The following was in Saturday's American Statesman.
----- Original Message ----- From: Robert Jensen To: buzzanco ; Hep Ingham Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2000 2:03 PM Subject: Kissinger's speech at UT is canceled; Austin American-Statesman; Saturday, January 29, 2000
Austin American-Statesman
Kissinger's speech at UT is canceled
By Mary Ann Roser Saturday, January 29, 2000
Fearing a planned protest of his speech, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger took the unusual step Friday of canceling an appearance at the University of Texas next week.
"We were concerned a large demonstration in the LBJ Auditorium could lead to a potentially dangerous situation for the members of the audience," UT System Chancellor William Cunningham said late Friday, when UT announced the cancellation. "I think it's a very unfortunate situation when people can't come to campus."
Cunningham would not say whether any specific threats, aside from a demonstration, had been made regarding Kissinger's speech, which was scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday. "It's inappropriate for me to comment," he said.
Cunningham said Kissinger canceled the speech. He could not recall the names of other potentially controversial speakers canceling appearances but said it had happened "back in the '60s and '70s."
Free tickets had been distributed to students and members of the public, and Bob Jensen, an associate professor of journalism who objected to Kissinger's visit, posted information on his Web page advising protesters about the ticket distribution.
"At 5 p.m. on Feb. 1, the not-welcoming committee will begin gathering outside the auditorium for speeches, music and chants to send the message to the campus and community that war criminals are not welcome here," Jensen's Web site said.
Jensen said earlier in the week that about 200 people attended a "teach-in" Tuesday night on Kissinger's involvement with former Presidents Nixon and Ford in Vietnam, Cambodia, East Timor and Chile.
Jensen could not be reached at his home Friday evening for comment.
Harry Middleton, director of the LBJ Library, said he advised Kissinger that the UT police department and the Secret Service believed the protest would be "of sufficient magnitude to pose a threat to the public safety."
UT Assistant Police Chief Silas Griggs declined to comment.
A statement by Kissinger, provided by the LBJ Library, said only, "I regret the circumstances that have caused the cancellation of this year's Harry Middleton lecture created by Mrs. (Lady Bird) Johnson, and any embarrassment suffered by this great former first lady and valued friend."
Cunningham, a friend of Kissinger's who served on several corporate boards with him, said Mrs. Johnson had planned to attend.
"Those who would shout down an invited speaker at a university lecture series, or seek in other ways to disrupt appropriately arranged open discussion, endanger the rights of everyone within the university community," Cunningham said in a written statement. "Such protesters are really demanding that university students trade in their freedom for a set of pat answers and predigested slogans."
UT President Larry Faulkner also chimed in with a written statement that lamented that the school would have been unable to assure the audience's security and "open discourse on issues of public concern."
"It is tragic that threats of assault on a peaceable, academic assembly will, in this instance, still public discussion on important issues by a distinguished visitor," Faulkner said. "The tactics are both immoral and inimical to the public interest."
He added, without elaborating, that "new and appropriate steps" would be taken to protect future forums.
You may contact Mary Ann Roser at maroser at statesman.com or 445-3619.
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