Episode 1 | American Scandal: The Pentagon Papers | Full Episode

to listen to american scandal one week early and add free join wondering plus in the wondry app download the wondry app in your apple or google play mobile app store today a listener note this episode contains graphic imagery and may not be suitable for a younger audience [Music] it's october 4th 1969 in los angeles california in an office on the west side of town daniel ellsberg creeped through a silent corridor the night is late and by now the office is completely cleared out so ellsberg moves carefully stalking through the hall like a burglar he can't risk being seen by a security guard a moment later ellsberg turns a corner and arrives at a small dark room he steps in and flicks a light switch and the fluorescent bulbs come flickering to life and there standing in the corner of the room is a hulking xerox copier ellsberg pauses the xerox machine seems almost like something out of science fiction something that can spit out endless copies of paper documents and that's exactly what ellsberg needs right now in his arms is a thick blue folder labeled vietnam task force it contains a top secret report that belongs to the united states government and it reveals a dark truth about the vietnam war the government has been lying and these deceptions have caused tens of thousands of deaths ellsberg is planning to photocopy these documents tonight tomorrow night and every night after until he has copies of the entire seven thousand page report and when he's finished he's going to release the documents to the public to reveal the truth it could land him in prison for the rest of his life but it's a risk ellsberg is willing to take if it puts an end to the vietnam war [Music] ellsberg raises the lid of the xerox machine and lays the first sheet of paper on the glass surface after hitting a few buttons a bar of light begins to scan across the glass then the machine starts churning out the first copy page as the xerox machine clunks and sputters ellsberg glances around the office he knows he's lucky to be here few americans have access to copiers but ellsberg has a friend who works in the building and she was generous and brave enough to let him use the machine late at night the page finishes copying and ellsberg reaches for another document [Music] suddenly there's a tapping on the door ellsberg spins around finds two police officers standing in the doorway good evening sir mind telling me what's going on here officer you startled me i'm just doing a little work we can see but it's a little late for work yeah big weekend the officers step forward sir what's your name my name daniel ellsberg and you work here oh no i'm sorry officer i don't work here but my friend does and she knows you're here at night after everyone left completely by yourself using this company's property well yeah that's right i'm just finishing up a bit of a project project there's a lot of paperwork you've got there ellsberg tries to muster a smile well yes officer it's a big project well would you mind if we just have a look see what you're working on one of the officers steps forward his hand outstretched ellsberg begins to panic right behind him is a folder with documents labeled top secret ellsberg is a military analyst who's approaching the peak of his career but if the police officers see what he's up to ellsberg's life as he knows it could be over his eyes start left and right as ellsberg searches frantically for a plan b but right as the officer reaches for the documents a voice calls out from behind them the two policemen turn and they are striding forward is linda sinai ellsberg's friend and the one who let him use the office her eyes twinkle as she smiles and sinee tells the officers that everything's okay she works with the ad agency ellsberg's allowed to be here the officers shoot each other a suspicious look but then with quick nods their posture softens and they take off once they're out of sight ellsberg nearly collapses in relief he reminds his friend that she might have just changed the course of american history she's a hero but sanay smiles and deflects the gratitude she reminds ellsberg that he's the one who deserves the praise he's taking an enormous risk to help end the war now ellsberg needs to get back to work the public can't wait any longer to know the truth about vietnam ellsberg nods turns back to the xerox machine she's right they've lost enough time already he'll need to stay up throughout the night if he wants to make progress copying these government files he'll have to go page by page night after night until the job is done and he's not going to stop not until he brings the truth to the public and ends the vietnam war [Music] from wandery i'm lindsey graham and this is american scandal [Music] [Applause] the decision to go to war is one of the most consequential choices the nation's leaders can make war is risky costly and violent it takes an immense and lasting toll on the combatants involved and sometimes the validity of such a decision is debated sometimes that debate is never resolved the vietnam war is arguably the most infamous and controversial war in u.s history american involvement in vietnam began as an outgrowth of its cold war conflict with the soviet union at the time vietnam was comprised of two rival halves in the north and south south vietnam was a capitalist republic while north vietnam was controlled by communist revolutionaries known as the viet cong american leaders believed that the soviet-backed viet cong was gaining too much power they feared that if south vietnam fell to the communists it would accelerate the spread of communism in asia and around the globe this sphere was known as the domino effect and to prevent it the us joined forces with the south vietnamese initially support for u.s involvement was widespread but that support began to dissipate in the mid-1960s when it appeared the war was escalating with no end in sight many americans wanted to know why they were spending their blood and treasure began questioning the government in unprecedented ways one of the people asking questions was daniel ellsberg ellsberg was a young government official helping to set u.s policy in vietnam he soon discovered that u.s leaders were secretly escalating a war they knew could not be won as a result thousands of men were drafted every year only to be senselessly maimed or killed once ellsberg recognized this terrible truth he acted to expose it he leaked documents now known as the pentagon papers this is episode one the cold warrior [Music] it's july 1964 and daniel ellsberg is striding down a wide corridor inside the pentagon with his curly brown hair and navy blue suit the 33 year old ellsberg doesn't exactly fit in with the surroundings all around him are older men in decorated military uniforms with short cropped hair the pentagon is the nerve center of the department of defense and it's clear to anyone looking that ellsberg is not a career employee of the military still ellsberg isn't concerned about appearances because while he does spend his days inside the pentagon ellsberg works for an organization called rand it's a think tank that provides research and advice for the military and while rand and the military have a close relationship the two are independent from each other which is why ellsberg was surprised by a message he just received a top military official has summoned ellsberg to a meeting ellsberg can only guess what it's about as ellsberg rounds a corner he takes a deep breath and braces for what's ahead he's probably not in trouble at least he hopes not it would be devastating if in his work as a policy analyst he somehow compromised the military a moment later ellsberg reaches the door of john mcnaughton an assistant secretary of defense and the man who summoned him ellsberg takes a seat mcnaughton adjusts his horn rim to glasses and after a brief pause he announces that he does have some troubling news ellsberg waits for it seems like he's about to be fired but mcnaughton looks up and says he needs to talk about the situation in vietnam tensions are rising between the united states and the north vietnamese for now it seems that outright war in vietnam is still unlikely but it's possible and that means priorities are shifting at the pentagon mcnaughton explains that president lyndon johnson tasked the secretary of defense with managing u.s involvement in the conflict mcnaughton has been appointed the special assistant but mcnaughton says the task is immense and he'll need help that's where ellsberg fits in mcnaughton needs his own assistant someone to comb through classified reports and decide how much of it merits mcnaughton's attention it's a crucial job and if ellsberg accepts the position he'll play a key role in shaping a potential war in vietnam [Applause] ellsberg sits back both relieved and stunned by the offer it's good to know that he's not in trouble and he does have tremendous respect for mcnaughton the two have had long stimulating conversations about nuclear arms america's position overseas foreign policy in general and mcnaughton is clearly a capable man ellsberg also believes in the cause he considers himself a liberal on domestic policy and supports unions and labor organizing but ellsberg draws a hard line when it comes to regimes like the soviet union ellsberg has an enduring belief in american values like freedom of expression and thought and he sees the soviets as a threat to freedom across the world it was these impulses in part that propelled alzberg to enlist in the marines where he served as an infantry officer so ellsberg would like to do his part to win the war against international communism but the truth is he does not want to work for the federal government it's a vast bureaucracy and he enjoys the freedom of the private sector so ellsberg tells mcnaughton that the job sounds interesting and important but he's sorry it's not right for him mcnaughton pauses as he studies ellsberg then he asks how ellsberg feels about u.s involvement in vietnam ellsberg doesn't hesitate he tells the assistant secretary of defense that he supports u.s involvement the growing threat of communism must be stopped so mcnaughton asks why he's turning down the job the u.s needs people like him brilliant analysts who understand the complexities of the military and public policy with this job ellsberg could direct his energy to an escalating crisis one that could affect the balance of communism and democracy across the globe ellsberg nods mcnaughton is right the job he described is important and maybe it is worth leaving the private sector but in a moment of rash clarity ellsberg rises and reaches out his hand he'll take the position and in the months to come he'll do what he can to help america defeat the growing threat of communism months later daniel ellsberg enters the offices of the joint war room inside the pentagon it's 9 pm but ellsberg is cradling yet another hot cup of coffee he's already spent the last 12 hours at work but he knows he has a long night ahead of him but at this point ellsberg has grown used to the demanding work ever since he agreed to sign on as john mcnaughton's assistant ellsberg has had to put in excruciatingly long days at the pentagon it's a necessity of the job especially considering the recent international developments on ellsberg's first day at work an american ship was attacked in the gulf of tonkin off the coast of north vietnam the u.s quickly retaliated and the body count has risen steadily ever since it's now clear that events are escalating and as a staunch anti-communist ellsberg will do whatever it takes to see the enemy defeated he'll put in long hours he'll work himself down to the bone but most importantly he'll do whatever he can to help mobilize the military proving that war is the only option if america wants to eliminate the specter of international communism [Music] ellsberg steps into a small office within the joint war room it's the only place inside the pentagon with a direct phone line to american officers in vietnam personnel who can provide first-hand testimony about the need for war ellsberg closes the door behind him and takes a seat he picks up the phone and a moment later he's connected with the us military assistance command in vietnam colonel this is dan ellsberg with the secretary of defense mr ellsberg good to speak with you how can i help you well as you're aware we've been leading small-scale strikes against north vietnam but they're failing to deter the enemy secretary mcnamara and the department believe it's time to get more aggressive begin larger scale bombing of the vietcong okay has president johnson signed off on any kind of order no not yet but colonel that's where you come in we need to help the president see the true threat that our enemies are ruthless and that they need to be hit hard until they surrender so i'd like you to help build this case i know you've seen atrocities i know you've seen the worst from viet cong i'd like you to tell me about it there's a pause on the other end of the line mr ellsberg do you know what you're asking i think i do sir well this kind of stuff it isn't easy to talk about it's not gossip sir gossip isn't my intention i'm assuming you want to see the viet cong disappear just like i do they're terrorists they shouldn't have control of north vietnam yes i agree then i need your help to make the case we need graphic details they're persuasive so please i'm ready and don't hold anything back okay mr ellsberg well just this morning i learned that the viet cong took a village a few miles from the base they marched out the district chief and strung them up and um then they used a machete right in front of his wife and kids it was cut right open oh that's devastating and exactly the kind of story we need do you have any others yeah i've got a few ellsberg continues to listen his pen flying across the pages of his notepad and as the colonel tells one horrifying anecdote after another ellsberg feels something stir inside him his fervent passion for american values his loyalty to his country but also a rage a thirst for vengeance a desire to see the tyrants of the world vanquished if it wasn't clear before now for ellsberg there's no mistaking it america has to win the cold war and america must achieve victory in vietnam [Music] it's the evening of july 28 1965 and daniel ellsberg is staring nervously at a television inside the pentagon beside him is his boss the assistant secretary of defense john mcnaughton the two men stand with arms folded a heavy weight hanging in the air ellsberg knows this is a momentous occasion after months of work making the case for war in vietnam finally ellsberg and mcnaughton are about to reap the fruits of their labor in just a few moments prime time programming will be interrupted for a press conference with president lyndon johnson the president will inform the american public that the united states is officially going to war in vietnam a war that's necessary and just ellsberg begins to pace when suddenly president johnson's craggy face appears on the tv screen i have asked the commanding general general westmoreland what more he needs to meet this mounting aggression he has told me and we will meet his needs i have today ordered to vietnam the air mobile division and certain other forces which will raise our fighting strength from seventy five thousand to one hundred and twenty five thousand men almost immediately as the president wraps up his speech ellsberg stands staring at the screen in disbelief johnson just said that the american forces in vietnam will only increase by 50 000 men but that's a lie ellsberg has been involved in the military planning and he knows that twice that many men one hundred thousand soldiers will be drafted to fight so ellsberg turns to mcnaughton and asks if the president somehow misspoke they both know that the number of men about to be drafted is far greater mcnaughton raises an eyebrow as he thinks and he tells alzberg that he doesn't believe the president misspoke it was probably a political decision president just wanted to downplay the significance of the conflict ellsberg is almost too stunned to speak he can't fathom such a huge deception he supports the war but only if america's leaders speak honestly with the public ellsberg raises the issue again with mcnaughton but he can see his boss growing agitated the assistant secretary of defense reminds ellsberg that johnson is the president and if alzberg isn't on board with the president's policy then he needs to say so now ellsberg realizes he's overstepped he apologizes to mcnaughton and says that he does support the commander-in-chief and he was mistaken to raise any questions johnson has counsel from the entire u.s military he obviously knows best but as ellsberg walks out of the room he can't stop feeling like he's been punched in the gut leaders in a democratic government have an obligation to speak honestly that's what sets them apart from dictators in countries like the soviet union still ellsberg believes what he said president probably does know a lot more than he does so maybe from here on out he just needs to do more research to better understand the war and to figure out how he can best support the president's decisions at the end of the day they all want the same thing an american victory in north vietnam american scandal is sponsored by better help online therapy you probably brush your teeth and you might have other hygiene regimens too like washing your face or like showering maybe you exercise regularly as well altogether you might be spending a lot of time on you but is that you all of you what about your mind your well-being therapy is mental hygiene it's routine maintenance for your emotional wellness so going to therapy doesn't mean something's 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the united states come out victorious in its war in vietnam he had felt initially betrayed after president johnson went on tv and lied about the number of troops that would be deployed still that didn't break his commitment to the war instead ellsberg asked if he could travel to vietnam to be part of a team that would partner with america's allies in the south vietnamese government the united states and the south vietnamese are at war with the communists in the north and ellsberg wanted to see the conflict up close on the ground he hoped he'd gained some important insights which would allow him to provide better policy recommendations to leaders in washington ultimately ellsberg wants to help bring about a quicker american victory with fewer deaths among the troops but alzberg's realized that his hopes were naive since he arrived in vietnam he's accompanied u.s soldiers in the field he's hidden in foul-smelling rice paddies facing heavy fire he's gagged on the smell of burning flesh and through all of these experiences he's taken away one lesson the situation in vietnam is dire and a victory for america is unlikely unless there's a radical change of course so today ellsberg is going to deliver the news to a handful of government officials including representatives from the cia the national security council and the military assistance command along several generals a few minutes later the men file into the barracks and take their seats ellsberg tries to steady his nerves as he gazes at the military brass assembled before him then he begins passing out paper copies of a report that he prepared which summarizes his findings the group starts scanning the first pages but rather than wait for the men to read the full report ellsberg launches in with his most important findings ellsberg says the military is pursuing a series of strategies in vietnam that are not tenable the vietcong in the north appear to be totally unintimidated by american forces they're capable of disappearing into the jungle and then reappearing when least expected in ambush after ambush they're inflicting heavy casualties on american soldiers ellsberg adds that if this continues americans will face an indefinite stalemate or u.s forces may suffer an outright defeat the officials immediately begin to chatter sounding incredulous and the scowling army general stands and declares that ellsberg's findings are not accurate maybe they were true in the past the general says but these dire predictions are just wrong of course ellsberg knew he would face pushback so keeping his voice calm he agrees that there is hope for the future but only if the us military re-examines its assumptions and drastically changes its strategy but again the general barks dellsberg he argues that the issue isn't with american strategy it's the south vietnamese the americans allies in the south have been a weak force but it won't stay that way forever thanks to the excellent training of u.s officials the south vietnamese are growing strong and as they become better fighters america will have better chances of winning the war [Music] as the general finishes several of the other officials nod their heads in agreement there's no disputing it they say it's just a matter of time before the south vietnamese emerge as a capable force and drive out the communists in the north ellsberg's concerns are misplaced ellsberg wipes the sweat from his forehead and takes a seat he doesn't know what to do these are america's military leaders but none of them seems to care about the facts they want their information to be convenient they want to hear details that confirm their own beliefs ellsberg knows that's dangerous ignorance poses a serious threat much larger than these men can possibly imagine still ellsberg isn't ready to give up and even if military leaders have their heads in the sand he's not ready to call this war a failure not when there are still government leaders who have the power to change the course of the war officials who are willing to look at the truth and admit that something needs to change [Music] it's june 1966 and a warm night in saigon daniel ellsberg is sitting at a long table inside a popular chinese restaurant he's surrounded by friends and as he reaches for a dumpling ellsberg smiles and cracks another joke it's been a lively and fun evening ellsberg and his friends have gathered for a send-off for neil sheehan a reporter who's been covering the war for the new york times sheehan is leaving saigon and so the gang have gotten together for one last celebratory meal alzberg takes a sip of cold beer and a feeling of ease washes over him it's good to be here with friends relaxing and laughing but the best part about tonight is the woman who's sitting next to him patricia marx is beautiful and vibrant she's a brilliant journalist and activist and for the last six months she and ellsberg have been engaged it's one of the happiest developments of his entire life and all night ellsberg hasn't let go of her hand but suddenly ellsberg notices mark's shift in her seat something's off so he tunes out his own conversation with a friend and eavesdrops on marx's conversation with a man seated to her left he's a military commissioner and he spent time in north vietnam in an area that the united states is bombing heavily and right now he's describing the destruction of a north vietnamese neighborhood giving excruciating detail the commissioner pauses and refills his plate ellsberg notices that his fiancee's hazel eyes are glistening and her mouth is pinched in a scowl then without saying a word she suddenly shoots up from the table and hurries away [Music] ellsberg drops his fork and rises marx is already several steps ahead of him rushing through the restaurant ellsberg follows trying to catch up but he doesn't reach her until she steps out into the busy street patricia wait what's going on for a moment mark stares at the ground unwilling to look alsberg in the eye finally she turns and looks up daniel i just don't understand how you can be part of that part of what what are you talking about bombing that man was talking about bombing innocent civilians not soldiers civilians women and children daniel getting killed because of what you're doing because of what i'm doing no no you can't put that on me i didn't order that operation in my work i'm trying to limit the bombing and i'm doing my best what is your best what does that mean in a war what possibly could be best about a war back home every night on the six o'clock news they say the war is going great it's almost over all the bad guys on the other side are either dead or about to surrender but it's a lie it's a big lie patricia it's it's a war in war people get killed i don't like it that's a reality i'm trying to minimize the killing i'm trying to change things from the inside you god you have to see that i don't know you sit in the air base with your charts and reports and you tell yourself you're telling me that you're doing the right thing but this war is immoral god deep inside you have to know that and if you're part of it daniel [Music] ellsberg stares at his fiance stunned patricia what are you saying about me mark steps forward and she pulls off her engagement ring and hands it to ellsberg without saying another word she turns and walks away [Applause] as marx disappears into the crowd ellsberg feels an anguish unlike anything he's ever felt before the love of his life the woman he vowed to marry just walked away from him and his idea that there can be a justified war that he is doing the right thing but he's questioning everything now [Music] it's october 1966 and daniel ellsberg is seated inside a military plane high above the east coast of the united states after a long stay in saigon ellsberg is finally heading home for a few weeks ellsberg closes his eyes hoping to get a little rest before his connecting flight to los angeles but just as he feels himself nodding off he overhears a heated conversation coming from a few rows back ellsberg opens his eyes and turns in his seat listening to the two men argue passionately about the war in vietnam one of the men has graying hair and stands in the aisle puffing on a pipe it's robert comer a special assistant to president lyndon johnson beside him sits robert mcnamara a man in impeccable shape with short cropped brown hair and the united states secretary of defense ellsberg is trying to ease drop on the conversation when suddenly mcnamara turns in his direction ellsberg's about to spin back around but mcnamara beckons him over the secretary of defense is inviting him to join their conversation helzberg stands and walks towards the back of the plane when he reaches the two officials mcnamara explains that he and comer are having a debate maybe ellsberg can help resolve it ellsberg nods feeling a little bashful to be roped into a conversation with such high-ranking members of the administration but he also feels eager to share whatever he can about the war mcnamara begins by laying out the two sides of the argument comer the president's aide believes the situation in vietnam is improving but mcnamara is growing increasingly skeptical it seems like no matter what the military does the situation is just getting worse at the same time the two men recognize that they haven't spent time in the field not like ellsberg has so mcnamara asks what does ellsberg think is the war getting better or getting worse ellsberg looks from one man to the other he doesn't want to risk offending either of them at the same time ellsberg believes in telling the truth especially in matters this important it's his duty so taking a diplomatic approach alzberg explains that vietnam was bad when he arrived and things are still bad nothing's necessarily getting worse but nothing's getting better to ellsberg's surprise mcnamara lights up in triumph saying that ellsberg just proved his point the u.s has deployed 100 000 fresh troops to vietnam in just the past year if that deployment produced no improvements it confirms the situation in vietnam is in fact getting worse ellsberg nods trying to contain his excitement it's incredible as secretary of defense robert mcnamara is the chief architect of the vietnam war he has the power to change the shape of the war but unlike others in the military mcnamara seems willing to confront reality for ellsberg this might be a victory mcnamara answers directly to the president and if he understands the war is going badly maybe he also understands that u.s policies have to change and that the president needs to order a new direction for the war as the plane begins its descent ellsberg returns to a seat with a feeling of satisfaction after all the suffering he's witnessed and after losing the love of his life maybe it was all worth it for this moment he saw vietnam up close and he was able to report back to the united states secretary of defense a man who seems committed to doing the right thing there's no telling of course what president johnson may ultimately do but for now ellsberg has reason to be hopeful [Music] less than an hour later the plane carrying daniel ellsberg touches down at andrews air force base in maryland ellsberg takes a moment to gather his belongings then he heads up the aisle and exits the plane behind secretary of defense robert mcnamara when they reach the tarmac they find a group of reporters waiting nearby there's a podium with microphones mcnamara must be scheduled to give a press conference right outside the plane as mcnamara walks to the podium ellsberg stops interested to hear what mcnamara is going to tell the press maybe he'll reiterate some of elsberg's analysis and start laying the foundation for a large-scale shift in vietnam mcnamara steps up to the microphone and takes his first question as expected the reporter wants to know about mcnamara's trip to vietnam the secretary of defense pauses for a moment looking down as if considering his words carefully then in a booming voice mcnamara says he's very encouraged by everything he's seen and heard in vietnam he's happy to report the news the united states is making great progress in every dimension of the war effort ellsberg stares at mcnamara horrified by the lie on the plane he professed a deep skepticism about the war and that was just an hour ago and as he continues to speak to the press mcnamara goes on to give more misleading statements painting a rosy picture of the war in vietnam it's an outrage nelsberg can't listen to any more of it so he turns and walks toward the airbase a sour taste in his mouth [Music] for the briefest flicker of time ellsberg felt hopeful it seemed that truth and sanity might win out that america might change course in its failing war abroad it was a feeling that was quickly dashed still ellsberg isn't fully willing to give up not yet there are still more policymakers in washington and more people who have the president's ear ellsberg is going to keep speaking out telling the country's leaders about the need to change course in vietnam because ellsberg is convinced if he keeps speaking out and sharing his observations sooner or later america will change the way they are waging this war [Music] american scandal is sponsored by story worth this holiday season i want to give gifts to my loved ones that make them feel special and unique just like the relationship we share and what could be more special and unique than learning more about them discovering more about the people you already care so deeply about and think you know so well it was my sister i think who discovered a great way to do just that story worth is an online service that helps the special and unique people in your life share stories through thought-provoking questions about their memories and personal experiences every week story worth emails your friend or loved one a different story 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ready to explain why he asked for this meeting inside this room spread across all the cabinets and drawers are the materials from a top secret project that was launched while ellsberg was overseas the purpose is to create a detailed study of american military strategy in vietnam it's crucial for the war effort and gelb says he and his superiors would like ellsberg to be a contributor the offer catches ellsberg's interest if he takes part in the study he'll gain access to the library of research about the vietnam war the information he gathers could bolster his arguments to government leaders about the need to change course and pursue a different kind of war in vietnam so ellsberg says he wants to know more about the study geld nods and points to the file safes he says they're filled with top secret papers and intelligence cables covering american involvement in vietnam from the 1940s on if ellsberg contributes to the study he can choose the period he'd like to focus on assuming it isn't already covered alzberg is intrigued but he's also curious what purpose the study is supposed to serve so alzberg asks who commissioned the study was it gelb's idea the pentagon official shakes his head and says no it was requested by the secretary of defense robert mcnamara hearing the news ellsberg is pleasantly surprised he'd written off mcnamara after hearing all of his lies on the airplane tarmac but if mcnamara is requesting a massive study it probably means he has a serious interest in improving vietnam policy after all so alzberg turns back to gelb and says he's interested he'll join the project and he would like to start by reading about the early 1960s a period of vietnam decision making he knows little about gelb says that works for him and asks ellsberg when he'd like to start ellsberg sets down his jacket and says he's ready right now [Music] it's the summer of 1967 in washington d.c and daniel ellsberg is walking through the white house he's on his way to a meeting with walt rossdale the president's national security adviser as one of the most senior aides in the white house rostow has the ear of the president and that means he has a great deal of influence over america's foreign policy which is why ellsberg is so eager for the meeting for the past month ellsberg has immersed himself in the pentagon's secret files he's read about america's role in southeast asia and what he's learning has been shocking and upsetting ellsberg now believes that america needs to fundamentally change course but these decisions don't happen in a vacuum advisors like rossdale need to be briefed on the truth about the war only then can they alert the president and set in motion a larger shift in foreign policy [Music] alzberg arrives at rostow's office and knocks on the door when he enters ellsberg comes face to face with rostow a balding man in his early 50s who's sitting in front of a window overlooking the white house rose garden well thanks for making the time of course dan come in it's been a couple of years it's good to see you please have a seat yeah appreciate it you know right now you might be the only person who can help me the only person what's on your mind dan well here it is the administration needs to completely rethink our strategy in vietnam there's been too much denial and wishful thinking in the pentagon and i think it's costing us but i don't believe it's too late to change course we have options we need to choose those options right away um okay well thank you dan julia um i i need men like you bringing concerns to my attention otherwise i'm in the dark well i'm relieved to hear you say that a small part of me was worried you wouldn't take my concerns seriously no not a chance no but um but there is something i want to show you first you don't like it raw style opens the desk drawer and pulls out several graphs and charts so here take a look at these they're all details about the war now this one shows i think how we're finally turning the corner in vietnam the viet cong they're near collapse look look victory is close ellsberg freezes as he stares at the colorful diagrams walt i i appreciate your data but listen to what i'm telling you we're losing the war in vietnam and we're losing it badly it's time for the president to consider pulling out pull out no no you're not understanding these charts i'm telling you daniel you have to stop ellsberg catches himself he didn't mean to yell especially at such a high-ranking official from the white house ugh i'm sorry for raising my voice you have to understand i've been to vietnam i've watched our servicemen go into that jungle thinking they're going to save the world they come out if if at all missing arms and legs those charts they look good but they're fantasy believe me victory is not near we have to change course the war will end in disaster for the people of vietnam and for us please relay the message that the truth is not in these charts because it's urgent rostow is silent for a moment then he shakes his head dan i'm i'm not going to relay that message to the president not today and not ever understand alzberg sits staring at ross down and slowly it dawns on him he does understand it does not matter what the human costs may be rostow is a self-interested government official just like all the rest of them he won't risk upsetting the president not if his job depends on it so ellsberg gets up and walks out of rostow's office his heart pounding with anger the military generals the president's advisers the lawyers the support staff not a single one is prepared to prevent needless deaths in vietnam no one is willing to be honest with themselves or the public who they've sworn to serve for decades the government has lied about vietnam countless officials have deceived the public ellsberg has seen the proof still no one is willing to speak up for what's right but as ellsberg walks out of the white house he realizes that maybe he should stop looking at others to make sure the government will be held accountable for its actions [Music] from wondering this is episode one of the pentagon papers from american scandal in our next episode daniel ellsberg meets with an unexpected political group and as he grows more disillusioned with the war he considers taking an extraordinary and risky step if you'd like to learn more about the pentagon papers we recommend the book secrets a memoir of vietnam and the pentagon papers by daniel ellsberg a quick note about our reenactments in most cases we can't know exactly what was said but all our dramatizations are based on historical research american scandal is hosted edited and executed produced by me lindsey graham for airship audio editing by molly bach sound design by derek barrons music by lindsey graham this episode is written by hannibal diaz edited by christina malzberger our senior producer is gabe riven executive producers are stephanie jens jenny lauer beckman and marsha louis for wondering you

Channel: Wondery

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Keywords: wondery, wondery podcast american scandal, american scandal, american scandal podcast, wondery american scandal, american scandal 2021 full episode, american scandal pentagon papers episode 1, pentagon papers american scandal, pentagon papers, american scandal pentagon papers, wondery american scandal pentagon papers, pentagon papers podcast, pentagon papers scandal, Daniel Ellsberg, vietnam war podcast, pentagon papers wondery podcast, the pentagon papers, US pentagon podcast

Id: RhYrM36hgm8

Length: 45min 7sec (2707 seconds)

Published: Tue Dec 07 2021