In the nineteen sixties, as war raged in Vietnam, an inside operative leaked top secret documents that shocked the American public, where his actions patriotic or treasonists. American Scandal is a podcast from Wandery that explores the darker stories that have shaped the United States. From the Unibomber to Bernie Madoff. These are stories that revealed the underbelly of America, ruthless, secretive,
and power hungry. In the new season, American Scandal looks at the controversial decision made by a young government official named Daniel Ellsberg to leak the Pentagon Papers, the documents that led Americans to demand an end to the catastrophic Vietnam War. The Pentagon Papers revealed that the government knew the Vietnam War could not be won, but kept fighting anyway. Once Elsberg realized this terrible truth, he made the bold decision to leak the documents, and the consequences altered the
course of American history. You're about to hear a preview of American Scandal the Pentagon Papers. While you're listening. Follow American Scandal on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.
It's October fourth, nineteen sixty nine, in Los Angeles, California, in an office on the west side of town, Daniel Ellsberg creeps through a silent corridor. The night is late and by now the office is completely cleared out, so Elsburg moves carefully, stalking through the hall like a burglar. He can't risk being seen by a security guard. A moment later, Elsberg 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 Elsberg needs right now. In his arms, it's 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. Elsberg 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 Elsberg is willing to take if it puts
an end to the Vietnam War. Elsberg 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, Elsberg glances around
the office. He knows he's lucky to be here. Few Americans have access to copiers, but Elsberg 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 Elsburg reaches for another document. Well Suddenly there's a tapping on the door. Elsburg spins around finds two police officers standing in the doorway. Good evening, sir, mind, telling me what's going on here? Oh, officer, you startled me.
I'm just doing a little work. We can see, but it's a little late for work. Yeah, big week ahead. The officer 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 it up a project project. There's a lot
of paperwork you've got there. Elsberg 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. Elsberg begins to panic. Right behind him is a folder with documents labeled top secret. Elsberg is a military analyst who's approaching the peak of his career. But if the police officer see what he's up to, Elsberg's life, as he knows
it could be over. His eyes start left and right as Elsberg 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 there, striding forward is Linda Sanay, Elsberg's friend and the one who let him use the office. Her eyes twinkle as she smiles, and Siney tells the officers that everything's okay. She works with the ad agency. Elsburg'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, Elsburg nearly collapses in relief. He reminds his friend that she might have just changed the course of American history. She's a hero, but Sinnay 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. Ellsburg nods, turns back to the syrax machine. She's right, they've lost enough time already. You'll need to stay up throughout the night if he wants to make progress copying these government files. You'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. The decision to go to war is one of the most consequent 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 US 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 Kong. American leaders believed that the Soviet backed Viet Kong 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 fear was known as the Domino effect, and to prevent it, the US joined forces with the South Vietnamese. Initially, support for US involvement was widespread, but that support began to dissipate in the mid nineteen sixties 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, and began questioning the government in unprecedented ways. One of the people
asking questions was Daniel Ellsberg. Elsburg was a young government official helping to set US policy in Vietnam. He soon discovered that US 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 Elsberg 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