1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:14,160 Ladies and gentlemen, the very word secrecy is repugnant in a free and open society. 2 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:21,080 And we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret 3 00:00:21,080 --> 00:00:24,480 oaths, and to secret proceedings. 4 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:30,880 We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent 5 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:37,160 facts far outweigh the dangers which are cited to justify it. 6 00:00:37,160 --> 00:00:43,480 Even today, there is little value in opposing the threat of a closed society by imitating 7 00:00:43,480 --> 00:00:46,440 its obituary restrictions. 8 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:51,880 Even today, there is little value in ensuring the survival of our nation. 9 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:55,280 If our traditions do not survive with it. 10 00:00:55,280 --> 00:01:01,600 And there is very grave danger that an announced need for increased security will 11 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:08,280 be seized upon by those anxious to expand its meaning to the very limits of official censorship 12 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:10,280 and concealment. 13 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:15,080 That I do not intend to permit to the extent that it is in my control. 14 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:21,480 And no official of my administration, whether his rank is higher low, civilian or military, 15 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:27,000 should interpret my words here tonight as an excuse to sense the news, to stifle 16 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:33,960 dissent, to cover up homestakes, or to withhold from the press and the public, the facts 17 00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:36,480 they deserve to know. 18 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:43,960 For we are opposed around the world by a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy that relies primarily 19 00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:51,440 on covet means for expanding its fear of influence, on infiltration instead of invasion. 20 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:55,280 On subversion instead of elections. 21 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:58,800 On intimidation instead of free choice. 22 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:03,120 On guerrillas by night instead of armies by day. 23 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:09,840 It is a system which has conscripted vast human and material resources into the building of 24 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:17,840 a tightly knit, highly efficient machine that combines military, diplomatic intelligence, 25 00:02:17,920 --> 00:02:22,120 economic, scientific and political operations. 26 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,600 Its preparations are concealed not published. 27 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,880 Its mistakes are buried, not headline. 28 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:32,360 Its dissent is a silenced, not praised. 29 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:38,680 No expenditure is questioned, no rumor is preded, no secret is revealed. 30 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:43,080 No president should fear public scrutiny of his program. 31 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:49,400 From that scrutiny comes understanding and from that understanding comes support or opposition 32 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:51,440 and both unnecessary. 33 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:58,120 I am not asking your newspapers to support at administration, but I am asking your help 34 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:03,120 in the tremendous task of informing and alerting the American people. 35 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,200 Where I have complete confidence. 36 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:15,120 And the response and dedication of our citizens whenever they are fully informed. 37 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:20,040 I not only could not stifle controversy among your readers, I welcome them. 38 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:23,880 This administration intends to be candid about its errors. 39 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:29,880 For as a wise man once said, an error doesn't become a mistake until you refuse to correct 40 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:31,120 it. 41 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:35,040 We intend to accept for responsibility for our errors. 42 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,680 And we expect you to point them out when we miss them. 43 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:45,040 Without debate, without criticism, no administration and no country can succeed and no 44 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:47,560 republic can survive. 45 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:53,960 That is why the Athenian lawmaker, solin, decreated a crime for any citizen to shrink from 46 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:55,680 controversy. 47 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:59,640 And that is why our press was protected by the first amendment. 48 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:06,040 The only business in America, specifically protected by the Constitution, not primarily to 49 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:08,560 amuse and entertain. 50 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:12,120 Not to emphasize the trivial and the sentimental. 51 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:19,040 Not to simply give the public what it wants, but to inform, to arouse, to reflect, to 52 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:26,200 state our dangers and our opportunities, to indicate our crises and our choices, to lead, 53 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:32,320 educate and sometimes even anger, public opinion. 54 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:36,880 This means greater coverage and analysis of an national news. 55 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:42,920 For it is no longer far away and far in, but close at hand and local. 56 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:49,320 It means greater attention to improve the understanding of the news, as well as improve transmission. 57 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:55,840 And it means finally that government at all levels must meet its obligation to provide 58 00:04:55,880 --> 00:05:03,680 you with a fullest possible information outside the narrowest limits of national security. 59 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:09,440 And so it is to the printing press, to the recorder of man's deeds, the keeper of his 60 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:17,200 conscience, the courier of his news that we look for strength and assistance, confident that 61 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:22,840 with your help, man will be what he was born to be free and independent.