Daniel Ellsberg

Daniel Ellsberg was a prominent American political activist, economist, and military analyst. Born in 1931, he led a long and influential life that spanned multiple fields, ultimately passing away in 2023. Ellsberg's professional background included a stint at the RAND Corporation, a prominent think tank. It was during this time that he became intimately familiar with sensitive government information, setting the stage for his future actions as an activist.

Ellsberg's most notable act of activism came in 1971, when he leaked the Pentagon Papers to major newspapers, including The New York Times and The Washington Post. The Pentagon Papers were a classified study detailing the U.S. government's decision-making process regarding the Vietnam War. By releasing these documents, Ellsberg sparked a significant national controversy, bringing attention to the government's actions and decision-making processes during the war. This bold move cemented Ellsberg's status as a major figure in American political activism.