New York Times Co. v. United States (Pentagon Papers case)

New York Times Co. v. United States, decided in 1971, involved a legal conflict over the publication of the Pentagon Papers, classified documents detailing the U.S. government's decision-making in the Vietnam War. The Nixon administration sought to prevent the New York Times from publishing these documents, arguing it threatened national security. The Supreme Court ruled that the government could not impose prior restraint on the press without clear justification. This landmark case reinforced the principle of freedom of the press, emphasizing the public's right to know and the media's role in holding the government accountable.