JFK SPEAKS TO AMERICAN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS
New York City (JFK+50) On April 27, 1961, President John F. Kennedy addressed the American Newspaper Publishers Association* at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel here in New York. While the title of the address was "The President and the Press," Mr. Kennedy quipped a more appropriate title might be "The President Versus the Press, but those are not my sentiments tonight."
President Kennedy, who earlier in the month had a major foreign policy failure at the Bay of Pigs, talked about "common responsibilities in the face of common danger." He emphasized the need to balance the public's need to know with the need for greater official secrecy.
JFK warned that although no wars had been declared, "our way of life is under attack...no war ever posed a greater threat to our security. We are opposed by a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy (Soviet Russia) that relies on...covert means..."
In addition to the question "Is it news?", the President called on the press to also ask "Is it in the interest of national security?"
Mr. Kennedy concluded his remarks with a fact that all administrations would be well served to honor...
"Without debate, without criticism, no administration and no country can succeed, and no republic can survive."
*ANPA is a trade association for newspaper publishers in the US & Canada. Founded in 1887, it's headquarters are in Reston, VA. It represents 1400 publications. ANPA was founded to advance the cause of a free press & the newspaper publication business & to promote the highest standards of journalism.
SOURCE
"Address 'The President and the Press' Before the American Newspaper Publishers Association, New York City, April 27, 1961," Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, January 20 to December 31, 1961. United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1961.
Newspaper Exhibit
Newseum
Washington, D.C.
Photo by John White (2016)
