USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Pentagon Papers revealed that the United States had expanded its war with the bombing of Cambodia and Laos, coastal raids on North Vietnam, and Marine Corps attacks, none of which had been reported by the American media.

Detailed explanation-2: -Officially titled “History of U.S. Decision-Making in Vietnam, 1945–68, ” the Pentagon Papers are a study of the origins and development of the Vietnam War. They were commissioned in June 1967 by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara after he had developed doubts about the wisdom of that war.

Detailed explanation-3: -Often referred to as the “Pentagon Papers” case, the landmark Supreme Court decision in New York Times Co. v. United States, 403 U.S. 713 (1971), defended the First Amendment right of free press against prior restraint by the government.

Detailed explanation-4: -On June 30, the Supreme Court ruled that the Times had the right to publish the material. The publication of the “Pentagon Papers, ” along with previous suspected disclosures of classified information to the press, led to the creation of a White House unit to plug information leaks to journalists.