites the film narration, which states that the compass sequence was considered unsatisfactory due to the possibility of debunking the experiment, and that the spoon-bending sequence was inconclusive due to the difficulty of determining whether the metal was bent by normal or paranormal means. The document concludes with a response to Randi's claim that Shipi was present during the tests, and that a quick glance at Shipi might have given him an impression of a horse, which could result in a hand signal. However, Puthoff notes that neither Shipi nor any other potential confederate was permitted in the target area during the tests, and that Hanlon's allegations to the contrary were refuted in Letters to the Editor, New Scientist. This is the Stargate Collection document, a rebuttal to James Randi's book, "The Magic of Uri Geller." The document presents a fact sheet to correct misconceptions and errors put forth by Randi in his book, shedding light on the world of the Stargate program. The document is a historical record of the controversy surrounding Uri Geller and the SRI project, and provides insight into the scientific investigation of paranormal phenomena. storyflo.com, https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/cia/CIA-RDP96-00787R000500240021-0.pdf