Thoughts on the importance of the freedoms of press and speech

"Where ever the cause of liberty is making its way, one of its highest accomplishments is the guarantee of the freedom of the press. It has always been realized, sometimes instinctively, oftentimes expressly, that truth and freedom are inseparable." — Calvin Coolidge

"This flow of information helps make possible an informed electorate and so contributes to our national system of self-government." — Ronald Reagan

"Freedom and conscience, of education, of speech, of assembly are among the very fundamentals of democracy and all of them would be nullified should freedom of the press ever be successfully challenged." — Franklin D. Roosevelt

"Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." —Thomas Jefferson

"I consider the media to be indispensable to democracy — that we need the media to hold people like me to account." —George W. Bush

"All individuals have a duty to educate themselves about the actions of government officials and current events in the world, taking care to ascertain facts from reliable sources of information." —MWEG principles of ethical government

Sources:

Inc: "Inspiring quotes from the 45 American presidents," www.inc.com

The Hill: "A Presidents Day perspective on the nature of a free press," www.thehill.com

The American Presidency Project: Calvin Coolidge: www.presidency.ucsb.edu