Programme 14: 14th October 2007

Listen to the show

Daniel Ellberg, leaked the 'Pentagon Papers' to the New York Times in 1971

In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg made history by releasing to the New York Times top-secret Government documents which became known as the 'Pentagon Papers'.  The leak set in motion a chain of events that ended the Nixon presidency and the Vietnam War.

A former Cold War hardliner, Ellsberg's view on America's Vietnam policy had begun to change during two years spent in Vietnam.  When he was invited to contribute to a top-secret Department of Defence study of US policy in Vietnam, he gained access to documents which proved that the US public had been consistently misled. 

The leaks generated public anger with President Nixon and Ellsberg went on the run.  Nixon ordered a campaign to discredit Ellsberg and White House investigators broke into his psychiatrist's office seeking damaging information.  Ellsberg finally surrendered to the Attorney General facing a 115 year sentence for 12 felonies, but he was eventually acquitted.

This programme was originally broadcast on 11th December 2006