By CHRIS GAROFOLO / Brattleboro Reformer
BRATTLEBORO -- The most dangerous man in America will appear in Brattleboro this Thursday.
Daniel Ellsberg, a former commander in the Marine Corps and State Department analyst who made headlines when he released the Pentagon Papers, will speak in the Brattleboro Union High School multi-purpose room this Thursday beginning at 12:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by the BUHS organization called Students For Renew.
"We’re studying U.S. history here and to have someone who has had such a great impact on such a momentous 20th century event, the Vietnam War, is outstanding," said Bill Holiday, a BUHS social studies teacher. This is a great opportunity for the community to hear a powerful figure of prominence whether people believe he is a hero or a traitor, Holiday added.
More than 40 years ago, Ellsberg, a former cold war hard-liner, released a top secret 7,000-page document known as the Pentagon Papers to the press. The release of the papers sparked twelve felony counts with a possible sentence of 115 years, but the charges were dismissed in 1973 on grounds of governmental misconduct against him.
That misconduct later led to convictions of several White House aides and figured in the impeachment proceedings against President Richard M. Nixon.
Holiday said the presentation will begin with a brief video clip about those attempting to discredit Ellsberg and put him under surveillance during peace rallies.
"They had instructions to capture him and beat him up one time. Another time they had a plan to infect him with LSD so they he would publicly discredit himself in a speech, so that the Nixon administration could later discredit him," he said. "Undoubtedly he will talk about what happened to his life as a result of the publication of the Pentagon Papers."
Less than 90 seats remain available for the general public. Residents interested in reserving a seat may contact Holiday at bill_holiday@wsesu.org.
Ellsberg will also appear at the Latchis Theatre later in the day to attend a showing of "The Most Dangerous Man in America," an award-winning film directed by Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith chronicling the events leading up to the publication of the Pentagon Papers.
The film will begin at 6 p.m. at the downtown Brattleboro theatre followed by a question and answer session with Ellsberg. This event is open to the public with an $8 suggested donation.
Gail Nunziata, managing director at the Latchis, said they have sponsored several high-profile national figures such as consumer rights activist and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader and well-known documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.
"Daniel Ellsberg is the same caliber of notoriety and commitment to their cause, and it’s great to be able to offer the stage and offer the community the ability to hear him speak," Nunziata said. "It’s exciting to hear somebody with his kind of passion. ... It’s a wonderful thing for the town."
After growing up in Detroit and graduating from Harvard, Ellsberg served as a company commander in the Marines before returning to Cambridge, Mass., to complete his doctorate in economics. He joined the Rand Corporation’s economics department in 1959 and was later recruited to serve in the Pentagon under Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara.
After spending time in Vietnam for the State Department and back with Rand, Ellsberg released the Pentagon Papers in 1971 to The New York Times, Washington Post and 17 other newspapers.
Ellsberg now is prominent speaker and writer.
BRATTLEBORO -- The most dangerous man in America will appear in Brattleboro this Thursday.
Daniel Ellsberg, a former commander in the Marine Corps and State Department analyst who made headlines when he released the Pentagon Papers, will speak in the Brattleboro Union High School multi-purpose room this Thursday beginning at 12:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by the BUHS organization called Students For Renew.
"We’re studying U.S. history here and to have someone who has had such a great impact on such a momentous 20th century event, the Vietnam War, is outstanding," said Bill Holiday, a BUHS social studies teacher. This is a great opportunity for the community to hear a powerful figure of prominence whether people believe he is a hero or a traitor, Holiday added.
More than 40 years ago, Ellsberg, a former cold war hard-liner, released a top secret 7,000-page document known as the Pentagon Papers to the press. The release of the papers sparked twelve felony counts with a possible sentence of 115 years, but the charges were dismissed in 1973 on grounds of governmental misconduct against him.
That misconduct later led to convictions of several White House aides and figured in the impeachment proceedings against President Richard M. Nixon.
Holiday said the presentation will begin with a brief video clip about those attempting to discredit Ellsberg and put him under surveillance during peace rallies.
"They had instructions to capture him and beat him up one time. Another time they had a plan to infect him with LSD so they he would publicly discredit himself in a speech, so that the Nixon administration could later discredit him," he said. "Undoubtedly he will talk about what happened to his life as a result of the publication of the Pentagon Papers."
Less than 90 seats remain available for the general public. Residents interested in reserving a seat may contact Holiday at bill_holiday@wsesu.org.
Ellsberg will also appear at the Latchis Theatre later in the day to attend a showing of "The Most Dangerous Man in America," an award-winning film directed by Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith chronicling the events leading up to the publication of the Pentagon Papers.
The film will begin at 6 p.m. at the downtown Brattleboro theatre followed by a question and answer session with Ellsberg. This event is open to the public with an $8 suggested donation.
Gail Nunziata, managing director at the Latchis, said they have sponsored several high-profile national figures such as consumer rights activist and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader and well-known documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.
"Daniel Ellsberg is the same caliber of notoriety and commitment to their cause, and it’s great to be able to offer the stage and offer the community the ability to hear him speak," Nunziata said. "It’s exciting to hear somebody with his kind of passion. ... It’s a wonderful thing for the town."
After growing up in Detroit and graduating from Harvard, Ellsberg served as a company commander in the Marines before returning to Cambridge, Mass., to complete his doctorate in economics. He joined the Rand Corporation’s economics department in 1959 and was later recruited to serve in the Pentagon under Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara.
After spending time in Vietnam for the State Department and back with Rand, Ellsberg released the Pentagon Papers in 1971 to The New York Times, Washington Post and 17 other newspapers.
Ellsberg now is prominent speaker and writer.
No comments:
Post a Comment