The New York Times v. United States

The New York Times v. United States (1971) was a landmark Supreme Court case involving the government’s attempt to prevent the publication of the "Pentagon Papers," classified documents detailing U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The Nixon administration argued that publishing the papers threatened national security. The Court ruled in favor of The New York Times, asserting that the government could not block publication unless it demonstrated a clear and immediate threat to national security. This case reinforced the press’s right to publish government information and limited government censorship, emphasizing the importance of a free press in holding power accountable.