JFK Fact Check

It seems true that Kennedy never said this, at least not in public.

[image error]

But he did say this, which in the context of the below speech, is very similar…

“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. “

In: The Address Before The American Newspaper Publisher’s Association, April 27th, 1961 – in which he discusses “secret societies” with “secret oaths.”

(He can’t really be referring to the Soviets because they are not secret, nor a mere ‘society,’ nor do they hold secret oaths – the Soviet Union was a nation. He is not talking about it, though he does reference Marx in the beginning because he had to toe the anti-communist line.)

He goes on to say this right after the above quote to link the existence of secret societies to the threat of censorship…

“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 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 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.”

Full speech here:

https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-kennedy-speeches/american-newspaper-publishers-association-19610427