John F Kennedy speech

Reason given - Already on Intro music
Discuss this on the associated talk page.

Screen at Madison Square Garden gig

Description

An audio sample of this speech by US President John F. Kennedy was played live at most of shows during the August/September, 2007, tour of the US. The speech was originally given to the American Newspaper Publishers Association at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City on April 27, 1961. It is not quoted in its entirety, nor are all the excerpts presented chronologically. The full transcript is available through the external reference.

Additional Information

This speech was played at the following gigs (listed chronologically):

• Madison Square Garden, New York City
• Patriot Center, Fairfax
• Festival Pier, Philadelphia
• Agganis Arena, Boston
• KeyArena, Seattle
• Rose Garden Arena, Portland
• McKay Events Center, Orem
• Zilker Metropolitan Park, Austin
• Nokia Theater, Grand Prairie
• Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver
• Amphitheatre, Mesa
• Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Irvine
• Coors Amphitheatre, Chula Vista

Speech

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.  

For we are opposed around the world by a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy 
that relies primarily 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. 

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 secret is revealed.

That is why the Athenian lawmaker Solon decreed it a crime for any citizen 
to shrink from controversy. 

I am asking your help in the tremendous task 
of informing and alerting the American people..., 
confident that with your help, man will be what he was born to be, 
free and independent.