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press kit contentssynopsis 1

accolades 2

quotes 2

aboutthefilmmakers 3

aboutDanielEllsberg 3

oncamerainterviews 6

PresidentNixonrecordingstranscript 9

credits 11

images 12

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synopsisONE PARAGRAPH

In 1971,DanielEllsberg, a leadingVietnamWar strategist, concludes thewar isbasedondecadesoflies.Heleaks7,000pagesoftop-secretdocumentstoTheNewYorkTimes,adaringactofconsciencethatleadsdirectlytoWatergate,PresidentNixon’sresignationandtheendoftheVietnamWar.

FULL SYNOPSIS

TheMostDangerousManinAmericacatapultsusto1971wherewefindAmericainthegripofafamiliarscenario:adirtywarbasedonlies.AndDr.DanielEllsberg,oneofthenation’sleadingwarplanners,hasthedocumentstoproveit.Armedwith7000pagesofTopSecretdocuments;heleaksthetruthabouttheVietnamWartoTheNewYorkTimesandriskslifeinprisontoendthewarhehelpedplan.Itisastorythatheldtheworldinitsgrip,withdailyheadlines,thetopstoryonthenightlynewsforweeksonend.

WhatmakesadedicatedColdWarriorthrowawayhishigh-levelaccess,hiscareer,hisfriends,andrisklifeinprisonforamereCHANCEathelpingtoendthewar?TheDanielEllsberginthefirstpartofthefilmisabrilliant,complexmanwrestlingwithhisconscienceoverhisroleinawarheseesfirstasaproblemtobesolved,thenasahopelessstalemate,finallyasacrimetobestoppedatanycosts.

Ellsberg’sleakofthetop-secretPentagonPaperstoTheNewYorkTimessetsintomotionanextraordinaryseriesofevents. TheNixonAdministrationfirstgoesafterthenation’spress,resultinginaFirstAmendmentbattlethat,withintwoweeks,endsupintheSupremeCourt.EllsberggoesundergroundtoavoidanationwideFBImanhunt.Whenheemerges,heishailedasahero,accusedofbeingatraitor,ostracizedbyfriends,andfindshimselfontrialforhislife.

Butevenwhileon trial, thecharismaticEllsberggrabscenterstage. Ever-presenton talkshows and press conferences, he reveals to the American public important truths aboutgovernmentsecrecyand lies. DubbedbyHenryKissingeras“themostdangerousman inAmericawhomustbestoppedatallcosts,”EllsbergistargetedbyPresidentNixonhimself,whofearsEllsbergmightleaksomeofNixon’sownwarplans.“Screwthecourts,”saysthePresident,“let’strytheson-of-a-bitchinthepress.”ButNixon’sobsessionwithEllsbergleadstothePresident’sdownfall,and,byaseriesofeventsEllsbergcouldn’thaveimagined,anend,finally,totheVietnamWar.

OurtaleistoldbyEllsberg—asnarrator,incurrentinterviewsandrivetingarchivalfootage—andacastofsupportingcharacterswho“lived”thePentagonPapersepisodeincludingEllsberg’swifeandson,“co-conspirator”TonyRusso,historian/activistHowardZinn,journalistsHedrickSmithandMaxFrankel,attorneysLennyWeinglassandJamesGoodale,WatergateprincipalsEgil “Bud”KroghandJohnDean,and— ina rarelyseen interviewandhisownsecretWhitehousetapes—PresidentNixonhimself.

Ourfilmspeaksdirectlytotheworldtoday,asnationalsecurityandthepeople’sright-to-knowareinconstanttension.Itraisesquestionsaboutcivilcourage,followingconscience,takingrisks,andspeakingtruthtopower.Itchallengespeopleeverywherewhoarelookingtobetterunderstandtheworldofpowerandwhosearchtheirownheartsforwaystotakeastandandmakeadifference.

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accolades

quotes“Riveting! A straight-ahead, enthralling story of moral courage. This story changed the world. The movie offers one revelatory interview after another. CRITICS’ PICK!” David Edelstein, NEW YORK MAGAZINE

“Detailed, clearly told, persuasive” Mike Hale, THE NEW YORK TIMES

“A Must-See! Crams a wealth of material into 90 minutes without losing clarity or momentum. Focuses on (Ellsberg’s) moral turnaround, which directly impacted history. A unique fusion of personal and social drama.” Ronnie Scheib, VARIETY

“The filmmakers do an astounding job… earnest, smart documentary… “The Most Dangerous Man” offers a brisk and eye-opening approach to recent history.” Chris Barsanti, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

“The most exciting thriller I’ve seen in a while… as powerful as anything Hollywood can throw at us.” V.A. Musetto, NEW YORK POST

“The essential new documentary. A profile that works as both a biographical portrait of a man marked by personal tragedy… and a study in belated conscience… Henry Kissinger unwittingly lends the doc its title.“ Joshua Rothkopf, TIME OUT NEW YORK

“Gripping! Almost seismic drama. A classic whistleblower tale.” Owen Gleiberman, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY ONLINE

ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE-BestDocumentary2010

SPECIAL JURY AWARD-InternationalDocumentaryFilmFestivalAmsterdam(IDFA)

“FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AWARD” & ONE OF TOP FIVE DOCUMENTARIES-NationalBoardofReview

AUDIENCE AWARD, BEST DOCUMENTARY-MillValley(CA)FilmFestival

OFFICIAL SELECTIONS:2009TorontoInternationalFilmFestival

2009VancouverFilmFestivalWatchDocs,Warsaw,Poland

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about the filmmakers

about Daniel Ellsberg

JudithEhrlichandRickGoldsmith,co-producersandco-directorsofTHEMOSTDANGEROUSMANINAMERICA,arenationally-renowneddocumentaryfilmmakerswhosecogentandinspirationalfilmsdealwiththethemesofrisk,conscience,dissentandcommitmenttoideals.

RickGoldsmithproducedanddirectedtheAcademy-Award-nominateddocumentaryfeature“Tell theTruthandRun:GeorgeSeldesand theAmericanPress” (1996),broadcastnationwideonpublic televisionandcablecastontheSundanceChannel.ThefilmdissectsAmericanjournalismthroughouttheTwentiethCenturythroughtheactionsofatrulyindependentnewspaperman,andisapiercinglookatcensorshipandsuppressioninthemedia.Goldsmith also co-produced and co-directed “Everyday Heroes” (2001), a behind-the-headlines documentaryfeatureaboutAmeriCorps(thedomesticPeaceCorps),toldthroughadiverseteamofyoungmenandwomenwhogiveayearoftheirlivestonationalservice.Hewaswriterandeditorontworecentone-hourdocumentaries,JudithSchaefer’s“SoLongAreYouYoung”(2006)andAbbyGinzberg’s“SoulofJustice:TheltonHenderson’sAmericanJourney”(2005),whichwasbroadcastnationwideonpublictelevisioninFebruary,2008.

GoldsmithwasbornandraisedonLongIsland,NewYork,andcameofageduringthewarinVietnam.HestudiedarchitectureanddabbledinfilmattheRhodeIslandSchoolofDesign.In1975hetraveledwestandhaslivedintheBayAreaeversince.

JudithEhrlichco-producedandco-directedtheawardwinningPBSdocumentary,“TheGoodWarandThoseWhoRefusedtoFightIt”(2001),astoryofmenguidedbyprincipletotaketheunpopularpositionofpacifisminthefaceofWorldWarII.Thisrevealinglookatquestionsofwar,conscience,activismandthespirituallifeofcommittedindividualswasfundedbyITVSandtheMacArthurFoundationandwonbothmajorUShistoryfilmawardsin2003.DanielEllsbergservedasanadvisoron thatfilm. Ehrlichmadedozensofprize-winningeducationalfilmsandradiodocumentariesfortwodecadesonsubjectsofthepeacemovement,education,citizenparticipationandlow-incomehousing.Herclientsinclude:TheAmericanFriendsServicecommittee;theNationalParkService;AmericanRedCross;ACLU; thePackardFoundationandtheCaliforniaStateLibrarySystem. She iscurrentlyproducinganddirectingafilmontheinternmentandrelocationofItalianAmericanduringWWIIforPBSbroadcast.

EhrlichwasborninBrooklyn,NewYorkandgrewupinNapa,California.ShegraduatedfromUCBerkeleywithHonorsinPoliticalScienceandholdsaMastersinEducationwithhonorsfromUniversityofVermont.EhrlichridesherbiketoworkmostdaysandteachesDocumentaryfilmatBerkeleyCityCollege.SheismarriedtoherrecordingengineerandhasasonwhoisaMountainbikeracerandUCSantaCruzfreshman.

DanielEllsbergwasbornApril7,1931andgrewupinDetroit,Michigan.HeattendedHarvardUniversity,graduatingsummacum laude in1952. He laterearnedhisPh.D. inEconomicsatHarvard in1962withhis thesis, “Risk,Ambiguity andDecision.” His research leading up to this dissertation iswidely considered a landmark in thefoundationofdecisiontheoryandbehavioraleconomics.HedescribedaparadoxindecisiontheorynowknownastheEllsbergparadox.

Ellsbergspentthreeyears(1954-57)intheU.S.MarineCorps,servingasrifleplatoonleader,operationsofficer,andriflecompanycommander.From1959-64,hewasastrategicanalystattheCalifornia-basedRANDCorporation,andconsultanttotheDefenseDepartmentandtheWhiteHouse,specializinginproblemsofthecommandandcontrolofnuclearweapons,nuclearwarplans,andcrisisdecision-making.

EllsbergjoinedtheDefenseDepartmentin1964asSpecialAssistanttoAssistantSecretaryofDefense(InternationalSecurityAffairs),JohnMcNaughton,whowastheassistanttoPresidentLyndonJohnson’sSecretaryofDefense,RobertMcNamara.Ellsberg’sreportsonVietcongatrocitieshelpedMcNamaraimplementplansforbombingNorthVietnam.“OperationRollingThunder.”beganinFebruary,1965,andtheintensivebombingcampaigncontinuedforoverthreeyears.

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about Daniel Ellsberg continued

Uneasyabouthow thewarwasgoing,Ellsbergwanted tosee thewarfirst-hand. He transferred to theStateDepartmentin1965andservedtwoyearsattheU.S.EmbassyinSaigon,evaluatingpacificationonthefrontlines.BythetimehereturnedtotheUnitedStates,hehadchangedfromseeingVietnamas“aproblemtobesolved”toastalematethattheUnitedStatesneededtoexit.

EllsbergreturnedtotheRANDCorporationin1967,whereheworkedonthetop-secretMcNamarastudyofU.S.decision-makinginVietnam,1945-68,whichlatercametobeknownasthePentagonPapers.Hereadtheentire7,000-pagestudy(oneofonlythreementodoso—theothersbeingLeslieGelbandMortHalperin,theheadsofthestudy)bylatesummerof1969.HereadaboutthewarbeinganAmericanwarfromthestart,andfourconsecutivePresidentswhokeptthewargoingwhiletheyknewitwasunwinnable.Hecametounderstandeachwasmotivatedbythedesirenotto“loseface.”BasedonwhathehadseeninthePentagonandinVietnam,andnowonwhathereadinthiscomprehensivestudy,EllsbergcametoseethewarinVietnamasnotjustastalemate,or“anoblecausegonewrong”,butasacrime–asmassmurder.Hewaslaterfamouslyquotedsaying,“Weweren’tonthewrongside;wewerethewrongside.”

Ataboutthesametime,Ellsbergmetandbecameinfluencedbyanti-war,non-violentactivists,includingGandhi-istJanakiNatarajananddraftresistorRandyKehler.Theirprincipled

oppositiontothewarandwillingnesstoriskprisonledEllsbergtoquestionhisowncommitmenttohelpendthewar.

InOctober, 1969,with the help of AnthonyRusso, a former colleague from theRANDCorporation, he beganphotocopyingthe7,000pagestudy.Fromthefallof1969throughthespringof1971,heofferedcopiesofthestudytoseveralmembersofCongress,includingWilliamFulbright,chairmanoftheSenateForeignRelationsCommittee,andSenatorGeorgeMcGovern,whowas running forPresidentonananti-warplatform.Allefforts to influencemembersofCongressorothersingovernmentwiththestudyprovedfruitless.

WhileatRAND in late1968,EllsbergwasaskedbyPresident-electRichardNixon’s incomingNationalSecurityAdvisor,HenryKissinger,todrawupoptionpapersforthewarinVietnam,whichwasatitsheight,withover500,000Americantroopsdeployed.KissingerknewEllsbergfromaseriesoflecturesthatEllsberggaveatHarvardin1959titled“Theconsciouspoliticaluseof irrationalmilitary threats” (Ellsberg’s title:ThePoliticalUsesofMadness).Kissingeriswidelyquotedassaying“IlearnedmoreaboutbargainingfromEllsbergthananyoneelse.”Duringthe1968meetings,andsubsequentmeetingsoverthenextyearandahalf,EllsbergtriedtoimpressuponKissingerthelessonstobelearnedfromtheMcNamarastudy,thefollyofVietnam,andtheneedtogetout.Kissingerwasnotreceptive.

In early 1970, the FBI—on information provided by Ellsberg’s former wife’s stepmother—visited the RANDCorporation,inquiringaboutEllsbergandthetop-secretMcNamarastudy.Ellsberg’sboss,HarryRowen,toldtheFBIthatEllsbergwasauthorizedtohavethestudy,andtheinquiryendedthere.InApril,1970,Ellsberg,leftRANDinordertoavoidimplicatinghisRANDcolleagues,andtookapositionattheMassachusettsInstituteofTechnology(MIT)inCambridge,Massachusetts.

Inthesummerof1970,EllsbergmarriedPatriciaMarx,asyndicatedradiohostandheiresstotheMarxToyCompanywhomhehadmetsixyearsearlier.AfterdatinginDC,shehadvisitedhiminVietnamandtraveledtoIndiawhere,waistdeepintheGangesRiver,heaskedhertomarryhim.Theysplitup,largelybecauseofdifferencesoverthewar—shewasagainstit,andhewasworkingforthePentagonandtheStateDepartment.Theyreunitedafterhisspiritualandpoliticaltransformation.Shortlyaftertheymarried,Patricia,wellawarethatrevealingthetop-secretstudycouldlandhernewhusbandinprisonforlife,supportedDaniel’sdecisiontoriskprisonbymakingthestudypublic.

InMarchof1971EllsbergshowedthestudytoreporterNeilSheehanoftheNewYorkTimes.TheNewYorkTimesbeganpublishingexcerptsfromthetop-secret,classifiedstudyonJune13,1971.ThenewspaperwasenjoinedbytheNixonadministrationfromfurtherpublicationtwodayslater.

IdentifiedastheprobablesourceoftheleakonJune16,1971,EllsbergwaspursuedbytheFBI.ItwasamanhuntofsuchmassiveproportionsitwasdescribedasthelargestsincetheinfamousLindberghbabykidnapping.TheEllsbergshidoutinCambridgefortwoweeks,whilesuccessfullydistributingcopiesofthestudytotheWashingtonPostandothernewspapers,17inall,andtoSenatorMikeGravel,whoreadfromitandentereditintotheSenaterecord.DanielEllsbergturnedhimselfinattheFederalcourthouseinBostononJune28,1971.Hewaschargedunder theEspionageActwith“unauthorizedpossession”and“theft”of thePentagonPapers,withamaximumsentenceof20yearsinprison.

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about Daniel Ellsberg continued

Ellsberg’scolleagueTonyRussowascalledbeforetheGrandJury,butRussorefusedtotestifyagainstEllsberg.InDecember,1971,Russowasaddedtotheindictment,andEllsberg’schargesnowincluded“conspiracy”andeightothercounts,andhismaximumpenaltyincreasedto115years.

TheRusso-EllsbergtrialwasscheduledtobegininJuly,1972,butwaspostponeduntilJanuary3,1973,shortlyafter Richard Nixon was re-elected in a landslide over George McGovern. The Los Angeles trial lasted fourmonths.AbombshelllandedonApril26,1973,whenitwasdiscoveredintheWatergateinvestigation,happeningsimultaneously inWashington, D.C., that burglars under the direction of a “Special InvestigationsUnit” of theNixonWhiteHouseknownasthe“Plumbers”,brokeintotheofficeofEllsberg’spsychiatrist,Dr.LewisFielding,inSeptemberof1971.Afewdayslater,anewspaperrevealedthatJudgeMatthewByrne,presidingovertheRusso-Ellsbergtrial,hadbeenvisitedbytopNixonaideJohnEhrlichmanandofferedthepositionofdirectoroftheFBI.Dayslater,itwasdiscoveredthatEllsberghadbeenrecordedonillegalwiretapsforuptotwoyears.OnMay11,1973,theRusso-EllsbergtrialwasdismissedbyJudgeByrnebecauseofthemassivegovernmentalmisconduct.Allchargesagainstthetwomenweredroppedandtheywerefreed.

Meanwhile,therevelationsoftheFieldingbreak-inledtochargesandconvictionsofbothEgilKrogh,headofthe“Plumbers”andJohnEhrlichman,whohadauthorizedthebreak-inofEllsberg’spsychiatrist’soffice.NixonWhiteHouseCounselJohnDeanassertsthatitwastheFieldingbreak-in—withitsdirectlinkstotheWhiteHouse–ratherthanthebreak-inoftheDemocraticheadquartersattheWatergateHotelthatdrovethecover-upandthuswasthedownfalloftheNixonadministration.Therevelationsofthisbreak-inledtotwoofthefourarticlesofimpeachmentdrawnupagainstPresidentNixon,whofinallyresignedfromofficeonAugust8,1974.

ThedaybeforetheRusso-Ellsbergtrialended,onMay10,1973,CongressvotedtocutofffundsforthewarinVietnam.Americanforcespulledout,andAmericanbombingceased,shortlythereafter.ThewarfinallyendedinApril,1975,aftermorethantwomillionSoutheastAsians,and58,000Americans,diedinthewar.

Ellsbergwroteabouthisexperiencesandanalysisoftheon-goingwarinVietnamwhileawaitingtrial,inhis1972bookPapersontheWar.Here-visitedtheseexperiencesinhis2002bookSecrets:AMemoirofVietnamandthePentagonPapers,whichreachedbestsellerlistsacrossthenation.ItwonthePENCenterUSAAwardforCreativeNonfiction,theAmericanBookAward,theBayAreaBookReviewersAssociationPrizeforNon-Fiction,andwasaFinalistfortheLosAngelesTimesBookPrize.

SincetheendoftheVietnamWar,Ellsberghascontinuedtobealeadingvoiceofmoralconscience,servingasalecturer,writerandactivistonthedangersofthenuclearera,governmentwrongdoingandtheurgentneedforpatrioticwhistle-blowing.

During the run-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq hewarned of a possible “TonkinGulf scenario” that could beused to justify going towar, andcalledongovernment “insiders” togopublicwith information to counter theBushadministration’spro-warpropagandacampaign,praisingScottRitterforhiseffortsinthatregard.HelaterprovokedcriticismfromtheBushadministrationforsupportingBritishGCHQtranslatorKatharineGunandcallingonotherstoleakanypapersthatrevealgovernmentdeceptionabouttheinvasion.Ellsbergalsotestifiedatthe2004conscientiousobjectorhearingofCamiloMejiaatFortSill,Oklahoma.InSeptember2006,EllsbergwroteinHarper’sMagazinethathehopedsomeonewouldleakinformationaboutasupposedU.S.invasionofIranbeforetheinvasionhappened,tostopthewar.

Ellsberghasbeenarrestedmorethan70timesoverthepastfourdecades,protestingwarpolicies,thoseinvolvingnuclearproliferation,andothersocialcauses.InDecember2006Ellsbergwasawardedthe2006RightLivelihoodAward,knownasthe“AlternativeNobelPrize,”inStockholm,Sweden.Hewasacknowledged“forputtingpeaceandtruthfirst,atconsiderablepersonalrisk,anddedicatinghislifetoamovementtofreetheworldfromtheriskofnuclearwar.”

DanielEllsberglivesinNorthernCaliforniawithhiswife,PatriciaMarxEllsberg.Theirson,MichaelEllsberg, isadevelopmentaleditorwhodidmajorworkonSecrets.Ellsberg’soldestson(byhisfirstwife),RobertEllsberg,who,as a 13-year-old, helpedEllsberg Xerox thePentagonPapers, is publisher and editor-in-chief ofOrbisBooks.Ellsberg’sdaughter,MaryCarrollEllsberg,isseniorprogramofficeroftheProgramforAppropriateTechnologyinHealth(PATH).Ellsberghas5grandchildren.

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on camera interviewsin approximate order of appearance

Patricia Marx Ellsberg–Daniel’ssecondwife.ThedaughteroftoymagnateLouisMarx,Patriciawasanationallysyndicatedreporterforpublicradio,andanopponentoftheVietnamWarwhenshefirstdatedDaniel,whowasworkingatthePentagon,in1965.SheandDanielmarriedinAugustof1970.Stillmarried,theylivenearBerkeley,California.Patriciaisasocialchangeadvocatewithdecadesofexperienceinthepeace,energyandsocial justicemovements.SheisoftenatDan’ssidespeakingatanti-warandanti-nucleareventsandsometimesjoinshiminnon-violentprotestleadingtoarrest.PatriciaisanengagedBuddhistwhoteachesandwritesonthesubject.

Richard Falk–HistorianandexpertonVietnam,ProfessorEmeritusofinternationallawatPrincetonUniversity,authorofmorethan20books.FalkknewEllsbergasa“hawk”andColdWarriorinthelate1950sandearly1960s,whenhe(Falk)wasapeaceadvocate.FalkwascolleagueandfriendtobothRussoandEllsbergandtestifiedattheirtrial.Falkcontinuestobeanoutspokenadvocateofhumanrights.

Thomas Schelling–Ellsberg’smentorandthesisadvisoratHarvard. Schelling isconsideredoneofthemost influentialfiguresinthestudyofbargainingandstrategicbehavior.AneconomistwhointroducedEllsbergtotheRANDCorporationinthelate1950s,SchellingwasamajorplayeratRANDasanadvisortotheAirForceandDefenseDepartmentonnewandwaystowagewarandavertriskin theatomicage. SchellingwontheNobelPrize inEconomics in2005 for“havingenhancedourunderstandingofconflictandcooperationthroughgame-theoryanalysis.”

Tom Oliphant–Journalist.Intheearly1970s,OliphantworkedfortheBostonGlobecoveringtheanti-warmovement,andgottoknowEllsbergthroughNoamChomsky,whotoldOliphanthehadtomeetthis“newanti-warguyintown”in1970.InMarchof1971,afteraninterviewwithEllsberg,OliphantwrotethefirstarticleaboutthePentagonstudythat“hadapowerfuleffectonthosewhoreadit,”since“theonlythreepeople(includingDanielEllsberg)whoreadtheentirestudyalladvocatedwithdrawalfromVietnam.”ThearticlesparkedHenryKissinger’sinterestwhichpromptedtheEllsbergs,fearingavisitbytheFBI,toXeroxmorecopiesofthePaperssothattheirsolecopywouldnotbeconfiscatedbeforeitwaspublished.

Mort Halperin–SupervisoroftheMcNamarastudylaterknownasthePentagonPapers,1967-68.In1969,HalperinbecameanationalsecurityaidetoHenryKissinger,andlearnedthatPresidentNixon—whopledgeda “secretplan” toend thewar inVietnam, in realitywasplanning toescalate. Asafriendandcolleague,HalperinpassedthisinformationontoEllsberg,whothensawNixonbeingyetanotherinastringofPresidentswhorefusedtowithdrawfromVietnamforfearoflosingface.HalperinlatertestifiedforthedefenseandconsultedwiththedefenseteamintheEllsberg-Russotrial.HeiscurrentlyasenioradvisorfortheOpenSocietyInstitute.

Janaki Natajaran Tschannerl–GandhianpeaceactivistwhomEllsbergmetin1968,JanakiintroducedEllsberg to non-violence, the concept of “having no enemy” and to the teachings ofHenryDavidThoreauandMahatmaGandhi.HerBapagramaEducationalCenternearBangalore,Indiahasalongtraditionofsocialserviceandcommunityorganizing.

Randy Kehler–Pacifist,lifelongwar-taxresister,andadvocateforsocialjustice.In1969,ashewasabouttoenterprisonforwarresistance,Kehlergaveamovingspeech,ataWarResistersLeagueconferenceatHaverfordCollege. Kehler’s talkprofoundlyaffectedEllsberg’sdecisiontocopyandreleasethePentagonPapers.AnActofConscienceisa1997documentaryfilmbyRobbieLeppzeraboutKehlerandhiswife’swartaxresistance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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on camera interviews continued

Anthony (Tony) Russo–ColleagueofEllsberg’sattheRANDCorporation,Russospentmonths inVietnam,reportedtoRANDaboutAmericantortureofVietnameseprisoners.Hewasveryimpressedwiththethinkingandpassionofthe“Vietnamesegentlemen”ashecalledthemembersoftheNationalLiberationFront(“Vietcong”).AfterurgingEllsbergtoleakthetop-secretMcNamarareport,helocatedaXeroxmachineathisgirlfriend’sadvertisingagencythatthetwomenusedtoXeroxthePentagonPapersstudy.HewasjailedforrefusingtotestifyagainstEllsbergbeforetheGrandJuryandwastriedalongsideEllsbergforconspiracy.RussodiedofnaturalcausesinAugust,2008,ayearafterbeinginterviewedforthefilm.

Robert Ellsberg–Daniel’sson,byhisfirstmarriage,was13yearsoldwhenhisfatheraskedforhishelpinXeroxingthetop-secretPentagonPapersstudy.RobertwaslatercalledbeforetheGrandJurytotestifytohisfather’sactsanditwasRobert’stestimonythatservedasthebasisoftheindictmentagainstEllsbergandRusso.Atage19,hejoinedtheCatholicWorkerMovementandworkedwithitsfounder,DorothyDayforthelastfiveyearsofherlife.RobertearnedaMaster’sdegreeinTheologyfromHarvardDivinitySchool.Heiscurrentlytheeditor-in-chiefofOrbisBooks/MaryknollPress.Heistheauthorofseveralbooksincluding:AllSaintsDailyReflectionsonSaints,Prophets,andWitnessesforOurTime,andwastheeditorofSecrets(2002),hisfather’sbookaboutthePentagonPapers.

Paul “Pete” McCloskey–RepublicanCongressmanfromCalifornia,1967-83.Heranonananti-warplatformagainstPresidentRichardNixonfortheRepublicannominationforPresidentin1972.LikeEllsberg,McCloskeywasaMarine.HepublishedabookcalledTruthandUntruth:PoliticalDeceitinAmericain1972.OneofMcCloskey’senduringlegaciesishisco-authorshipofthe1973EndangeredSpeciesAct.

Howard Zinn–Historian,politicalscientist,socialcritic,anti-waractivistandplaywright,bestknownasauthoroftheclassic,“APeople’sHistoryoftheUnitedStates.”ZinntestifiedforthedefenseattheRusso-Ellsbergtrialin1973.ZinnwasabombardieraboardduringWorldWarII.Zinn’sparticipationinthesemissionsshapedhislateroppositiontowarandaerialbombing.

Hedrick Smith–In1971,SmithwasareporterforTheNewYorkTimesandworkedwithNeilSheehanfor threemonthson thePentagonPapersstory. Smithhadbeena reporter inVietnamforseveralyearsandlaterwonaPulitzerPrizeforhisreportingfromtheSovietUnionandEasternEurope.Heiscurrentlyaproducer/correspondentforFrontlineandotherPBSnewsandcurrenteventsproductions.

Max Frankel–In1971,FrankelwastheWashingtonbureauchiefforTheNewYorkTimesandoversawthewriting,editingandpublishingoftheTimes’PentagonPapersstories.Heservedasanimportantbridgebetweenthereporterswritingthestories,thepublisherandthelegalteamdefendingtheTimesrighttopublish.Angryaboutthegovernment’senjoiningtheTimes’PentagonPapersstories,Frankelwroteanessayrevealinghow“leaking”storiestothepresswasacommonpracticeforgovernmentofficials,ratherthanthe“traitorous”practicetheNixonAdministrationclaimed.TheessaywasreadbeforetheSupremeCourtandwasacontributingfactortotheSupremeCourtdecisioninfavorofTheNewYorkTimesandtheWashingtonPostonJune30,1971.FrankelwonaPulitzerPrizein1973forhiscoverageofPresidentNixon’striptoChinaandwasexecutiveeditoroftheTimes,1986-94.

James Goodale – The New York Times in-house General Counsel during the Pentagon Papers.He pushed the Times to reject the advice of its regular outside counsel, Lord Day & Lord, whorecommendedagainstpublishingthePentagonPapersstories.GoodalearguedthattheycouldandwouldwinanyFirstAmendmentlegalbattles,anddirectedthestrategywhichresultedinwinningthecaseforTheNewYorkTimesintheUnitedStatesSupremeCourt.HeisnowwiththeNewYorklawfirmDebevoise&Plimpton.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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on camera interviews continued

Ben Bagdikian–AssistantmanagingeditoroftheWashingtonPostin1971.BagdikianhadknownEllsbergatRANDyearsearlier.AftertheTimeswasenjoinedBagdikiantraveledtoCambridgetogetasetofthePentagonPapersfromEllsbergforthePost.WhenconfrontedbyPostlawyerswhoarguedthePostcouldonlyasserttheirrighttopublishthroughthecourts,Bagdikianfamouslyshotback,“Thewaytoasserttherighttopublishistopublish!”ThePostpublishedandtherestishistory.BagdikianwentontobecomedeanofJournalismattheGraduateSchoolforJournalismatUCBerkeley,andisknownforhis“TheMediaMonopoly,”anaccountofthedecreasingpresenceofcompetingnewspapers(andothernewsmedia)inAmerica.

Mike Gravel – Democratic Senator from Alaska, 1969-81. An opponent of the draft and of theVietnamwar,Gravel,asajuniorSenator,gainedfamebyreadingthePentagonPaperspubliclyintheSenateandintothepublicrecordduringthetimewhenthecourtshadenjoinedfournewspapersfrompublishingthemandtheSupremeCourthadnotyetruledonthecase(theywouldthenextday).HearrangedwithBeaconPresslaterthatyeartopublishthePentagonPapersinfull,andthis4-volumeset“SenatorGravelEdition”becamethemostcompleteversionofthepaperspublished.GravelranforPresidentin2008.

Anne Beeson–FormerAssociateLegalDirectoroftheAmericanCivilLibertiesUnion(ACLU),whereshespearheadedgroundbreakinginitiativestostoptheerosionofcivillibertiesinthenameofnationalsecurityandtoexpandtheuseof internationalhumanrightsstrategies in theareasof immigrants’rights,women’srights,andracialjustice.SheisnowExecutiveDirector,U.S.Programs,OpenSocietyInstitute.

John Dean – White House counsel to President Richard Nixon, 1970-73. Reframes the historyofWatergateasweknow it,makingclear themorepivotal roleof thebreak-in toDanielEllsberg’spsychiatrist’soffice inbringingdowntheNixonWhiteHouse. DuringtheWatergate investigations,Deandirectedspecialprosecutorstofactssurroundingtheillegalbreak-inofEllsberg’spsychiatrist’soffice,Dr.LewisFielding,inSeptemberof1971,ninemonthsbeforetheWatergatebreak-in.ThosefactsleddirectlytothedismissalofchargesintheEllsberg/Russotrial.DeanwasfiredbythePresidentonApril 30 (fourdaysafternewsof the “Fieldingbreak-in”becamepublic) andsubsequentlywasthe starwitness in hearingsbefore theSenateWatergateCommittee, inwhichDeanwas the firstadministrationofficialtopubliclyaccuseNixonofdirectinvolvementwithWatergateandtheresultingcover-up.Deanhimselfpleadedguiltytoobstructionofjusticeandservedtimeinminimum-securityprison.DeanisaregularcommentatoronMSNBCandauthorof9booksonAmericanpolitics.

Egil “Bud” Krogh–co-director(withDavidYoung)oftheNixonWhiteHouseSpecialInvestigationUnit(nicknamed“ThePlumbers”),whichwasputtogetherindirectresponsetotheleakandpublicationofthePentagonPapers.UnderKrogh’ssupervision,E.HowardHuntandG.GordonLiddyhatchedaplottodiscreditEllsberg,orblackmailhim,byputtingtogetheradamningpsychologicalprofileonhim,tobeobtainedbybreakingintotheofficeofEllsberg’sBeverlyHillspsychiatrist,Dr.LewisFielding.Whenthebreak-inwasrevealedduringEllsberg’strial,Kroghsteppedforwardandtoldalltothetrialjudge.HesubsequentlypledguiltytofederalchargesofconspiringtoviolateFielding’scivilrightsandagreedtocooperatewithprosecutors.Hewassentencedtotwotosixyearsinprisonandservedfour-and-a-halfmonths.Hecurrentlyisafrequentlectureronthetopicoflegalethicsandintegrity-baseddecisionmaking.His2007book,Integrity:GoodPeople,BadChoices,andLifeLessonsfromtheWhiteHousecontainsaforewordwrittenbyDanielEllsberg.

Leonard Weinglass – Lawyer for Tony Russo and part of the joint defense team (with LeonardBoudinandCharlesNesson,Ellsberg’slawyers)forRussoandEllsbergintheirPentagonPaperstrial.Weinglasshasoftenactedasdefenseattorneyfor those involved in left-leaningpoliticsorpoliticalactsagainsttheestablishment.WithWilliamKunstler,herepresentedKathyBoudin(LeonardBoudin’sdaughter)oftheWeatherUnderground,andtheChicago7intheir1968trial.HehasalsorepresentedAngelaDavis,JaneFonda,BillandEmilyHarris(kidnappersofPattyHearst),andMumiaAbu-Jamal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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President Nixon recordings transcript

01:58:35;13

Haig:This,uh,goddamnedNewYorkTimesexposeofthemosthighlyclassifieddocumentsofthewar.

Nixon:Youmeanthat…thatwasleakedoutofthePentagon?

Haig:Sir,thisisadevastatingsecuritybreachofthegreatestmagnitudeofanythingI’veeverseen.

Nixon:Well,didweknowthiswascomingout?

Haig:Nowedidnot,sir.

Nixon:I’djuststartrightatthetopandfiresomepeople.Imeanwhateverdepartmentitcameoutof,I’dfirethetopguy.

-HaigandNixononSunday,June13,1971,thedayTheNewYorkTimesfirstpublishedthePentagonPapers

01:01:11;18

Kissinger:Thisisanattackonthewholeintegrityofgovernment.Ifwholefilecabinetscanbestolenandthenmadeavailabletothepress,youcan’thaveorderlygovernmentanymore.

-NationalSecurityAdvisorHenryKissingerspeakingtoPresidentNixononJune14,1971,thedayafterTheNewYorkTimesbeginspublishingthePentagonPapers

02:00:15;10

Nixon:Nowlistenhere,printingtopsecretinformation,Idon’tcarehowyoufeelaboutthewar,whetherthey’reforitoragainstit,youcan’tandshouldnotdoit.It’sanattackontheintegrityofgovernment.Bygod,I’mgoingtofightthatson-of-a-bitchingpaper.Theydon’tknowwhat’sgonnahit‘emnow.

-Nixonspeaking toKissingerandothersonJune15,1971. TheNixonAdministrationwasable togetacourtenjoinmentoftheTimesthatsameday.

02:14:29;00

Nixon:Justbecausesomeguy’sgoingtobeamartyr,wecan’tbeinapositionofallowingthefellowtogetawaywiththiskindofwholesalethieveryotherwiseit’sgoingtohappenalloverthegovernment.Ijustsaythatwe’vegottokeepoureyeonthemainball.ThemainballisEllsberg.We’vegottogetthisson-of-a-bitch.

–NixontoAttorneyGeneralJohnMitchellonJune29,1971,thedayafterEllsbergsurrenderedtofederalofficialsinBoston.

02:09:51;00

Nixon:IwantedtotellyouthatIwassodamnedmadwhenthatSupremeCourthadtocomedown.First,Ididn’tliketheirdecision,unbelievable,wasn’tit?Youknowthoseclownswegotonthere,Itellyou,IhopeIoutlivethebastards.

-NixontoFBIDirectorJ.EdgarHooveronJuly1,1971,thedayafter theSupremeCourtdecisionallowingthenewspaperstocontinuepublishing.

02:15:36;28

Nixon:Thedifficultyisthatallthegoodlawyersalwayssay,“Well,we’vegottowinthecourtcase.”Screwthecourtcase!Let’sconvicttheson-of-a-bitchinthepress!That’sthewayit’sdone!

-NixonspeakingtoWhiteHouseChiefofStaffBobHaldeman,SpecialCounselChuckColson,andMitchell,onJuly1,1971

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President Nixon Recordings Transcript continued

02:15:54;27

Nixon:We’vegottogetabetterteam.

Colson:There’soneguyontheoutside.He’shardasnails.HisnameisHowardHunt.

Nixon:Hecoulddoit.AndI’lldirecthimmyself.AndIplayitglovesoff.Nowgoddamnit,getgoingonit.

-NixonspeakstoColsonandHaldemanonJuly1,1971

01:30:18;28

Nixon:Foronce,we’vegottousethemaximumpowerofthiscountryagainstthisshit-asslittlecountry…towinthewar.

-PresidenttoGeneralAlexanderHaig,DeputyAssistanttothePresidentforNationalSecurityAffairs,Kissinger,andTreasurySecretaryJohnConnallyintheOvalOffice

02:20:19;00

Nixon:Istillthinkweoughttotakethedikesoutnow.Willthatdrownpeople?

Kissinger:Thatwilldrownabout200,000people.

Nixon:Well,no,no,no,no,no,I’dratheruseanuclearbomb.Haveyougotthatready?

Kissinger:ThatIthinkwouldjustbetoomuch,uh…

Nixon:Anuclearbomb,doesthatbotheryou?Ijustwantyoutothinkbig,Henry,forChristsakes.

-NixonandKissingeronApril25,1972

01:32:40;08

Nixon:Henry,youdon’thaveanyidea.TheonlyplacewhereyouandIdisagree...iswithregardtothebombing.You’resogoddamnedconcernedabouttheciviliansandIdon’tgiveadamn.Idon’tcare.

Kissinger: I’m concerned about the civiliansbecause I don’twant theworld to bemobilized against you as abutcher.

-ConversationbetweenNixonandKissinger,May5,1972

02:25:44;03

Nixon:Son-of-a-bitchin’thiefismadeanationalheroandisgonnagetoffonamistrial.TheNewYorkTimesgetsaPulitzerPrizeforstealingdocuments.They’retryingtogetatuswiththieves.WhatinthenameofGodhavewecometo?

-NixonspeakingtoHaigandHaldemanonMay11,1973,thedaythatamistrialisdeclaredandallchargesaredroppedagainstEllsbergandRusso.

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creditsProduced and Directed by

JudithEhrlichandRickGoldsmith

A co-production ofJudithEhrlich,RickGoldsmithand

IndependentTelevisionService(ITVS)

withmajorfundingprovidedbytheCorporationforPublicBroadcasting(CPB)

andZDF/Arte

Executive ProducerJodieEvans

Original Score byBlakeLeyh

Director of PhotographyVicenteFranco

Edited byMichaelChandler,RickGoldsmith,

LawrenceLerew

Written byLawrenceLerew,RickGoldsmith,Judith

Ehrlich,MichaelChandler

Based,inpart,onSecrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers

byDanielEllsberg

Narrated byDanielEllsberg

Associate ProducerLynnAdler

Assistant ProducerMaxGood

Sound RecordingNickBertoni

RickGoldsmith

ColoristGaryCoates

Director of Photography, Re-enactmentsDanKrauss

Post-Production SoundBerkeleySoundArtists

AnimationEliNoyes

Graphic DesignMatBaldwin

HD On-line EditorJesseSpencer

Archival ResearchLynnAdler

MichelDolan

MaxGood

SusanneMason

KennRabin

DavidWashburn

35mm PrintAlphaCine,Seattle

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images