Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War

When Daniel Ellsberg leaked the Pentagon Papers, some people thought he was a traitor, while others considered him a hero. Discuss the flaws and merits of each point of view. Do you think Ellsberg is a hero or a traitor? Why?

At the beginning of the book, Daniel Ellsberg was a pro-government “cold warrior” who looked down on whistleblowers. Trace three key events that transformed his stance and led to him releasing the Pentagon Papers.

The book’s title, Most Dangerous, is taken from Henry Kissinger’s quote about Daniel Ellsberg, characterizing him as “the most dangerous man in America” (251). Discuss how this title alludes to the book’s central themes. By the end of the book, who or what do you consider to be “most dangerous” in the context of the book’s time period?