Pentagon Papers Case

The Pentagon Papers case involved a classified government report that revealed the U.S. government's misleading actions and decisions in the Vietnam War. In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg, a former military analyst, leaked these documents to the press. The Nixon administration tried to prevent their publication, arguing it would harm national security. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of the newspapers, emphasizing the importance of free speech and press freedom. This landmark decision highlighted the public's right to know about government actions and raised questions about transparency and accountability in democracy.