Quotes

"The idea that political speech had to be protected at any cost dates to Colonial days, during which the press and the public were not allowed to express themselves freely on matters of public concern. The King and his government often used restrictive measures, such as licensing of printing presses and the doctrine of seditious libel, to silence unfavorable public comment."
-- Craig R. Smith

Source: All Speech Is Created Equal, 1986, Washington, D.C., Freedom of Expression Foundation

"The dominant purpose of the First Amendment
was to prohibit the widespread practice
of government suppression of embarrassing information."
-- Justice William O. Douglas
(1898-1980), U. S. Supreme Court Justice

Source: New York Times v. Unites States (Pentagon Papers)