Daniel Ellsberg Illness and Health Before Death
by Aishwarya R
Updated Jun 19, 2023
Who was Daniel Ellsberg?
Daniel Ellsberg was a notable American political activist, economist, and military analyst for the United States. During his tenure at the RAND Corporation, he found himself at the center of significant national controversy in 1971. This occurred when he leaked the Pentagon Papers, a classified study conducted by the Pentagon that examined the decision-making processes of the U.S. government during the Vietnam War. Ellsberg provided the papers to prominent newspapers such as The New York Times and The Washington Post.
In January 1973, Ellsberg faced charges under the Espionage Act of 1917, as well as allegations of theft and conspiracy. These charges carried a maximum sentence of 115 years. However, due to misconduct by the government and illegal acquisition of evidence, as well as the effective defense led by Leonard Boudin and Harvard Law School professor Charles Nesson, Judge William Matthew Byrne Jr. dismissed all charges against Ellsberg in May 1973.
Throughout his life, Ellsberg received recognition for his work. In 2006, he was honored with the Right Livelihood Award. He also gained prominence for formulating a significant example in decision theory known as the Ellsberg paradox. Ellsberg extensively studied nuclear weapons and nuclear policy and voiced his support for figures such as WikiLeaks, Chelsea Manning, and Edward Snowden. In recognition of his exceptional moral courage and profound humanism, Ellsberg was bestowed with the 2018 Olof Palme Prize. Tragically, Daniel Ellsberg passed away on June 16, 2023.
Daniel Ellsberg Illness and Health Before Death
Before the death of Daniel Ellsberg, he announced that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and had only a few months to live. The 91-year-old Ellsberg shared the news on his Facebook page, revealing that he had been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer on February 17 after undergoing a CT scan and MRI. Given his prognosis, Ellsberg made the decision not to pursue chemotherapy and expressed his intention to accept hospice care when necessary.
Reflecting on his life, Ellsberg said feelings of gratitude and acknowledged his perceived fortune despite the circumstances. The Pentagon Papers, a collection of documents meticulously examining the decision-making and tactics of the Vietnam War, revealed how American involvement had progressively escalated. The papers shed light on the overconfidence of political leaders and top military officials regarding U.S. prospects, as well as the deliberate misrepresentation of achievements against the North Vietnamese.
As a former consultant to the Defense Department, Ellsberg provided the Pentagon Papers to Neil Sheehan, a journalist who broke the story for The New York Times in June 1971. However, Sheehan passed away in 2021. Sheehan clandestinely obtained the documents from Ellsberg's Massachusetts apartment, illicitly making copies of thousands of pages and delivering them to the Times.
The Nixon administration responded to the release of the Pentagon Papers by obtaining a court injunction, claiming national security concerns and halting publication. This action triggered a vigorous debate about First Amendment rights, which eventually reached the Supreme Court. On June 30, 1971, the court ruled 6-3 in favor of allowing publication, leading The New York Times and The Washington Post to resume reporting on the papers. The Times was subsequently awarded the Pulitzer Prize for public service for their coverage.
Following the publication, the Nixon administration sought to discredit Ellsberg. Several of Nixon's aides orchestrated a break-in at the office of Ellsberg's psychiatrist in Beverly Hills in an attempt to gather information to undermine his credibility.
Ellsberg faced charges of theft, conspiracy, and violations of the Espionage Act, but his case ended in a mistrial due to the emergence of evidence related to government-ordered wiretapping and break-ins.
In his Facebook post, Ellsberg expressed his sense of fortune and gratitude for his life. He acknowledged that when he copied the Pentagon Papers in 1969, he believed he would spend the remainder of his life imprisoned. He would have willingly accepted that fate if it meant hastening the end of the Vietnam War, despite its seeming improbability. Nevertheless, Ellsberg noted that, ultimately, his actions—unforeseen in their consequences due to Nixon's illicit responses—contributed to a shortened war duration.
Story of Leaked Pentagon Papers
In late 1969, Daniel Ellsberg, along with his colleague Anthony Russo, embarked on a covert mission to copy classified documents known as the Pentagon Papers.
Revealing Government Deception
The Pentagon Papers contained a damning revelation: the government had early knowledge that the war in Vietnam was unlikely to be won. The papers also exposed a systematic pattern of deceit by the Johnson Administration, which had misled both the public and Congress.
Influential Encounters and Change of Heart
Following the document copying, Ellsberg sought out individuals who had influenced his evolving perspective on the war. One such person was Randy Kehler, while another was poet Gary Snyder. Engaging in spirited discussions with Snyder, Ellsberg eventually acknowledged the accuracy of Snyder's analysis regarding the situation in Vietnam and the need for action.
Persuasion and Senate Involvement
Throughout 1970, Ellsberg made covert attempts to convince sympathetic U.S. Senators, including J. William Fulbright and George McGovern, to release the Pentagon Papers on the Senate floor. Senators enjoyed immunity from prosecution for their statements made within the Senate chamber.
Sharing the Truth
Ellsberg selectively shared copies of the documents with trusted individuals, including scholars at the Institute for Policy Studies. Additionally, he provided the papers to Neil Sheehan, a correspondent from The New York Times, who based his reporting on the materials received directly from Ellsberg and contacts at the Institute for Policy Studies.
The New York Times Exposé and Legal Battle
On June 13, 1971, The New York Times published the first of nine excerpts from the 7,000-page collection of the Pentagon Papers. However, the Nixon administration swiftly obtained a court order to halt further publication, leading to a 15-day hiatus. Meanwhile, while evading an FBI manhunt, Ellsberg leaked the documents to The Washington Post. On June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of The New York Times, allowing the resumption of publication (New York Times Co. v. United States). Just two days prior to the Supreme Court's decision, Ellsberg publicly acknowledged his role in leaking the Pentagon Papers to the press.
Broadening the Impact
On June 29, 1971, U.S. Senator Mike Gravel of Alaska, with copies received from Ellsberg via Ben Bagdikian of The Washington Post, entered 4,100 pages of the Pentagon Papers into the record of his Subcommittee on Public Buildings and Grounds.
Fallout and Nixon Administration Response
The release of the Pentagon Papers caused significant political embarrassment for not only the Kennedy and Johnson administrations but also for President Nixon's administration. Nixon's Oval Office tape from June 14, 1971, revealed H. R. Haldeman describing the situation and acknowledging the erosion of public trust in government.
Legal Battle and Legacy
The Nixon administration's attempt to restrain publication marked the first time since the U.S. Civil War that the federal government successfully curtailed a major newspaper's publishing rights. However, Ellsberg's actions ignited a series of events that ultimately led to the Supreme Court's landmark ruling, protecting freedom of the press (The New York Times Co. v. United States). The release of the Pentagon Papers also played a role in the subsequent Watergate scandal.
Through his bold revelation of the Pentagon Papers, Daniel Ellsberg became an accidental historical figure, triggering a chain of events that intertwined Vietnam and Watergate into one continuous narrative from 1961 to 1975.
Daniel Ellsberg Early Life
Daniel Ellsberg was born on April 7, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents, Harry and Adele Ellsberg, were Ashkenazi Jews who had converted to Christian Science, although the family considered themselves Jewish in heritage rather than religion. Growing up in Detroit, Ellsberg attended the Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills. While his mother aspired for him to become a concert pianist, he stopped playing after a tragic accident in which his mother and sister were killed when his father fell asleep while driving.
Ellsberg pursued higher education at Harvard College, where he received a scholarship. In 1952, he graduated summa cum laude with an A.B. in economics. He then spent a year at King's College, Cambridge, funded by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. Initially studying economics, Ellsberg later shifted his focus towards earning a Ph.D. in the same field. After his time in Cambridge, he returned to Harvard.
In 1954, Ellsberg enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he achieved the rank of first lieutenant. Serving in the 2nd Marine Division, he held positions as a platoon leader and company commander. After three years of military service, Ellsberg received an honorable discharge in 1957. Following his military career, he resumed his studies at Harvard as a Junior Fellow in the Society of Fellows for a two-year period.
Daniel Ellsberg Marital Life
Daniel Ellsberg experienced two marriages in his lifetime. His first marriage took place in 1952 when he tied the knot with Carol Cummings, a Radcliffe College graduate whose father served as a brigadier general in the Marine Corps. The couple was married for 13 years before their marriage ended in divorce. In his memoir, "Secrets," Ellsberg mentioned that the divorce was initiated by Carol. Throughout their marriage, they were blessed with two children named Robert Ellsberg and Mary Ellsberg.
In 1970, Ellsberg entered into his second marriage with Patricia Marx, the daughter of renowned toy maker Louis Marx. Following their marriage, the couple resided in Mill Valley, California, for a significant period of time. Together, they became parents to a son named Michael Ellsberg, who has pursued a successful career as an author and journalist.
Daniel Ellsberg's journey encompassed various aspects of his personal life, including his relationships and family. Despite the challenges and changes he encountered, he continued to make significant contributions to society through his activism and his role in the release of the Pentagon Papers.
Daniel Ellsberg Illness and Health Before Death - FAQs
Daniel Ellsberg was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer before his passing.
Daniel Ellsberg received his diagnosis of inoperable pancreatic cancer on February 17, 2023.
Doctors gave Daniel Ellsberg an estimated timeframe of three to six months to live following his cancer diagnosis.
No, Daniel Ellsberg opted not to undergo chemotherapy and instead chose to focus on accepting hospice care when needed.
In a Facebook post, Daniel Ellsberg expressed feelings of gratitude and acknowledged the impact his actions, such as leaking the Pentagon Papers, had on shortening the Vietnam War. He considered himself fortunate for his life and the opportunity to make a difference.