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

On September 30, 1969, Ellsberg called his friend Tony Russo, who had been fired from the Rand Corporation for his outspoken opposition to the Vietnam War. When Ellsberg had first mentioned the Pentagon Papers to Russo, Russo suggested that Ellsberg leak them to the press. At the time, Ellsberg had hesitated. But now, Ellsberg was ready to release the documents. However, he had to first make photocopies of the 7,000 pages.

Russo set Ellsberg up with the copy machine at his girlfriend’s ad agency. After work, Ellsberg began sneaking parts of the study out of Rand Corporation in his briefcase, and he worked late into the night to copy them. Ellsberg confided in his son, Robert, who was nearly 14 years old, and Robert began helping his father with the documents.

When Ellsberg’s ex-wife learned that her son was copying top-secret documents with Ellsberg, she “went ballistic.” She confronted Ellsberg, and he agreed to no longer involve his children. However, he still brought Robert and his daughter, Mary, to the agency on some nights, where they helped him make copies and cut the “top secret” stamps off the top of the documents.

Ellsberg spent the entire month of October 1969 making copies.