On June 13, 1971, The New York Times began publishing the Pentagon Papers, a collection of top-secret documents exposing U.S. strategy in the Vietnam War. This release sent shockwaves through the United States, forever altering the landscape of journalism, government transparency, and public trust.

The Pentagon Papers were a top-secret government study spanning from 1945 to 1967 that documented the United States’ political and military involvement in Vietnam. Commissioned by then-Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, the study aimed to provide an internal review of the war effort. The papers revealed a stark contrast between the public narrative presented to the public and private assessments of military officials.

The New York Times and The Washington Post published excerpts of these papers after receiving them from whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, a former military analyst. The decision to release these classified documents was met with considerable controversy and legal challenges from the U.S. government. The Nixon administration sought injunctions to halt the publication, arguing that national security would be compromised. The legal battles that ensued tested the boundaries of the First Amendment. In 1971, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of The New York Times and The Washington Post upheld the fundamental principle that prior restraint on publication should only be justified under exceptional circumstances.

The release of the Pentagon Papers marked a turning point in government accountability. It exposed the discrepancies between official statements and classified information, revealing a pattern of deliberate misinformation. This ignited public demand for greater transparency in government operations, fostering a renewed skepticism toward official narratives. The papers also impacted the public’s perception of the Vietnam War. The revelations shook public trust in the government’s handling of the conflict and fueled anti-war sentiment. This provoked opposition to the war effort, ultimately shaping the course of U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

The New York Times’ decision to publish the Pentagon Papers stands as a testament to the vital role of journalism in fostering an informed society and holding power to account.

Learn more about the Pentagon Papers here:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pentagon-Papers

https://www.archives.gov/research/pentagon-papers

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/daythepr.htm