Many agencies of the Executive Branch of the federal government have at one time or another claimed an absolute right to wihhold any information they chose from anyone they chose. These claims have produced the Freedom of Information Act, which imposes some limitations on this absolute power. Recently, some members of Congress have become concerned about the government's use of the courts to enforce various secrecy claims. The first article in this issue of "Free Speech" concerning government control of information was written by Representative Jonathan Bingham of New York. This issue also contains remarks by Senator Muskie on secrecy, comments concerning Justice Black's position on public access, and a report of the ad hoc committee to evaluate the "Free Speech" newsletter. (TS)