Words from the Rising Republics

November 22, 2013

 

President John F. Kennedy’s Speech on the secret societies

 

Ladies and Gentleman 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, the secret oaths, and a secret proceedings.

We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted 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 restriction.

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 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 extent that it is in my control and no official of my administration whether his rank is higher 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 withhold 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 sphere of influence, on infiltration instead of invasion, on subversion, instead of elections, on intimidation instead of free choice, and guerrillas 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 silent 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’m not asking the newspapers to support administration, but I am asking 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. As a wise man once said, an error does not become a mistake until you refused 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 Solo 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 for 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 crises and our choices, 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 to improved transmission.

 

And it means, finally the government at all levels must meet its obligation 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.

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