Daniel Ellsberg, a former advisor to Nixon Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara and RAND Corp. analyst, passed away at the age of 92. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February and died at his home in Kensington, California. Ellsberg’s contribution to history was his leaking of the 7,000-word secret history of the Vietnam War known as the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times and Washington Post. The report, officially known as the Report of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Vietnam Task Force, was top secret, but Ellsberg’s decision to provide it to the media and the newspapers’ decision to publish it proved a turning point in the public’s attitude toward the war, President Richard Nixon, and trust in the government.
Ellsberg’s decision to leak the Pentagon Papers was a landmark moment for a free press in America. The subsequent Supreme Court decision upheld the right of the Times and Post to publish the documents. The events that followed the leak, publication, and court clash over the papers have been the subject of multiple film and TV projects. One of the most notable productions was Steven Spielberg’s 2017 film The Post, in which Matthew Rhys played Ellsberg. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Ellsberg himself attended the film’s premiere in Washington, D.C.
Ellsberg’s Life and Legacy
Ellsberg had an adventurous life. He once recalled how his children helped him copy the papers in an advertising office of a friend. On one occasion, the police even came in while his son was at the Xerox machine, but they left them alone. Ellsberg surrendered to authorities and faced charges under the Espionage Act of 1917. However, when the case went to trial in 1973, the charges were dismissed, in part because of governmental misconduct and illegal evidence gathering.
Ellsberg was not only a whistleblower, but he was also an anti-war activist who spoke out against nuclear dangers, especially the danger of nuclear war posed by the Ukraine war and Taiwan, even in his final months. He was a seeker of truth and a patriotic truth teller, according to his family. He was also a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, a dear friend to many, and an inspiration to countless more.
Ellsberg’s contribution to history was significant, and his legacy will undoubtedly continue to influence the way people think about government, the media, and the importance of transparency and accountability. His family said that he died surrounded by loving family and that he was not in pain. His all-time favorite movie was Butch Cassidy, which he watched several times in his final months.
Films such as The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers, The Pentagon Papers, and The Pentagon Papers, Daniel Ellsberg and The Times have all covered Ellsberg’s life and legacy. The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers, directed by Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, was an Oscar-nominated documentary in 2009. The Pentagon Papers, directed by Rod Holcomb and executive produced by Joshua D. Maurer, was produced in 2003. James Spader was cast as Ellsberg. PBS aired The Pentagon Papers, Daniel Ellsberg and The Times in 2010, which included a panel discussion with Ellsberg and Times editors marking the 35th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling.
Ellsberg is survived by his wife, Patricia, sons Robert and Michael, and daughter Mary, as well as five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His contribution to history will always be remembered.