TLDR;

  • Event: On June 13, 1971, The New York Times published the Pentagon Papers, revealing the U.S. government’s secret history of the Vietnam War.
  • Key Figure: Daniel Ellsberg leaked the documents, exposing decades of governmental deception under the Kennedy and Johnson administrations.
  • Legal Battle: The Supreme Court’s ruling on June 30, 1971, in New York Times Co. v. United States protected the press’s right to publish, reinforcing First Amendment freedoms.
  • Impact: The disclosure fueled public distrust in government, intensified opposition to the Vietnam War, and sparked ongoing debates over transparency and accountability.

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Listen to this story:

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Story

In the dimly lit newsroom of The New York Times, tension was palpable. It was June 13, 1971, and the presses were about to roll on a story that would shake the very foundations of American politics. The Pentagon Papers, a top-secret government report detailing the United States’ political and military involvement in Vietnam, were about to see the light of day.

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For years, the American public had been fed a narrative of progress and imminent victory in Vietnam. But behind closed doors, the truth was far more complex and damning. Commissioned by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and meant to remain internal, the Pentagon Papers revealed a pattern of deception and misjudgment by the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. Daniel Ellsberg, a military analyst, played a pivotal role in leaking these documents to the press.

The decision to publish was fraught with risk. The government, led by President Nixon, was poised to strike back, citing national security concerns, despite the Papers primarily exposing the actions of previous administrations. Yet, the editors of The New York Times believed the public had a right to know the truth. As the first installment hit the streets, the nation was thrust into a whirlwind of controversy and legal battles.

The turning point came on June 30, 1971, when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the press in New York Times Co. v. United States, upholding the First Amendment and setting a precedent for freedom of the press. The publication of the Pentagon Papers not only exposed the realities of the Vietnam War but also ignited a debate about government transparency and accountability that continues to this day.

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Would a different decision by The New York Times have changed the course of history?