Daniel Ellsberg, the renowned whistleblower who uncovered the extent of US involvement in the Vietnam War, has died at the age of 92. His family announced that he passed away at his home in Kensington, California, after battling pancreatic cancer.
Ellsberg’s courageous act in 1971, leaking the Pentagon Papers, earned him the label “the most dangerous man in America.” The leaked documents, consisting of 7,000 pages, exposed the deception employed by multiple US presidents regarding the war. Their release proved instrumental in galvanizing public opposition and played a significant role in ending the Vietnam War. Moreover, it contributed to the erosion of President Richard M. Nixon’s administration.
The publication of the Pentagon Papers led to a high-profile legal battle between the Nixon administration and The New York Times, which first disclosed the documents. Government officials accused the leak of compromising national security and framed it as an act of espionage. However, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of press freedom, safeguarding the right to publish the papers.
Although Ellsberg faced charges of theft, espionage, conspiracy, and other offenses, the case took a dramatic turn. The judge dismissed the charges due to substantial government misconduct, including illegal wiretapping. It came to light that the judge had been offered the position of FBI director by one of President Nixon’s top aides during the trial. Additionally, evidence emerged of a government-sanctioned burglary at Ellsberg’s psychiatrist’s office.
Throughout his life, Ellsberg remained a relentless critic of government overreach and military interventions. His experiences as a former US military analyst, advising the White House on nuclear strategy and assessing the Vietnam War for the Department of Defense, profoundly impacted his worldview. Fueled by his desire to end the war, Ellsberg believed that exposing the truth to the public could drive political pressure for change.
In an email obtained by The Washington Post in March 2023, Ellsberg wrote about his motivations during the release of the Pentagon Papers. Despite facing the prospect of spending the rest of his life behind bars, he expressed his willingness to accept such a fate if it meant hastening an end to the Vietnam War.
In his final months, Ellsberg continued to raise awareness about the perils of nuclear war and emphasized the importance of whistleblowing. His legacy as a truth-seeker, anti-war activist, and patriotic truth-teller will endure, inspiring countless individuals.
