Daniel Ellsberg - the "Pentagon Papers" & the UM's "Great  Conversation"

Daniel Ellsberg showed up unexpectedly. Dave Dellinger, a noted pacifist from the East Coast, called Ken Tilsen and told him that a high ranking/high profile member of Secretary of State Robert McNamara's Whiz Kids wanted to testify at our trial. When Dan arrived, none of us knew what was afoot. In retrospect, if he had released the "Pentagon Papers" at our trial, we'd still be in solitary confinement! Dan had been inspired by Randy Keillor and others of the War Resisters League to consider exposing the history of lies behind the Cold War and the reasons for the Vietnam War. He had served in Nam twice as a Marine officer. Dan had top civilian security clearance. When his biography is fully told, few will dobut that Dan knew more about American foreign policy than anyone.

 

POLITICS "American Democracy in Dissent" Great Conversations was held Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 7:30pm Ted Mann Concert Hall, University of Minnesota 2128 - 4th Street South, Minneapolis Tickets: $28.50 ($23.50 U of M faculty, staff, students, alumni) 612-624-2345 www.cce.umn.edu/conversations. Daniel Ellsberg, political activist who released the top secret "Pentagon Papers," discusses American Democracy in Dissent with U of M Political Science Professor Larry Jacobs. Moderated by Mary Nichols, Dean, College of Continuing Education. A book signing and dessert reception follows the conversation.   Daniel Ellsberg, "American Democracy in Dissent" U Minnesota's Great Conversation with Professor Larry Jacobs, UM's Humphrey Center Hear now! Click on Dan Ellsberg   **Please note that the College of Continuing Education at the University of Minnesota sponsored this event as part of its series of Great Conversations.  Daniel Ellsberg was a trial witness for the Minnesota Eight.  We will received no income from this event. CCE covered the costs of the event.

Ellsberg is a true American hero. He went through the transformation which is the goal of the classical knightly Hero's Quest. He confronted his inner dragons, and so ours. He risked his life. He put himself in harm's way, consciously.

The "Pentagon Papers" http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/pentagon/pent1.html refer to a mult-author, multi-volume study of American foreign policy in respect to Indochine since the end of World War II. Dan was one of the few who read all volumes. He spied a pattern of knowing deception by and between and among military/political/governmental organizations and individuals which lead to and sustained the Vietnam War. His, (1092) is a handy complementary book to have when trying to grasp the staggering expanse and depth of these decades of deception.

 

 

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