Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War

When Daniel Ellsberg leaked the Pentagon Papers, some people thought he was a traitor, while others considered him a hero. Discuss the flaws and merits of each point of view. Do you think Ellsberg is a hero or a traitor? Why?

At the beginning of the book, Daniel Ellsberg was a pro-government “cold warrior” who looked down on whistleblowers. Trace three key events that transformed his stance and led to him releasing the Pentagon Papers.

The book’s title, Most Dangerous, is taken from Henry Kissinger’s quote about Daniel Ellsberg, characterizing him as “the most dangerous man in America” (251). Discuss how this title alludes to the book’s central themes. By the end of the book, who or what do you consider to be “most dangerous” in the context of the book’s time period?

Besides Ellsberg, many other characters in the book took brave actions, even though they ran the risk of facing terrible consequences. Discuss any three of these characters, explaining what specific actions they took and why these were important.

Most Dangerous presents the Vietnam War as a very important event in American history. What information did you learn about the war and that period of American history that surprised you the most? Be sure to discuss a minimum of three such facts.

Discuss the impact of Ellsberg’s personal life on his final decision to release the Pentagon Papers. Include discussions of his childhood, as well as his relationship with Patricia Marx.

What did President Johnson and President Nixon have in common? How were they different? How did these differences and similarities affect their handling of the war?

Ellsberg reminds the American people that the US is a “self-governing country.” What does this mean to you? How does the book show that individual actions can have an impact on public policy and historical events?

Even before the release of the Pentagon Papers, how did the press and media shape public opinion and influence government policy on the Vietnam War? What was the effect of the newspaper stories about the Pentagon Papers?