John R. MacArthur's Remarks at the Harper's Gala, by John R. MacArthur

"Later in the evening, he introduced the former New York Times general counsel James C. Goodale as a "true hero of press freedom" who "prodded and led the Times first to fight and then to win the case to resume publication of the Pentagon Papers." Goodale then presented the inaugural James C. Goodale First Amendment Award to A. G. Sulzberger, the publisher and chairman of the New York Times, whose speech can be found here."

"We are assembled in the shadow of a grave threat to the American way of publishing, the American way of journalism, the American way of writing. One way that Harper's has survived so long has been by being alert to danger-danger to the freedoms of speech and of the press specified in the Constitution, but also threats to the voices of independence that are the mark of a free people."

Harper's Magazine held a 175th Anniversary Gala attended by 350 guests, celebrating its status as America's oldest continuously published monthly. John R. MacArthur welcomed attendees and noted Harper's long history and distinguished contributors. MacArthur introduced James C. Goodale, praising his role in resuming publication of the Pentagon Papers, and Goodale presented the inaugural James C. Goodale First Amendment Award to A. G. Sulzberger. MacArthur warned of a grave threat to the American way of publishing, journalism, and writing, and stressed vigilance against dangers to speech and press freedoms and threats to independent voices.

Read at Harper's Magazine