（以下是美国总统肯尼迪关于共济会秘密社团的演讲稿） 

  ““秘密”这个单词，在我们这个自由开放的社会里，是相当令人讨厌的；我们作为一个人不管从本性上还是历史上都反对秘密社团，秘密誓盟和秘密行动。很久以前我们就认为，秘密社团的极度隐蔽性远远比它的合法性更危险。即使在今天，反对因一味的模仿封闭社会引起来的威胁是毫无意义的。即使在今天，如果我们的传统不能得到保持，即使国家的生存也是没有任何价值的。有一个非常可怕的危险是利用政府宣告增强社会安全性来扩大有限隐蔽的官方审查机构。在我的权利控制范围内是不被允许的，在我的管理机构里是没有官方代表，不管他的等级是高还是低，平民还是军人，必须理解我今晚说的话。这不是新闻审查，扼杀异议，掩盖我们的错误或阻止新闻界和公众应了解的事实真相的借口。” 

  我们一起反对全世界依靠隐秘性扩大势力范围的残忍的社团－渗透代替了入侵，破坏代替了选举，恐吓代替了自由选择，夜晚游击战代替了白天战争。这是一个征召了大量人力物力建立起来的严密、高效的系统，军队，外交 ，情报，经济，科学，政党联合运作。 

  他们准备得非常隐蔽，从未被报道过。他们的错误总是被掩盖，他们的反对者是沉默的，不被赞扬的；花费不是问题，谣言不会宣传，秘密不会透露。 

  没有一位总统会害怕公民的监督，因为监督来自理解，理解来自支持或反对，两者都是必须的。我不是在请求报社支持行政机构，但是我请求你们以十分的努力帮助美国公民获取知识，同时警示他们。因为我有十足的信心响应与奉献我们的公民，不论何时他们都是充满知识的。 

  我不是要扼杀你们的争论－－我欢迎它。这个机构打算公正地改正它的错误；一位哲人说过：“错误之所以产生，是因为你拒绝改正它。”我们对我们的犯错负责；同时当我们疏忽的时候期望有人指出它们。 

  没有了争论，没有了批评，任何行政机构和国家都不能成功运行－共和政党是不能存活的。这也是为什么雅典立法议员颁布法令说任何一位公民在辩论面前退缩就是犯罪。 

  这也是为什么我们的新闻社是第一个被保护修正－唯一在美国宪法里特别保护的商业－不要一味地以娱乐消遣为主，不要总是在强调一些不重要的感伤情感，不是简单地“给公众他们想要的”－要告知，引起，体现，陈述我们的危险和我们的机遇，指出我们的危机和我们的选择，引导，塑造和教育公民，即使是愤怒的民众。”

  “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 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 insuring 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 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 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 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 on covert 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. 

  No President should fear public scrutinity 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 the 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; for as a wise man once said: “An error does not 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 (emphasized) Amendment– the only business in America specifically protected by the Constitution– not primarily to amuse and entertain, not to emphasize the trivial and 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, to lead, mold educate and sometimes even anger public.” 

  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 obligation to provide you with the fullest possible information outside the narrowest limits of national security...

  This part ends at 4:52. mid sentence. It left out "--and we intend to do it." It also skips a paragraph and then the file continues ...

  "And so it is to the printing press--to the recorder of mans 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."