• To consider implications of historical decisions highlighted by the film. Question #9 provides an insider view of presidential decision- making in a time of war: The film includes a quote from President Richard Nixon that was from a taped conversation in the White House. “For once we’ve got to use the maximum power of this country against this shit-ass little country to win the war.” What is your reaction to this quote by President Nixon?

• To help students make connec- tions between the documentary and Daniel Ellsberg with his son Michael at the April 26 Anti-Nuclear Rally in San Francisco, 1980. Photo: Ilka Hartmann © 2010. events today. Question #1: Daniel Lesson Five Ellsberg points out that the Gulf of The Most Dangerous Man in Tonkin resolution was built on lies and half-truths. And yet no mem- America Writing and Discussion bers of the House of Representatives opposed it, and only two senators The Most Dangerous Man in America • To provide teachers with logi- voted no. Why was there not more can be the centerpiece of a strong cal places to pause the documen- skepticism or doubt in Congress? teaching unit about Daniel Ellsberg, tary for clarification. For instance, Do you think that if a president the Vietnam War, and issues of con- Question #4 seeks to amplify an brought a “Gulf of Tonkin resolu- science and truth-telling. Like the era important historical connection tion” to Congress today that there in which it is set, the film is complex that students might miss: In the would be a different outcome? and rich with information and ideas. film, Daniel Ellsberg talks about his The Most Dangerous Man in America time in Vietnam in 1966. He refers • To allow teachers to pursue an raises important questions that are to incidents when his unit was at- aspect of the film not covered in as relevant today as they were during tacked by the National Liberation depth by the curriculum. For in- the late 20th century. The film pro- Front, the so-called Viet-Cong. He stance, some teachers might want vides engaging teaching moments: says, “I remember looking up at a to pursue the connection between opportunities for discussion, per- sergeant as we lay after about the Daniel Ellsberg and Henry David sonal writing, critical thinking, and 15th of these incidents and say- Thoreau: Ellsberg committing an act decision making. ing, “Do you ever feel like the Red of civil disobedience in relation to Coats?” And he said, “Yeah, I’ve the Vietnam War, Thoreau to protest The “Film Writing and Discus- been thinking that all day.” What the U.S.-Mexican War. Question sion Questions” are drawn directly does Ellsberg mean that he felt like #29 confronts students with a tough from The Most Dangerous Man in the Red Coats? question about heroism, loyalty, and America and follow the film closely the meaning of patriotism: President from beginning to end. By no means • To explore issues raised by the film Nixon says, “I think it is time in this are teachers expected to cover all in greater depth. Question #5 asks country to quit making national 47 questions included in the guide. students to think about the follow- heroes out of those who steal secrets Pick and choose questions to meet ing: Why were the Pentagon Papers and publish them in the newspa- your pedagogical goals. The “Film classified as top secret? This was just pers.” Should Ellsberg be considered Writing and Discussion Questions” history, about how the United States a hero? Why or why not? What’s were created to serve a wide variety got into the war. What’s the big need your definition of a hero? What’s of needs: for secrecy? What could be danger- ous about history? Nixon’s? page 28 © 2010 Zinn Education Project, Judith Ehrlich, and Rick Goldsmith The “Film Writing and Discussion Writing and Discussion Questions New York Times. Was he right to do Questions” provide an opportunity this? Should he have resigned his to build continuity with earlier les- Daniel Ellsberg points out that position? son plans. For example, students 1the Gulf of Tonkin resolution have already developed questions was built on lies and half-truths. In the film, Daniel Ellsberg tells intended to guide their learning And yet no members of the House 7the story of the death of his in Lesson One and Lesson Four. of Representatives opposed it, and mother and sister, and of his seri- Teachers can survey the questions only two senators voted no. Why ous injury. His father fell asleep included here and choose items was there not more skepticism or while driving. He says, “I think it that directly connect, build on, or doubt in Congress? Do you think did probably leave the impression pursue implications with questions that if a president brought a “Gulf on me that someone … you loved, that students have already created. of Tonkin resolution” to Congress like my father, or respected, an Question #39 asks the following: today that there would be a different authority, could fall asleep at the Daniel Ellsberg says, “I gave up my outcome? wheel, and had to be watched, not job, my career, my clearance, and I because they were bad, but because Why did Daniel Ellsberg decide they were inattentive perhaps to the staked my freedom on a gamble: If to join the Marines? How do his the American people knew the truth 2 risks.” Do you think that President reasons compare with why people Johnson and Secretary of Defense about how they had been lied to, join the military today? about the myths had led them to en- McNamara and other government dorse this butchery for 25 years, that Why was Daniel Ellsberg at first leaders were “asleep at the wheel,” they would choose against it. And 3such a strong supporter of the in Vietnam or did they know what the risk that you take when you do Vietnam War? How does Ellsberg they were doing? that, is that you’ll learn something begin to change his opinion about Daniel Ellsberg describes a ultimately about your fellow citi- the war? 8meeting with Nixon’s National zens that you won’t like to hear, and Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger: that is that they hear it, they learn In the film, Ellsberg talks about his time in Vietnam in 1966. He “I had given a set of options to from it, they understand it, and 4 Kissinger I’d drafted at Rand. Six they proceed to ignore it.” Should refers to incidents when his unit was attacked by the National Liberation or seven alternative approaches in Ellsberg be disappointed in what he Vietnam to consider at his first na- accomplished, in the impact that his Front, the so-called Viet-Cong. He says, “I remember looking up at a tional security council with Nixon. actions had? Has the film, The Most And he one point said, ‘Dan you Dangerous Man in America, done sergeant as we lay after about the 15th of these incidents and say- don’t have a win option.’” Why did anything to change the minds or Ellsberg think that “winning” was lives of students in your class? Has it ing, “Do you ever feel like the Red Coats?” And he said, “Yeah, I’ve impossible? What would it have answered questions students formu- meant to “win” in Vietnam? lated about the war, the era, and the been thinking that all day.” What actions of activists like Ellsberg? does Ellsberg mean that he felt like The film includes a quote from the Red Coats? 9President Richard Nixon that Some of the questions we include was from a taped conversation in here would make excellent end- Why were the Pentagon Papers classified as top secret? This was the White House. “For once we’ve of-the-unit writing prompts. For 5 got to use the maximum power of example, Questions #43, 45, and 46 just history, about how the United States got into the war. What’s the this country against this shit-ass provide students with opportunities little country to win the war.” What to draw new learning into the con- big need for secrecy? What could be dangerous about history? is your reaction to this quote by temporary world. A “readaround” President Nixon? sharing of student pieces will lend The first time Daniel Ellsberg itself to an exploration of students’ took action against the war— This quote seems to reflect ideas about citizenship in their 6 outside of government—was when 10President Nixon’s contempt personal lives and the world more he leaked a secret CIA report to the for the Vietnamese. If Nixon—and broadly. © 2010 Zinn Education Project, Judith Ehrlich, and Rick Goldsmith page 29 perhaps other U.S. leaders—had In the film, Ellsberg quotes Was the New York Times such contempt for the Vietnam- 18Henry David Thoreau, who 25justified in publishing the ese, why were they willing to wage once said, “Cast your whole vote, Pentagon Papers even though they such a costly war, in terms of lives not a strip of paper merely, but were classified as top secret govern- and treasure, to supposedly “save” your whole influence.” What did ment documents? Vietnam? that mean to Ellsberg? Why was it important? Some of the history included Daniel Ellsberg says that he 26in the Pentagon Papers had 11only learned that the Viet- Some people might think been known for years—for exam- nam War was “an American war 19that when Daniel Ellsberg ple, it was no secret that the United from the start”—that President Tru- became convinced that the Vietnam States took the side of the French man financed France to retake its War was wrong he simply should following World War II and did not former colony of Vietnam—when have quit. Instead, Ellsberg decided support Vietnam’s Declaration of he read the Pentagon Papers. Daniel to release government secrets. Did Independence read publicly by Ho Ellsberg was a highly educated man, Ellsberg do the right thing? Did he Chi Minh in September of 1945. why didn’t he know this earlier? go too far? Are the New York Times (and other newspapers) the heroes of this story What does Ellsberg learn Do you think that Daniel or should they have been doing a 12from the Pentagon Papers 20Ellsberg was right to involve better job throughout the entire that makes him turn against the war his 13-year-old son, Robert, in war? Is The Most Dangerous Man … so decisively? copying the Pentagon Papers— about the media’s success or about committing a crime with him? When he describes U.S. in- its failure? 13volvement in Vietnam, Ells- What was Ellsberg’s rationale The Nixon administration berg says, “It wasn’t that we were on 21for involving his son? 27tries to stop publication of the wrong side; we were the wrong the Pentagon Papers. Attorney Gen- side.” What does he mean by that? Representative Pete McClo- 22skey and Senator William eral John Mitchell orders the New What are the lies that Ells- Fulbright both had copies of the York Times not to publish them. 14berg learns about by reading Pentagon Papers, but did not reveal What was the Nixon administration the Pentagon Papers? What other them. Why not? worried about? lies had he learned about earlier? Why does Ellsberg’s wife, Pa- President Nixon and Nation- Did Daniel Ellsberg change 23tricia Marx Ellsberg, support 28al Security Advisor Henry 15all by himself or were there Ellsberg’s decision to release the Kissinger both said that publishing others who helped him change? Pentagon Papers even though she the Pentagon Papers was an attack Who were these people and how did knows it could mean that he would on the “integrity of government.” they influence Ellsberg? spend the rest of his life in prison? Were they right?

What was Daniel Ellsberg Patricia Marx Ellsberg says President Nixon says, “I think 16risking as he began to change 24that when she read parts of 29it is time in this country to and as he began to want to take ac- the Pentagon Papers about how quit making national heroes out of tion against the war? cold and calculated government those who steal secrets and publish leaders were, it was like reading them in the newspapers.” Should Daniel Ellsberg describes “the language of the torturers.” She Ellsberg be considered a hero? Why 17going to an anti-war meet- thinks to herself, “[H]ow can the or why not? What’s your definition ing where young men were going leaders of our country be talking in of a hero? What’s Nixon’s? to prison for resisting the draft. this language and then misleading Ellsberg leaves the auditorium and According to one of his the American public?” What’s the aides, Henry Kissinger said finds a bathroom and begins sob- answer to that question? 30 bing hysterically. Why does he have that, “Dr. Daniel Ellsberg was the this reaction? most dangerous man in America page 30 © 2010 Zinn Education Project, Judith Ehrlich, and Rick Goldsmith and he had to be stopped.” Why did How did the release of the secrets that they should be revealing? Kissinger consider Ellsberg the most 36Pentagon Papers change the What kind of secrets might these be? dangerous man in America? Nixon administration? White House Counsel John Dean called this “the Daniel Ellsberg says that, In the film, Daniel Ellsberg beginning of the dark period.” What 43“We as a people do have 31says, “I think the lesson is did he mean by that? that power … to change ourselves that the people of this country can’t and history.” Can you think of any afford to let the president run the What’s the impression you examples from history that offer country by himself without the help 37get of President Richard evidence for this statement of the Congress, without the help of Nixon in the film? the public.” Is that the main lesson Ellsberg’s friend, the histo- of the Pentagon Papers story? Are Howard Zinn says that Daniel 44rian Howard Zinn, says that there other important lessons? 38Ellsberg may have expected Ellsberg’s “act had an effect on him, too much from the publication of a profound effect on him and on The former government offi- the Pentagon Papers. If the revela- the rest of his life. He was never go- 32cial, Mort Halperin, says that tion that U.S. involvement in Viet- ing to rest easy from that point on Ellsberg, “did betray a trust and he nam had been built on lies did not unless he was part of some move- put in jeopardy not only his welfare, end the war, why didn’t it? ment against war and for social but that of everybody else who was justice.” Why do you think that Zinn involved.” Was Ellsberg guilty of Daniel Ellsberg says, “I gave attributes Ellsberg’s “act” as having betraying and endangering others? 39up my job, my career, my this effect on him? How would he respond? clearance, and I staked my freedom on a gamble: If the American people Is this just a film about U.S. In the film, Ellsberg refers knew the truth about how they had 45history, or are there any les- 33to the British writer E.M. been lied to, about the myths had sons in it for us today? How about Forster, who said, “If I had to choose led them to endorse this butchery lessons for you personally? between betraying my country and for 25 years, that they would choose betraying a friend, I hope I should against it. And the risk that you take The Pentagon Papers is about have the guts to betray my country.” when you do that, is that you’ll learn 46the U.S. war in Vietnam, but Do you agree with that sentiment? something ultimately about your the film does not quote a single fellow citizens that you won’t like Vietnamese person. Why not? Daniel Ellsberg did what he to hear, and that is that they hear it, What reactions might Viet- 34felt was the right thing to they learn from it, they understand do, regardless of the consequences. 47namese have had to the it, and they proceed to ignore it.” release of the Pentagon Papers? What keeps other people today from Should Ellsberg be disappointed in doing the right thing? what he accomplished, in the impact President Nixon said, “Daniel that his actions had? 35Ellsberg, whatever his inten- John Dean, Nixon’s White tions, gave aid and comfort to the 40House Counsel, said that enemy and under those circum- what Ellsberg did “changed history.” stances, that is inexcusable. After In what way did it change history? all, he is putting himself above the president of the United States, above What role did Daniel Ellsberg the Congress, above our whole sys- 41play in ending the war in tem of government, when he says in Vietnam? effect that he would determine what should be made public.” What are Where are today’s “Daniel your thoughts on Nixon’s statement? 42Ellsbergs”? Do you think that there are other “insiders” who know

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