Ladies and gentlemen
The very word “secrecy” is repugnant
in a free and open society.
And we are as a people
inherently and historically
opposed to secret societies,
to secret oaths
and to secret procedings.
We decided long ago
that the dangers of excessive and
unwarrented concealment of pertinent facts…
far outweigh the dangers
which are cited to justify it.
Even today…
there is little value in opposing
the threat of a closed society…
by imitating its arbitrary restrictions.
Even today…
there is little value in insuring
the survival of our nation….
if our traditions do not survive with it.
And there is very grave danger…
that an anounced need
for increased security…
will be seized 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 extend that it’s in my control.
And no official of 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 dissent,
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 covert means
for expanding its sphere of influence,
on infiltration instead of invation,
on subversion instead of elections,
on intimidation instead of free choice,
on guerillas 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, economic, scientific…
and political operations.
Its preparations are concealed,
not published.
Its mistakes are buried,
not headlined.
Its dissenters are silenced
not praised.
No expenditure is questioned,
no rumor is printed…
no secret is 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 controvfersy
among your readers,
I welcome it.
This administration intends to be candid
about its errors,
for as 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 republic can survive.
That is why the Athenian lawmaker Solon…
decreed it a crime for any citizen
to shrink from controversy.
And that is why our press was protected
by the First Amendment,
the only business in America
specifically 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 arouse,
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.
This 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 obligations…
to provide you
with the fullest possible information…
outside 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…
confident that with your help
man will be what he was born to be:
free and independent.
