Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers
Daniel Ellsberg
A book-length account for readers who want more detail.
1971 · Washington, D.C., New York and Massachusetts
Daniel Ellsberg & the Pentagon Papers
Journalism, whistleblowers & accountability
Photo credit
Takomabibelot / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0. Cropped/resized. Adaptations use the same license.Photographs are cropped to fit. Photo dates and original images are available through the source credits.
Daniel Ellsberg supplied newspapers with a classified study of U.S. decision-making in Vietnam. The disclosures set off a struggle over government secrecy and press freedom. His memoir and documentary examine the decision to leak the papers, the legal response and the people involved.
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The Story
When1971
WhereWashington, D.C., New York and Massachusetts
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The Post (2017)
Steven Spielberg · Historical Dramatization
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MVFF: The Most Dangerous Man in American: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers (B+)
A festival viewer reviews The Most Dangerous Man in America, the documentary about Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers.
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Books
1 itemsDaniel Ellsberg
Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers
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The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009)
Documentary about Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers. PBS provides the film guide; the memoir is a companion firsthand account.
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Steven Spielberg · Historical Dramatization
The Post (2017)
A drama about the Washington Post’s decision to publish the Pentagon Papers. Its main focus is the newspaper and its leadership, offering a related perspective on the documents Ellsberg disclosed rather than an Ellsberg biography.
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Television Dramatization
The Pentagon Papers (2003)
A scripted television film about Daniel Ellsberg and the disclosure of the Pentagon Papers. Reconstructed personal scenes and dialogue should be distinguished from the historical documents and firsthand accounts.
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Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers
Search Audiobook Editions · paid linkDaniel Ellsberg
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Steven Spielberg · Historical Dramatization
The Post (2017)
A drama about the Washington Post’s decision to publish the Pentagon Papers. Its main focus is the newspaper and its leadership, offering a related perspective on the documents Ellsberg disclosed rather than an Ellsberg biography.
Fiction / DramatizationTitle & Source Information
Last Checked: · Access may changeReport a Link (Email)
View on Prime Video · paid linkViewing options & film details
Prime Video · Check current price and availability on Amazon.
Television Dramatization
The Pentagon Papers (2003)
A scripted television film about Daniel Ellsberg and the disclosure of the Pentagon Papers. Reconstructed personal scenes and dialogue should be distinguished from the historical documents and firsthand accounts.
Fiction / DramatizationTitle & Source Information
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View on Amazon · paid linkCredits & title details on IMDb
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Library of Congress · Free Article
Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers | Crime, Corruption, and Cover-Ups | Explore | Drawing Justice: The Art of Courtroom Illustration | Exhibitions at the Library of Congress
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Papers on the War
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Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers — Ebook
Daniel Ellsberg. Related reading for Daniel Ellsberg & the Pentagon Papers. Check the current subscription terms and available sample; trial offers are not permanent free access.
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Reading Access Notes
Search reviewed 2026-09-16. Sources searched: Google Books, Internet Archive, Open Library, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Magazine, The Atavist Magazine, Google Books (case/title search), Scribd, Everand, OverDrive and hoopla (combined title search). Search indexing is incomplete; this is not an exhaustive list of the web. Access can change by edition, country and library membership. Library loans may require sign-in or a wait. Everand titles may need a paid subscription; a trial is not permanent free access. Scribd documents are third-party uploads, with uploader details noted where checked. We link to source pages and write our own descriptions rather than reproducing copyrighted books.
A separate Texas Monthly search was blocked by the publisher’s automated-access rules and could not be verified.
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Positive Outcome
Positive Outcome
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Constitutional ruling · Supreme Court opinion
1971: The Pentagon Papers press-freedom decision
The government failed to justify the requested prior restraint on publication. This ruling concerned the newspapers’ publication of the papers; it was not blanket immunity for every disclosure of classified information.
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