About

Born in 1931, Ellsberg grew up in a Jewish family and served as a Marine Corps officer before joining the RAND Corporation as a strategic analyst. However, his disillusionment with U. S. policies in Vietnam led him to leak classified documents to several major newspapers in 1971. The Pentagon Papers revealed that the government had systematically lied to the American public about the nature and progress of the war. Ellsberg's actions ignited a legal firestorm, with the U. S. government charging him with espionage and theft of government property. The subsequent trial ended in a mistrial due to government misconduct and illegal wiretapping, leading to a dismissal of all charges against Ellsberg. Ellsberg's actions had a significant impact on public opinion and the eventual end of the Vietnam War. He became a symbol of moral courage, and his case helped to establish protection for whistleblowers. Since then, Ellsberg has been involved in various political and social causes, advocating for nuclear disarmament, freedom of the press, and government transparency. He has written several books on his experiences and continues to be a vocal critic of U. S. foreign policy. Overall, Daniel Ellsberg's leaking of the Pentagon Papers exposed government deception and inspired a movement for transparency and accountability, making him a key figure in American history.