Daniel Ellsberg copies top-secret documents in Santa Monica to end Vietnam War

In the early 1970s, Daniel Ellsberg, disillusioned by the Vietnam War, began photocopying top-secret documents at an ad agency in Santa Monica. He believed these documents, which revealed decades of government deception regarding the war, could help inform the public and potentially end the conflict. Ellsberg often worked late at night, sometimes with his son, to complete the laborious task of duplicating the sensitive materials. When Ellsberg and his co-defendant, Russo, faced trial in 1972, the case raised significant questions about national security and the public's right to know. The defense argued that the disclosures did not threaten national defense and that much of the information had already been made public in various forms. The jury selection process was contentious, with initial jurors appearing biased against Ellsberg. The trial was further complicated by the Nixon administration's attempts to influence the proceedings, including alleged bribery of the judge. This interference ultimately led to a significant turning point in the case, as the defense team debated how to reveal this misconduct. The trial's outcome was uncertain, but the revelations surrounding Ellsberg's actions and the government's response would have lasting implications. Ellsberg's leak of the Pentagon Papers is often credited with contributing to the growing anti-war sentiment in the United States. The subsequent scandal surrounding Nixon's efforts to cover up various illegal activities, including the break-in at Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office, played a crucial role in the president's eventual resignation.