Art Publicly Discusses Legislation on Content (20:15 - 22:05)
Washington, 1971:
Kay Graham, the publisher of the prestigious Washington Post, is shoulder-deep in a challenge: she's aiming to transform the ailing family business using an IPO. The weight of responsibility after her husband's demise haunts her. In the realm of business, Kay leans entirely on her advisors. Her editorial team, headed by Ben Bradlee, a man not fond of meddling in front-page decisions, aspires to outshine the mighty New York Times.
When an investigative gem about the true face of the Vietnam War pops up in the New York Times, Bradlee swiftly sets his reporters on a mission to nab the mysterious source behind the top-secret "Pentagon Papers." Commissioned by Defense Minister McNamara, this classified treasure chest carries explosive political juice: the Vietnam War is militarily unwinnable, and President Nixon is pulling a fast one on the American public!
With the authorities taking legal action against the New York Times, Bradlee remains undeterred. When his squad finally lays their hands on the documents, Kay finds herself at a crossroads: printing the truth that the US President is hoodwinking the population could risk her newspaper, her reputation, and land her in hot water for treason.
Title: The Pentagon Papers
Runtime: 105 minutes
Genre: Drama, USA, GB 2017
Director: Steven Spielberg
Rating: 6
Cast:
- Katharine 'Kay' Graham: Meryl Streep
- Ben Bradlee: Tom Hanks
- Robert McNamara: Bruce Greenwood
- Tony Bradlee: Sarah Paulson
- Ben Bagdikian: Bob Odenkirk
- Arthur Parsons: Bradley Whitford
Enrichment Data:
Historical Context
In 1971, Katharine Graham made a crucial move by publishing excerpts from the Pentagon Papers, a top-secret U.S. Department of Defense report discussing the government's involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1968. This decision was significant for two reasons: it exposed government deception about the Vietnam War and tested the boundaries of press freedom and government control over sensitive information.
The Pentagon Papers were first released by the New York Times on June 13, 1971, but the publication was momentarily halted due to a court order. In response, the Washington Post jumped into the fray on June 18, 1971[1][2]. The government sought to block publication, arguing that it could cause "severe and permanent damage" to national defense interests[5].
Implications
- Press Freedom: The Supreme Court's June 30, 1971, decision in the case of New York Times Co. v. United States allowed both newspapers to continue publishing the documents. This ruling served as a milestone victory for press freedom, affirming that government suppression of such information could only occur if it could prove a clear and present threat to national security[5].
- Exposure of Government Deception: The Pentagon Papers revealed that successive U.S. administrations had deceived both Congress and the public about the extent of U.S. involvement in Vietnam, including secret military operations and intentional deception about the war's progress[2].
- Impact on Public Opinion and Policy: The revelations contributed to growing public disillusionment with the Vietnam War, affecting public opinion and political discourse. The exposure of government deception eroded trust in government and played a role in shifts in U.S. foreign policy[2].
- Legal and Political Fallout: The publication of the Pentagon Papers resulted in legal repercussions for Daniel Ellsberg, the leaker, but charges were eventually dropped. The Nixon administration's efforts to discredit Ellsberg and suppress publication were part of a broader pattern of abuse of power that would later be exposed during the Watergate scandal[2].
- Katharine Graham's Leadership: Graham's decision to publish the Pentagon Papers showed her commitment to journalistic integrity and independence. It highlighted her willingness to challenge government authority and take substantial risks to defend the principles of a free press[1][4].
- Other movies-and-tv exploring the significance of press freedom and the importance of journalistic integrity include the drama, "The Pentagon Papers" (2017), featuring Meryl Streep as Kay Graham, a character challenged to uphold the values of her newspaper when publishing top-secret documents about the Vietnam War.
- On a side note, Katharine Graham's bravery in publishing the Pentagon Papers has been hailed as a turning point in the history of entertainment, demonstrating the potential transformative power of cultural media on public opinion and policy.
){kind=link}