Address on Secrecy and Society

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, on 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 silenced, not praised.

No expenditure is questioned.

No rumor is printed.

No secret is revealed.

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

proceedings.

We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts

far outweighed 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 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.