Fife Symington
John Fife Symington III is a Harvard art-history graduate (1968), United States Air Force Vietnam-era captain decorated with the Bronze Star, Phoenix real estate developer, and the 19th Governor of Arizona, serving from 6 March 1991 to 5 September 1997. He held the June 1997 press conference at which his chief of staff Jay Heiler was brought before the media in handcuffs wearing an alien costume to dismiss the 13 March 1997 Phoenix Lights sightings. Ten years later, in March 2007, Symington publicly stated that he had personally witnessed the V-formation himself and had told only his wife at the time. He elaborated in a first-person CNN.com commentary on 9 November 2007 and on 12 November 2007 moderated a National Press Club event at which fourteen former military and government officials from seven countries discussed UAP-related experiences. He resigned the governorship in September 1997 after a bank fraud conviction that was subsequently overturned by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; President Clinton pardoned him in January 2001.
A Life
John Fife Symington III was born on 12 August 1945 in New York City. He graduated from Harvard University in 1968 with a degree in art history. He enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War era, was stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona, attained the rank of captain, and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service. He was honourably discharged in 1971.
Symington remained in Arizona after his discharge and founded The Symington Company, a real estate development firm, in 1976. He developed projects in Phoenix including the Camelback Esplanade and the Mercado. He was elected Governor of Arizona in 1990 as a Republican and took office on 6 March 1991. He was re-elected in 1994. In September 1997 he was convicted on seven counts of bank fraud related to financial representations made to lenders in connection with his real estate company. He resigned the governorship on 5 September 1997. The conviction was overturned by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In January 2001, President Bill Clinton pardoned Symington before federal prosecutors decided whether to retry the case.
After leaving office Symington attended culinary school and co-founded the Arizona Culinary Institute. He has remained active in Arizona public life.
On UAP
On the evening of 13 March 1997, a V-shaped formation of lights was observed by thousands of witnesses as it moved south across Arizona from Prescott through Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe to Tucson. Symington was Governor at the time. In June 1997 he held a press conference at which his chief of staff, Jay Heiler, was brought before the media in handcuffs wearing an alien costume. "This just goes to show that you guys are entirely too serious," Symington said.
In March 2007 Symington publicly stated that he had personally witnessed the event on 13 March 1997. He disclosed that he had told only his wife at the time. He told the Arizona Daily Star: "I'm a pilot and I know just about every machine that flies. It was bigger than anything that I've ever seen. It remains a great mystery. Other people saw it, responsible people. I don't know why people would ridicule it."
In 1997, during my second term as governor of Arizona, I saw something that defied logic and challenged my reality. I witnessed a massive delta-shaped craft silently navigate over Squaw Peak, a mountain range in Phoenix, Arizona. It was truly breathtaking. As a pilot and a former Air Force Officer, I can definitively say that this craft did not resemble any man-made object I'd ever seen.Fife Symington, "Symington: I saw a UFO in the Arizona sky," CNN.com, 9 November 2007. First-person commentary; the primary document of his public disclosure.
Of the June 1997 press conference, he wrote on CNN.com: "I never meant to ridicule anyone." On 12 November 2007 Symington moderated an event at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, at which fourteen former military and government officials from seven countries discussed their UAP-related experiences.
Career Record
- 1945, Born 12 August, New York City.
- 1968, Graduated Harvard University.
- United States Air Force. Captain. Bronze Star for meritorious service. Honourably discharged 1971.
- 1976, Founded The Symington Company, Phoenix, Arizona.
- 6 March 1991, Took office as Governor of Arizona (19th Governor, Republican).
- 1994, Re-elected Governor.
- 13 March 1997, Phoenix Lights event. Symington was Governor.
- June 1997, Press conference with aide in alien costume.
- 5 September 1997, Resigned governorship following bank fraud conviction.
- Conviction overturned by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- January 2001, Pardoned by President Bill Clinton.
- March 2007, Publicly stated he witnessed the Phoenix Lights.
- 9 November 2007, Published first-person commentary on CNN.com.
- 12 November 2007, Moderated National Press Club event with international military officials.
- Co-founded the Arizona Culinary Institute.
Document Trail
Fife Symington, "Symington: I saw a UFO in the Arizona sky," CNN.com, 9 November 2007. First-person commentary; the primary document of his public disclosure.
Tom Beal, "Former Gov. Symington says he saw lights," Arizona Daily Star, 23 March 2007. The first named-publication report of his disclosure.
Robert Nelson with Jack August Jr., Old Money, New West: Fife Symington and the Uniquely American Landscapes That Made Him, Broke Him, and Made Him Anew (2021). Foreword by Bill Clinton.
In the Archive
- The Phoenix Lights, 1997, case exhibition.
- Lynne Kitei, primary private witness who recorded the V-formation.
- Bruce Maccabee, optical physicist who analysed the event.
- United States country profile.
