The name of Daniel Ellsberg is known far beyond the United States. He was a good military analyst, political activist and writer. In 1971, Daniel released what went down in history as the Pentagon Papers, hoping to push the US out of the Vietnam War. The author has written several other unique works that are popular nowadays. Learn more about him at ichicago.net.
Childhood and youth
Daniel was born in Chicago on April 7, 1931, in a family of Jews converted to Christianity. The tragedy that occurred in 1946 left a negative imprint on the boy’s psyche. The family got into a car accident because the father fell asleep at the wheel. Daniel’s mother and sister died as a result of the accident.
From an early age, Daniel was engaged in music, attending a piano class at the insistence of his parents. After graduating from school, he entered Harvard College to study economics. Thanks to his good grades, the boy continued his education at Cambridge.
In 1954, Daniel enlisted in the army, joining the Marine Corps. He was already married at that time. His wife was the daughter of a brigadier general who influenced the young man’s military career. Ellsberg demobilized in 1957 and began teaching at Harvard University.
Eventful career
In 1958, he began active cooperation with the Research & Development Corporation as a military analyst in the field of nuclear weapons management. Soon, Daniel was recruited to the Pentagon. He was engaged in the Indochina Conflict and went on a business trip to Saigon. In addition, Daniel was involved in scientific activities and was the first to describe the Ellsberg paradox, which was named after him.
The bloody war and the threats of the American government to use nuclear weapons against the communists influenced Daniel’s worldview. He started attending pacifist rallies and calling the conflict American aggression against an independent state. Having access to secret documents, the analyst published them in the press, thereby hoping to push the presidential administration to end hostilities.
The first leak of the Pentagon Papers took place in 1970. However, the senators and congressmen didn’t make the data public, fearing a social outcry. Then Ellsberg turned to the journalists of The New York Times and the disclosure of secret documents damaged the image of the President Richard Nixon administration.
Ellsberg voluntarily surrendered to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He was accused of espionage and threatened with a long prison term. Given the illegal methods of gathering information, including wiretapping, the court acquitted the analyst. Years later, The New York Times called the leak of important documents a forerunner of the Watergate scandal, which resulted in the resignation of the president.
After his acquittal, Daniel published the book Documents on the War and often gave lectures at various educational institutions. In addition, he was actively engaged in anti-war activities, participated in rallies against the war in Iraq and blamed the US government for the Middle East crisis.
In his works, Ellsberg paid special attention to the potential use of nuclear weapons in armed conflicts. He published secret information about US plans for a nuclear attack on China in the event of a Taiwan invasion.
Personal life and last years of life
Daniel openly talked about his personal life in his memoirs. He was married twice and had two sons and a daughter. He entered into his first marriage in 1952 with Carol Cummings. However, Ellsberg didn’t note the reason for the divorce. The second wife, Patricia Marx, was from a wealthy family, her father was engaged in the production of toys and souvenirs.
In each of his interviews, Daniel Ellsberg emphasized that he was proud of his children’s achievements. The sons became writers and the daughter got interested in medicine.
According to relatives, Daniel was a workaholic. He liked to take on large amounts of work and complete them on the last day.
In his old age, Daniel had serious health problems and was on a diet, following the recommendations of doctors. The man complained that he didn’t feel any food taste. Ellsberg passed away on June 16, 2023, because of pancreatic cancer.
Interesting facts
- Daniel continued his contract with the Marine Corps in 1956. There were even rumors of a quick departure of his battalion to Egypt to participate in the Suez conflict. Throughout his life, the man was an ardent opponent of war and the use of nuclear weapons. However, at the same time, he supported the doctrine of communism containment, considering the USSR policy more dangerous.
- In 1976, Daniel was arrested for participating in a disarmament rally near the Pentagon.
- The film The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers was nominated for an Oscar in 2009.
- Ellsberg received the Dresden Peace Prize in 2016.
Taking into account all of the above, we can conclude that Daniel Ellsberg was a great man respected by the whole world. He wasn’t afraid to write the truth and defend his opinion.