Daniel Ellsberg, the military analyst known for leaking the classified "Pentagon Papers," has passed away at the age of 92.
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Ellsberg's leak of the Pentagon Papers exposed government lies about the Vietnam War and sparked a significant battle for freedom of the press.
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He died at his home in Kensington, California, after being diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer in February.
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Ellsberg was an advocate for leakers and whistleblowers and his actions predated the likes of Wikileaks and Edward Snowden.
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The Nixon administration launched a smear campaign against Ellsberg, referring to him as "the most dangerous man in America."
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He served in the military, held positions at the Pentagon and RAND Corporation, and had initially supported the Vietnam War before changing his perspective.
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Ellsberg secretly copied the top-secret Pentagon Papers and provided them to the New York Times and other newspapers.
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The publication of the Pentagon Papers led to a fight over freedom of the press and the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the newspapers.
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The documents revealed government deception about the Vietnam War, including plans for a coup and the secret bombing of Cambodia and Laos.