Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason, an iconic figure in American entertainment known for his comedic roles in “The Honeymooners” and “The Jackie Gleason Show,” had an enduring fascination with the paranormal, particularly unidentified flying objects (UFOs). A lifelong enthusiast, Gleason collected books on the topic and even built a UFO-shaped house in Peekskill, New York, indicative of his passion for the subject.
Perhaps the most compelling part of Gleason’s UFO connection is a persistent anecdote involving President Richard Nixon. According to Gleason’s ex-wife, Beverly McKittrick, in February 1973, Nixon personally drove Gleason to Homestead Air Force Base in Florida, where he showed the comedian evidence of extraterrestrial life — including the wreckage of a crashed UFO and preserved alien bodies.
Homestead Air Reserve Base (ARB) is a United States Air Force base located in Homestead, Florida. The base lies approximately 24 miles south of Miami and is home to the 482nd Fighter Wing (482 FW) of the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC).
Originally opened in 1942 as Homestead Army Airfield, it served as a base for various training and anti-submarine missions during World War II. After being decommissioned and then reactivated, it became Homestead Air Force Base in 1955. It played a significant role during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 when it served as a staging area for tactical fighters.
In August 1992, the base was severely damaged by Hurricane Andrew. The storm destroyed most of the buildings and facilities, causing the base to temporarily cease operations. However, instead of being decommissioned, it was rebuilt as a smaller, more efficient facility and reopened in 1994 as Homestead Air Reserve Base.
The 482nd Fighter Wing, also known as the “Makos,” is a combat-ready unit capable of providing F-16C multi-purpose fighter aircraft, along with mission-ready pilots and support personnel, for rapid deployment anywhere in the world. The unit is known for its participation in numerous humanitarian missions, and it also engages in a variety of combat and training roles.
Homestead ARB also supports U.S. Southern Command, providing contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation for Central and South America, the Caribbean, and other parts of the Southern Hemisphere. It serves as a strategic location for many operations due to its geographic location.
- Jackie Gleason’s passion for the paranormal was so pronounced that he built a round, spaceship-like home in the 1950s known as the “Round House.” (Source: The New York Times, “Jackie Gleason’s Round House”)
- Gleason was friends with President Richard Nixon, a relationship documented through photographs and correspondence. Nixon even appeared on Gleason’s television show in 1961. (Source: The Richard Nixon Foundation)
- The alleged Nixon-Gleason UFO incident was reported by Gleason’s ex-wife, Beverly McKittrick, in an affidavit following their divorce. However, no corroborating evidence or additional witnesses have emerged. (Source: “The Presidents and UFOs: A Secret History from FDR to Obama” by Larry Holcombe)
Jerome Clark, a prominent UFO researcher and author, describes the story in his “UFO Encyclopedia” as an “unverified tale” that “has been repeated in various UFO publications.”
Books that lool into UFO history, such as “The Presidents and UFOs: A Secret History from FDR to Obama” by Larry Holcombe, often recount the Gleason story as part of a broader examination of alleged government cover-ups of extraterrestrial encounters.
The mainstream press, including newspapers like The New York Times and The Washington Post, typically mention the Gleason-Nixon story as a footnote in their coverage of UFOs and celebrity fascination with the paranormal. Jackie Gleason’s connection to UFOs is well established through his documented interest and enthusiasm for the subject.
