Daniel Ellsberg ’52 — a military analyst turned antiwar whistleblower who exposed government lies about the Vietnam War by leaking the Pentagon Papers — died on June 16 at his home in Kensington, California. He was 92.
The cause of death was pancreatic cancer, his family wrote in a statement. Ellsberg publicly announced that doctors diagnosed him with inoperable pancreatic cancer on Feb. 17, and estimated he had three to six months left to live.
Ellsberg decided to leak the Pentagon Papers after growing disillusioned with the war in Vietnam. The consequences of the disclosure, however, had a significant impact on domestic politics, leading to a landmark Supreme Court decision on press freedoms and the eventual downfall of former President Richard Nixon.
In an interview with The Crimson just five days after his diagnosis, Ellsberg cheerfully discussed the bright side of having terminal cancer: He no longer needed to adhere to his longtime salt-free diet.
“I’m going to have Thai food tonight, which I haven’t had for five years,” he said at the time. “I love it. And Indian food, Chinese food — I’ve had to go without all this pleasure from food for five years now, so I’m in very good spirits. Now I can really indulge myself.”
Ellsberg also cracked jokes throughout the interview, occasionally employing dark humor.
“You are very lucky,” Ellsberg told The Crimson, laughing, “that you requested to speak with me now and not in six months.”
Daniel...
In a video, the Mayor of Rotherham says in Arabic that Britain can only be great again by implementing Sharia law, and demands the expulsion of all non-Muslims, including British citizens. False. C...