Speech by United States President
John F. Kenedy

  The very word secresy is repugnant,
in a free and open society, and we as
a people inherantly and historicly, opposed 
to secret societies, to secret oaths and to
secret proceedings.  We decided long ago, 
that the dangers of excessive and unwarrented 
concealment, of pertinent facts, far outweigh 
the dangers which are sited to justify it.
 Even today, there is little value in opposing 
the threat of a closed society, by immitating 
its arbitrary restrictions. 
 Even today, there is little value in ensuring 
the survival of our nation, if our traditions 
do not survive with it.  
 And there is very grave danger that an announced 
need for increased security, will be ceased upon 
by those anxious to expand its meaning to the 
very limits of official censorship and concealment. 
 That I do not intend to permit, to the extent that 
it's in my control.
 And no official in my administration, whether his 
rank is high or low, civilian or military, should 
interpret my words here tonight, as an excuse to 
censor the news, to stifle descent, to cover up our 
mistakes, or to withold from the press and the public, 
the facts they deserve to know.

  For we are opposed around the world, by a monolithic 
and ruthless conspiracy, that relies primarily on covet means, 
for expanding its fear of influence, on infiltration 
instead of invasion, on subversion instead of elections, 
on intimidation instead of free choice, on gorillas by 
night instead of armies by day.
  It is a system which has conscripted vast human and 
material resources into the building of a tightly knit, 
highly efficient machine, that combines military, diplomatic, 
intelligence, econimic, scientific and political operations.
  Its preparations are concealed, not published.
  Its mistakes are burried, not headlined.
  Its descentors are silenced, not praised.
  No expenditure is questioned, no rumor is printed, no secret revealed.

  No President should fear public scrutiny of his program. 
For from that scrutiny comes understanding, And from that
understanding comes support or opposition. And both are necessary. 

  I am not asking your newspapers to support an administration, 
But I am asking for your help, in the tremendous task of 
informing and alerting the American people.

  For I have complete confidence, in the response and dedication 
of our citizens, whenever they are fully informed.

  I not only could not stifle controversy among your readers, 
I welcome it.

  This administration intends to be candid about its errors, for a 
wise man once said "An error doesn't become a mistake, until 
you refuse to correct it."

  We intend to accept full responsibility for our errors, and we expect 
you to point them out, when we miss them.

  Without debate, without criticism, no administration and no country 
can succeed, And no Rebublic can survive.

  That is why the Athenian lawmaker Sola decreed it a crime for any 
citizen to shrink from controversy.

  And that is why our press was protected by the First Ammendment.
The only business in America, specificly protected by the 
Constitution.

  Not primarily to amuse and entertain, 
  not to emphasize the trivial and the sentimental,
  not to simply give the public what it wants,
  But to inform, to arrouse, to reflect,
  To state our dangers and our opportunities, 
  to indicate our crisis and our choices,
  to lead, mold, educate and sometimes even anger, public opinion.

  That means greater coverage and analysis of international news, 
For it is no longer far away and foreign, but close at hand and local.

  It means greater attention to improved understanding of the news, 
as well as improved transmission.

  And it means, finally, that government at all levels must meet 
its obligation to provide you with the fullest possible information, 
outside of the narrowest limits of national security.

  And so it is to the printing press, to the recorder of man's deeds, 
the keeper of his conscience, the courier of his news, 
that we look for strength and assistance.

 Confidence that with your help, man will be what he was born to be:
Free and Independent.