controversial war had divided the country. Opinions and arguments

about whether the US involvement in Vietnam was warranted occupied the

minds of American citizens. The people were hungry for information

regarding the war. The Pentagon Papers, somehow leaked to the New York

Times and Washington Post, fulfilled this need of the people for

information. The government's assumption of prior restraint seemed to

be a major blow to free speech and a sharp addition to the power of

the government. The appellate courts' indecisiveness brought the

ultimate decision to the Supreme Court. There was a deep division of

opinion even among the Justices, and their decision landmarked what

had been previously uncharted waters. The background to this landmark

case has at its roots U.S. policies in Southeast Asia. These policies,

which eventually led to the Vietnam War, were sharply criticized in a

study authorized by Secretary of State Robert S. McNamara in 1967.

This 47-volume study, officially named History of United States

Decision-Making Process on Viet Nam Policy, have come to be known as

Ellsberg essentially absolved Ellsberg and Russo. The "Plumbers" had

government had not proven that the papers' publication would create

had become convinced that our involvement in Vietnam was a mistake,

be constitutional. The others - Justices Brennan, Stewart, and White -

national interests. They felt that since the conduct of foreign

William Fulbright, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

involvement in Vietnam from World War II to the beginning of the Paris

John Mitchell ordering that it halt publication. The Times refused,

and his little helpers - the "Plumbers" - in their dealings with

newspapers. The Court held that there was a heavy burden on the

Some common words found in the essay are:
Supreme Court, Times Co, Washington Post, York Times, Justice Burger, United States', Stewart White, John Mitchell, Los Angeles, Anthony Russo, prior restraint, supreme court, york times, halt publication, involvement vietnam, pentagon papers, prior restraint publication, deep division, anthony russo, foreign relations, prior restraint constitutional, washington post, federal government restrain, attempt federal government, government restrain publication,
Approximate Word count = 1215
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)