Secrets and Scandals: The Pentagon Papers

This chapter examines the national security implications of the Pentagon Papers, focusing on the CIA's discoveries regarding America's Vietnam involvement and the motivations behind Daniel Ellsberg's leak. It highlights the Nixon administration's paranoid responses, including the formation of the Plumbers unit to address information leaks, and the subsequent illegal actions taken to protect classified information. The discussion also touches on the Watergate scandal, reflecting on the ethical dilemmas faced by leaders and the impact of these events on U.S. governance.