University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Associated Students of the University of Montana Montana Kaimin, 1898-present (ASUM) 10-30-1975 Montana Kaimin, October 30, 1975 Associated Students of the University of Montana Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy . Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper Recommended Citation Associated Students of the University of Montana, "Montana Kaimin, October 30, 1975" (1975). Montana Kaimin, 1898-present. 6425. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper/6425 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM) at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Montana Kaimin, 1898-present by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. / DANIEL ELLSBERG, former defense department analyst who leaked the Pentagon Papers to the press, expounds. (Montana Kaimln photos by Al Dekmar) Ellsberg blasts proposed SB1 By VICKI JOHNSON tagon Papers to the New York Times would thicken theexecutive branch's A number of Ellsberg’s comments Since newspaper publishers are and and other newspapers four years already dark veil of secrecy. during the 90-minute question-and- businessmen and not journalists, he RICH ECKE ago, said Senate Bill 1 “includes a Ellsberg, a vigorous critic of answer session were critical of the said, they are reluctant to criticize Montana Kaimln Raportara great many provisions that go very government secrecy during and after government officials and policies. far in abridging the first ten the Vietnam War, is one of three With regard to the Vietnam War, A U.S. Senate proposal to codify amendments” to the Constitution. speakers in Missoula for the Ball speaks tonight newspapers "played a large part in the federal criminal laws "would Mansfield Lecture Series. keeping the war going,” Ellsberg repeal the First Amendment," Daniel Disclosure Would Be Illegal The others are George Ball, former Former Under Secretary of said. Ellsberg told about 60 people in the One of its provisions would make U.S. under secretary of state, and State George Ball will speak at "The press," he said, “did better journalism library yesterday. releasing secret government former presidential adviser Walt Ros- 8 tonight in the University than any other institution with Ellsberg, who released the Pen­ documents illegal, he said, and tow. Theater. respect to the Vietnam War, yet (still A former defense department Ball, managing director of performed) badly." analyst who helped write the 7,000- Lehman Brothers Inc., an He said another faux pas by the page Pentagon Papers, Ellsberg was international investment bank­ press has been its portrayal of indicted for theft of the Vietnam War ing firm, will be honored at a Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. study, conspiracy and espionage. noon luncheon in the “Kissinger is seen as a man of peace" | m o n ta n a The charges were dropped in May, University Center Montana because of press accounts, he said. 1973, because of government mis­ Rooms. Tickets are available at But Ellsberg said Kissinger conduct during the prosecution. the UC Ticket Office. "deliberately prolonged" the Viet­ Ellsberg said that while it was legal At 11 a.m. he will hold a nam War by trying to win a military Kaimin for him to release the Pentagon press conference in UC 360 D victory. “He dropped 4.5 million tons ___________ jL _U N IV E R $IT Y OF MONTANA • STUDENT NEWSPAPER. Papers in 1971, the proposed SB1 and F. of bombs on Vietnam,” he said, more would make a similar act illegal. Ball's appearance is paid for bombs than were dropped during Thursday, Oct. 30, 1975 Missoula, Mont. Vol. 78, No. 19 “I, by the way, assumed that I was by the University of Montana's World War II. breaking the law" by releasing the- Foundation’s Mansfield Lec­ The press gives Kissinger documents, he said. ture Series endowment. favorable coverage in return for “ex­ “Like most senators and lawyers I clusive interviews," he said. assumed there must be some law Reporters are manipulated by Hahn wants gag underlying classification of U.S. press in general and newspaper government officials “much more documents," he continued. publishers in particular. than they would admit,” Ellsberg He said he made a poor as­ “I really think a lot of editors and added. sumption. publishers could comfortably It is a lie to say the anti-war on CB commit But “the public has not gotten the publish in Russia,” he said. movement in the United States had The press, a supposed watchdog no effect on ending the war, Ellsberg By JONATHAN KRIM "I don’t think we can have a blanket message” that this act was not legal, he noted. of government, is often “a very said in a speech later. Montana Kaimln Raportar stop on people talking to the press," willing" victim of governmental Murray said. Now that the Senate is trying to manipulation, Ellsberg charged. • Cont. on p. 4 Carrie Hahn, chairman of the Cen­ However, he continued, the com­ make the release of secret tral Board Athletic Committee, has mittee might accomplish more if the documents illegal, Elisberg said, the asked committee members not to request Is complied with. public is still not informed. talk to the press unless she Is “If I get mad enough about Press Did 'Poor Job' present. something, I'll talk to the press, but He told the audience of journalism Hahn, a journalism major, made by-and-large I won’t,” Murray added. students that the press has done a the request at a committee meeting He said he did not believe the very bad job in warning the public Tuesday. policy would be adopted by other CB about the dangers of SB1. She said she believes the “open committees. “Secrecy as it is practiced in the mindedness” of the committee will Patsy lacopini, another committee United States is incompatible with be assured if committee members member, said yesterday she agreed democracy,” Ellsberg said. comply with the request. with Hahn's request. He claimed SB1 would increase government secrecy and reduce the Anderson Objects She said that her opinions about flow of information to the public. the athletic issue have changed Ellen Anderson, a committee The executive branch has clas­ recently, and, she said, they will member, objected to Hahn’s request sified one billion pages of probably change again. calling it “useless.” documents as secret, he said, adding She said she would “talk to the “I don’t feel I’m qualified to talk un­ that half of them are from 10 to more Kaimin anytime.” til all the facts are in," she remarked. than 30 years out of date. “I think it’s important that every­ “The government will continue, no thing Internal to the committee be as Committee Explained matter what we do, to keep more open as possible," she said. “Asking Hahn also discussed the structure secrets than is good for us or them," members of the committee not to talk and objectives of the committee, Ellsberg said. is a violation of trust." which wi|l have a "core group" of “We haven’t had democracy in Hahn said committee members about 10 members, each responsible foreign affairs" because of excessive will be doing extensive research on for researching a specific area. secrecy by the government, he athletics and she does not want com­ These 10 members will then recruit hdded. mittee members expressing opinions three or four “sub-members" to aid ' “I didn't know much about the on the issue until the research is them in their research, Hahn said. Constitution—I worked for the ex­ completed. She said these sub-members ecutive branch,” he said. "I thought She added that she was concerned would not have to be appointed to the President made the law.” that a committee member might form the committee by the CB Ap­ Ellsberg said a penchance for an opinion based on a few facts and pointments Committee, adding that secrecy and fear of public disclosure then change his mind when all the in­ this committee structure is unique in of “sensitive" material pervades the formation is compiled. ASUM. Chief Executive’s bureaucracy. Hahn acknowledged that she The committee will investigate Persistent lying by the Johnson could not enforce her request, but several aspects of the UM athletic and Nixon administrations should she said it would be a “matter of program, including budgeting, teach the public that the executive trust" between her and the other alumni support, Big Sky Conference branch cannot be trusted with ex­ committee members. requirements and support among clusive access to information, he Reporters will be allowed to attend members of the UM community. said. committee meetings, she said. The committee was established by The Congress, America’s press ASUM Vice President Jim Murray, Central Board last spring to study the and the public, he said, should in­ DAN BURDEN, British Columbia, who participated In the 18,272 mile, three- a committee member, said yesterday UM athletic program and make crease efforts to lessen secrecy and year Hemistour bicycle trek through North and South America, sloshes he was ambivalent about Hahn's re­ recommendations based on its make more information available to along. A free slide show on Hemistour Is being shown at 7:30 tonight in quest. findings. everyone. Women's Center 215. See related story, p. 5. opinion developing safe bicycling techniques ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “ 'N and facilities. The trans-American trail, a dream envisioned and made true by people Montana here in Missoula, is a perm anent 4,200- mile route.