The Pentagon Papers were a secret government study that revealed the United States' true motives and actions during the Vietnam War. They exposed the government's deception in escalating the war and showed that they had knowledge of the war's unlikelihood of success.
Related terms
Daniel Ellsberg: A former military analyst who leaked the Pentagon Papers to the public, risking his career and freedom.
Nixon Administration: The presidential administration in power when the Pentagon Papers were leaked. They tried to prevent their publication but were overruled by a Supreme Court decision.
Freedom of Press: The legal protection that allows journalists to publish information without censorship or punishment from the government.