Remote Viewing: Ingo Swann's Extraterrestrial Discoveries with Art Bell
Remote viewing gained prominence as a psychic phenomenon during the Cold War era, with Ingo Swann emerging as one of its most notable practitioners. Though often described by colleagues as possessing extraordinary natural psychic abilities, Swann himself preferred to be called a "perception researcher" rather than a psychic. His partnership with Dr. Harold Puthoff at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) in the early 1970s proved instrumental in developing remote viewing protocols that would later be adopted by U.S. government intelligence programs.
Before his involvement with remote viewing research, Swann served in the U.S. Army in Korea and worked at the United Nations in New York for over a decade. His interest in expanding human perception led him to collaborate with researchers like Cleve Backster, known for his work on plant consciousness. It was through these connections that Swann eventually met Dr. Puthoff, who became interested in Swann's abilities and invited him to SRI for testing. This collaboration would ultimately attract government interest, particularly as officials discovered that the Soviet Union was conducting similar psychic research.
Key Takeaways
Ingo Swann preferred to be called a perception researcher rather than a psychic despite his renowned natural remote viewing abilities.
Dr. Harold Puthoff's scientific credentials and government connections were crucial for establishing remote viewing as a legitimate field of study.
Cold War competition with Soviet psychic research programs motivated U.S. government interest in Swann's demonstrations at Stanford Research Institute.
Ingo Swann: A Renowned Figure in Remote Viewing
Ingo Swann stands as one of the most influential figures in the field of remote viewing. His abilities garnered him tremendous respect among colleagues, with many considering him to possess exceptional natural psychic talents. Despite this recognition, Swann himself preferred to be called a "perception researcher" rather than a psychic.
Swann's background included military service in the US Army from 1955-1958, where he served in Korea. He worked as a secretary and aide to General LIY White, who commanded all forces in the Pacific region. From 1958 to 1969, Swann held a permanent contract position at the United Nations Secretariat in New York, fulfilling various clerical and administrative roles.
Between 1958 and 1972, Swann dedicated himself to personal research projects, exploring diverse fields including:
The occult
Parasensory phenomena
Astrology
Numerology
Auras
His connection to remote viewing began through his work with Cleve Baxter in New York. During their collaboration studying perception, Baxter mentioned Dr. Harold Puthoff, a physicist interested in tachyon theories. Swann reached out to Puthoff, who promptly responded and eventually invited him to Stanford Research Institute (SRI).
Dr. Puthoff deserves significant credit for the development of remote viewing. As Swann acknowledged, "Without him and his wonderful talents, remote viewing would never have seen the light of day." Puthoff possessed crucial Washington and military contacts, along with the patience and diplomatic skills to navigate the complex personalities involved in this research.
The timing proved significant as Cold War tensions heightened interest in psychic research. The discovery that the Soviet Union was conducting similar research alarmed US intelligence officials, who approached SRI seeking expertise in this area. The government's interest stemmed from potential intelligence-gathering applications.
At SRI, Swann demonstrated abilities that could be replicated in laboratory settings—something historical parapsychology had lacked. His work with Dr. Gertrude Schmeidler and Cleve Baxter on psychokinesis (PK) had already gained attention before his SRI involvement.
Swann retired from active research and public appearances in 1989, making his later interviews relatively rare opportunities to hear from this pioneering figure in remote viewing history.
Early Life and Military Service
Ingo Swann began his military journey in 1955, enlisting in the U.S. Army where he served until 1958. During his time in the military, he was stationed in Korea. His exceptional organizational skills led to an assignment as secretary and aide on the staff of General I.Y. White, who commanded all forces in the Pacific region.
Following his military service, Swann transitioned to civilian work. From 1958 to 1969, he maintained a permanent contract position at the United Nations Secretariat in New York. There, he held various clerical and administrative roles that utilized the disciplined approach he had developed during his military years.
The period between 1958 and 1972 was also marked by Swann's growing interest in personal research projects. He began exploring various fields outside his professional duties, including:
Occult and parasocial studies
Astrology
Numerology
Aura research
These early explorations laid the groundwork for his later work in perception research. While many would later describe him as having natural psychic abilities, Swann himself preferred to be characterized as a "perception researcher" rather than a psychic.
In the early 1970s, while working with Cleve Backster in New York, Swann became interested in the speed at which certain perceptions occur. This curiosity led to his introduction to Dr. Harold Puthoff, a physicist interested in tachyon theories. This connection eventually brought Swann to Stanford Research Institute, setting the stage for his pioneering work in remote viewing.
Engagement with Paranormal Research
Ingo Swann's remarkable journey into paranormal research began in the early 1970s when he was working with Cleve Baxter in New York. During this collaboration, they explored the speed at which psychic perceptions occur. Through Baxter, Swann was introduced to Dr. Harold Puthoff, a physicist interested in tachyon theories.
The connection with Dr. Puthoff proved pivotal in Swann's career. After writing to Puthoff, Swann received an immediate response and was eventually invited to Stanford Research Institute (SRI), which was considered the nation's second-largest think tank at the time. Their initial work together involved experimenting with psychokinesis (PK) in laboratory settings.
Swann doesn't consider himself "the greatest natural psychic ever born" despite others describing him this way. He prefers to be called a "perception researcher" rather than a psychic, as his primary interest has always been in expanding human perception capabilities.
The development of remote viewing occurred during a significant historical context. In the early 1970s, amid the Cold War, American intelligence discovered the Soviet Union was conducting research into psychic phenomena. This revelation prompted U.S. officials to seek experts who could educate them on these matters.
Dr. Puthoff deserves recognition as the father of remote viewing, according to Swann. Without Puthoff's connections in Washington, his diplomatic skills in navigating difficult personalities, and his patience, remote viewing would never have gained legitimacy or government support.
Before his work at SRI, Swann had an extensive career that included:
Military service in the U.S. Army (1955-1958)
Serving in Korea
Working as a secretary to General Liy White
Employment at the United Nations (1969) under permanent contract
Personal research in occult and paranormal fields (1958-1972)
Swann's contribution to the field was his replicable abilities. The mandate during early SRI research was to identify psychic abilities that could be consistently reproduced in laboratory conditions—something that had been missing from historical parapsychology research.
Ingo's Career at the United Nations
During 1958-1969, Ingo Swann held a permanent contract position at the United Nations Secretariat in New York. He performed various clerical and administrative duties throughout his tenure at the international organization.
Prior to his UN employment, Swann had enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Korea. His military service included working as a secretary and aide on the staff of General I.Y. White, who was Commander-in-Chief of all forces in the Pacific region.
Following his time at the United Nations, Swann pursued personal research projects. From 1969-1972, he became deeply involved in studying various esoteric fields including:
Occult phenomena
Parapsychology
Astrology
Numerology
Auras
Swann later collaborated with Cleve Backster in New York, known for his plant perception research. Through Backster, he connected with Dr. Harold Puthoff at Stanford Research Institute (SRI), which led to his involvement in remote viewing research. Despite being labeled as "the greatest natural psychic ever born" by colleagues, Swann preferred to be called a "perception researcher" rather than a psychic.
In 1989, Swann retired from active research and public appearances. His work with SRI and the U.S. government remote viewing program established his reputation in the field of expanded perception.
Prominent Work and Research Contributions
In 1969, I began focusing on personal research interests across various fields including perception studies and consciousness exploration. My work with Cleve Baxter in New York proved particularly significant, as we studied rapid perceptual phenomena. Through Baxter, I connected with Dr. Harold Puthoff at Stanford Research Institute (SRI), who had been developing theories about information transfer and consciousness.
Dr. Puthoff deserves recognition as the true father of remote viewing. His diplomatic skills, patience, and Washington connections were essential to the program's development. Without his long-term commitment, remote viewing would never have reached public awareness or government interest.
My collaboration with SRI began when Dr. Puthoff invited me to California for preliminary testing and discussions. Our work coincided with Cold War concerns about Soviet psychic research programs. The government became interested not primarily because of my abilities, but because intelligence officials needed to understand what the Soviets were developing in this field.
The critical breakthrough in our research was establishing replicable results. Unlike previous parapsychological studies, we demonstrated abilities that could be reproduced consistently in laboratory settings. This scientific approach differentiated our work from earlier studies in the field.
From 1972 through the following decades, I participated in various research projects involving psychokinesis (PK) and expanded perception capabilities. These studies eventually formed the foundation of what became the government's remote viewing program that operated for approximately 20 years.
In 1989, I retired from active research and public appearances, stepping back from the spotlight while the work continued through others who moved into both government and private sector applications.
Ingo's Philosophy on Psychic Abilities
Ingo Swan maintained a modest perspective on his psychic talents, despite being widely regarded by colleagues as possessing extraordinary natural abilities. He actually preferred not to be labeled a "psychic" at all, instead considering himself a "perception researcher" focused on expanding human perceptual capabilities.
When discussing remote viewing abilities, Swan consistently deflected personal praise. He believed that accomplishments in psychic research required collaboration rather than individual effort, and he acknowledged other talented practitioners like Harold Sherman and Hella Hammid as equally impressive.
Swan credited Dr. Harold Puthoff as the true father of remote viewing. Without Puthoff's Washington connections, diplomatic skills, and persistent interest, remote viewing would never have gained recognition. Their professional relationship began when Cleve Baxter, known for plant consciousness research, connected them based on shared interests in rapid perception phenomena.
Their work together at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) coincided with Cold War tensions. The U.S. government became interested in psychic research after discovering similar Soviet programs, which surprised Western scientific establishments that had dismissed such phenomena.
At SRI, Swan demonstrated abilities that met the crucial scientific requirement of replicability. His work with psychokinesis (PK) alongside Dr. Gerard Schmidler and Cleve Baxter in New York had already established his credentials before collaborating with Puthoff in laboratory settings.
Swan's background included:
Military service in Korea (1955-1958)
Administrative positions at the United Nations (until 1969)
Personal research into various paranormal fields (1958-1972)
In 1989, Swan retired from active research and public appearances, making his discussions about psychic phenomena relatively rare. Throughout his career, he maintained that remote viewing capabilities weren't limited to gifted individuals but could be developed through proper training.
Relationship with Dr. Harold Puthoff
Ingo Swann developed a pivotal professional relationship with Dr. Harold Puthoff that significantly shaped the remote viewing program. Their connection began when Cleve Baxter, known for his plant research, mentioned Dr. Puthoff to Swann during discussions about perception speed.
Swann sent a letter to Dr. Puthoff, who responded promptly due to his interest in information transfer theories. Dr. Puthoff subsequently invited Swann to Stanford Research Institute (SRI) to explore these concepts further.
Dr. Puthoff deserves recognition as the true father of remote viewing according to Swann. Without Puthoff's extensive contacts in Washington and the military, remote viewing would never have gained official recognition. His diplomatic abilities and patience helped navigate the complex personalities involved in developing the program.
During the early 1970s, the Cold War context proved crucial to the program's development. U.S. officials discovered that the Soviet Union was conducting psychic research, creating urgency to understand these phenomena. This coincided with Swann's work with Dr. Gertrude Schmeidler and Cleve Baxter gaining attention.
At SRI, Dr. Puthoff focused on finding replicable psychic abilities that could be demonstrated consistently in laboratory settings. This scientific approach differentiated their work from previous parapsychological research. Swann and Puthoff initially experimented with psychokinesis (PK) before developing what would become known as remote viewing protocols.
The collaboration between Swann and Dr. Puthoff created the foundation for what would become a 20-year government program. SRI, as the nation's second-largest think tank at the time, provided the institutional framework where this groundbreaking research could develop.
The Origins of Controlled Remote Perception
Remote viewing emerged largely through the collaborative efforts of several key figures in the early 1970s, during a time when Cold War tensions prompted interest in unusual perceptual capabilities. Ingo Swann, while not comfortable with the label "psychic," played a significant role in these developments as a perception researcher.
Swann's background included military service in Korea and administrative work at the United Nations from 1958 to 1969. His personal research interests spanned numerous paranormal and alternative fields, though he maintains he should not be singled out for special recognition among talented individuals in the field.
The Critical Role of Dr. Harold Puthoff
Dr. Harold Puthoff deserves recognition as the true father of remote viewing. His scientific credentials, Washington connections, and diplomatic skills enabled the program to develop despite institutional skepticism. Without Puthoff's patience and diplomatic abilities to navigate competing egos, remote viewing might never have achieved recognition.
The connection between Swann and Puthoff began through Cleve Backster, famous for his plant research. Swann had been discussing the speed of perceptual phenomena with Backster, who mentioned Puthoff's work on tachyon theories. Their collaboration started after Swann wrote to Puthoff, who quickly responded and eventually invited Swann to Stanford Research Institute (SRI).
Cold War Context and Government Interest
The program's development occurred against the backdrop of the Cold War. Government representatives approached SRI after discovering, to their embarrassment, that the Soviet Union was conducting similar research in psychic phenomena. This revelation proved especially shocking since conventional Western scientific establishments dismissed such capabilities as impossible.
At SRI, the primary mandate was finding abilities that could be replicated consistently in laboratory settings—something that had been missing from historical parapsychology research. Swann had previously worked on psychokinesis (PK) experiments with Dr. Gertrude Schmeidler and Cleve Backster, which became a starting point for the work at Stanford.
Government Interest in Psychic Research
The U.S. government's involvement in psychic research was largely motivated by Cold War competition. When Soviet Union research in this field came to light around 1972, American intelligence agencies were caught off guard. This discovery prompted officials to seek experts who could educate them on these unconventional phenomena.
One key figure in this development was Dr. Harold Puthoff, a physicist at Stanford Research Institute (SRI). Dr. Puthoff had significant connections in Washington and the military, which proved crucial for establishing what would become a long-running government program. His diplomatic skills helped navigate the complex personalities involved in this sensitive research.
Remote viewing—the practice of gathering information about distant targets using extrasensory perception—became the focus of a classified program that operated for approximately 20 years. The existence of this program remained secret until it was unexpectedly revealed during a Ted Koppel broadcast, shocking many Americans.
The government's primary requirement was finding abilities that could be consistently replicated in laboratory settings. This scientific reproducibility had been notably absent from historical parapsychology research. Initial experiments at SRI included work on psychokinesis (PK) and other perception-based phenomena.
Many military personnel who participated in the program later transitioned to the private sector after the program ended, continuing to develop and apply remote viewing techniques. The program's legacy includes both classified intelligence operations and the training of numerous individuals in perception expansion techniques.
Stanford Research Institute, described as "the nation's second largest think tank" at that time, provided the institutional framework for this research. However, SRI itself didn't fund the research directly—scientists needed to secure their own project funding, which in this case came from government agencies interested in potential intelligence applications.
Prior to government involvement, pioneering work in this field occurred in New York, where researchers like Cleve Baxter (known for his plant research) and Dr. Gertrude Schmeidler conducted experiments on psychic phenomena and information transfer.
Ingo's Influence and Legacy
Ingo Swann stands as a towering figure in the field of perception research, though he himself preferred not to be labeled a "psychic." His exceptional natural abilities garnered him recognition from military remote viewers and researchers alike, who frequently acknowledged his unparalleled talent.
Swann's journey in this field began through his work with Cleve Baxter in New York, investigating the speed of perceptual experiences. This collaboration led to his introduction to Dr. Harold Puthoff, a physicist interested in tachyon theories at Stanford Research Institute (SRI).
Dr. Puthoff deserves significant credit for advancing remote viewing. His diplomatic skills, patience, and Washington connections proved instrumental in establishing the program. Without Puthoff's dedication, remote viewing might never have gained recognition.
The timing of their partnership was particularly significant. In the early 1970s, during the Cold War, American officials discovered the Soviet Union was conducting psychic research programs. This revelation prompted U.S. intelligence agencies to explore similar capabilities, leading them to the work Swann and Puthoff were developing.
Career Highlights:
Served in the U.S. Army (1955-1958) in Korea
Worked as secretary to General Liy White, Commander-in-Chief of Pacific Forces
Held permanent contract at the United Nations Secretariat (1958-1969)
Conducted personal research in various paranormal fields (1958-1972)
Retired from active research and public appearances in 1989
The government's primary interest was finding abilities that could be replicated consistently in laboratory settings—something that had eluded parapsychology research until then. Swann had previously worked on psychokinesis (PK) with Dr. Gertrude Schmeidler and Cleve Baxter, bringing this experience to his collaboration with Puthoff at SRI.
Despite his remarkable contributions, Swann remained humble about his role, often emphasizing that significant achievements are never accomplished alone. He acknowledged other talented practitioners like Harold Sherman and Hella Hammid, viewing himself as "one among a few" rather than someone deserving special recognition.
Historical Context of Psychic Research During the Cold War
The 1970s marked a significant turning point in psychic research when the U.S. government became interested in paranormal abilities for intelligence purposes. This interest stemmed directly from Cold War tensions, as American officials discovered the Soviet Union had already established programs investigating psychic phenomena. The revelation came as a shock to many in the scientific establishment, who had previously dismissed such research as pseudoscience.
Stanford Research Institute (SRI), then considered the nation's second-largest think tank, became a central hub for this research. SRI provided facilities for researchers who secured their own funding and projects rather than directly funding the research itself. This arrangement created an environment where innovative research could flourish outside traditional academic constraints.
Dr. Harold Puthoff emerged as a pivotal figure in establishing psychic research within government circles. As a physicist with an interest in tachyon theories and information transfer, he possessed the scientific credentials, diplomatic skills, and Washington connections necessary to navigate the complex world of government funding. His patience and ability to manage the various personalities involved proved crucial to the program's establishment.
The government's primary requirement was replicability - finding psychic abilities that could be consistently demonstrated under laboratory conditions. This emphasis on reproducible results distinguished this new approach from historical parapsychology, which had struggled to produce consistent evidence under controlled settings.
Remote viewing, a technique for gathering information about distant or unseen targets, became the focal point of this research program. The term described a standardized approach to using psychic perception for intelligence gathering. The program operated for approximately 20 years before being publicly revealed on Ted Koppel's television program, surprising many Americans who had no idea such research existed.
Several notable researchers participated in these early studies, including Ingo Swann, who worked with Cleve Baxter in New York on psychokinesis (PK) experiments before connecting with Dr. Puthoff. Their collaboration began after Swann wrote to Puthoff about the speed of psychic perceptions, an area that aligned with Puthoff's research interests.
Following the program's declassification, many military remote viewers transitioned to the private sector, continuing their work and training others in these techniques. This transition helped spread remote viewing methodologies beyond classified government applications into civilian research and practice.
