The Pentagon Papers | The Trial | 4
American Scandal
Audible
4.5 • 19.6K Ratings
🗓️ 28 December 2021
⏱️ 41 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
President Nixon sets in motion a secret campaign to destroy Daniel Ellsberg. With his trial underway, Ellsberg faces a moment of reckoning.
Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App https://wondery.app.link/americanscandal.
Support us by supporting our sponsors!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hey, Prime Members, you can listen to American Scandal add-free on Amazon Music, download the app today. |
| 0:20.0 | It's June 28, 1971 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. |
| 0:24.0 | In the entryway of a suburban home, morning sunlight shines in through a small window. |
| 0:29.0 | The pale light lands on Daniel Ellsberg as he waits for his wife, savoring the moment. |
| 0:34.0 | Today may be Ellsberg's last morning as a free man. |
| 0:38.0 | A few days ago, his attorney told him that the FBI had issued a warrant for his arrest and advised him to turn himself in. |
| 0:46.0 | But Ellsberg wasn't ready to face the FBI. |
| 0:49.0 | Now he is. |
| 0:51.0 | Ellsberg just distributed his two final copies of the Pentagon papers, a top secret history of America's involvement in Vietnam. |
| 0:59.0 | The study has now reached dozens of publications. |
| 1:02.0 | Millions of Americans have learned the appalling truths about the war and the lies told by America's leaders in government. |
| 1:09.0 | So at this point Ellsberg's work is complete. |
| 1:12.0 | There's no use trying to evade the FBI any longer. It's time to turn himself in. |
| 1:18.0 | A car pulls into the driveway and Ellsberg takes his wife's hand. |
| 1:23.0 | Together, the two step out of the safe house where they've been staying, an approaching idling taxi. |
| 1:30.0 | Ellsberg and his wife, Patricia Moritz, take a seat in the back of the cab. |
| 1:38.0 | In the front passenger seat, Ellsberg's attorney, Charles Messin, sits waiting. |
| 1:43.0 | Morning, Dan. Hi, Patricia. You both ready for this? Morning, Charlie. |
| 1:48.0 | I'm as ready as I'm going to be. Yeah. Good, because we've got a long morning ahead. |
| 1:54.0 | We're going to go to the courthouse and when we get there, you'll head to the US Attorney's office and present yourself for arrest. |
| 2:00.0 | I still get a chance to read my prepared statement though, right? |
| 2:03.0 | I mean, in a case they're reporters. I want them to see that I'm not some criminal or a traitor. This is an act of patriotism. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Audible, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Audible and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.

