Remembering Daniel Ellsberg

Daniel Ellsberg passed away this last week at ninety-two years old. In August 2010, Susan Galardi, then the Editor-in-chief of Dans Papers assigned me to interview Daniel Ellsberg about his coming Guild Hall HIFF Summer docs presentation of his film, “The Most Dangerous Man in America.”

The scheduled 15 minute phone interview turned into two phone calls together lasting three hours. Ellsberg was in Mexico and I was at my then gf now wife’s then apartment in Patchogue.

I have met many brilliant people in my life both as a journalist and as a Seventy-year-0ld man. I have met four Presidents, one Supreme Court Chief Justice, numerous US Senators and Congressmen. Some while I was a Congressional Intern in 1973-74 , others while doing journalism. Daniel Ellsberg was easily the brightest free thinker I ever met, followed by Elizabeth Warren who I group interviewed at Guild Hall during the first Hamptons Institute.

It is well known that Daniel Ellsberg leaked the so called, Pentagon Papers,” that were printed by Ben Bradlee and The Washington Post. Bradlee personally also edited and printed two of my letters to the editor because he liked them. Talking with Mr. Bradlee twice about my letters was quite an honor practically a year apart July 1973 and August 1974.

After discussing the promotional stuff one does to promote an event at Guild Hall Mr. Ellsberg and I discussed things like the “Saturday Night Massacre,” otherwise known as the night Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox was fired by Nixon via a degree by Judge Bork. It was an eerie night in D.C. with many folks in front of their homes and apartments actually holding lit candles. Only those there truly understand how that felt.

We talked about Ruby’s, the all night Chinese Restaurant that all of the Capital Hill folks frequented at all hours. We also talked about the Watergate hearings that I attended in person (being assigned to them to fill in office staff folks afterwards of what went down.) I was there when John Dean testified in his brown horn rim glasses.

Mr. Ellsberg enjoyed talking with someone who was in Washington when he also was there at that historic time now 37 years later. We recalled events only folks in D.C. during those Nixon years would remember.

His detailed assessment of what was happening to him and the country was fascinating. I am just sorry I didn’t record the call. My wife Cindi was near-by and fascinated that he called back to continue talking to me. He insisted we meet after the Guild Hall event and we did backstage afterwards as he kept Alex Baldwin waiting. He was glad to meet my wife and said I did a good job with the piece I wrote to promote the night. Then he said “Thank you.” After you write a piece that’s the best thing one can hear.

Rest In Peace Daniel Ellsberg knowing you changed U.S. War policy in a positive way forever. You paid a heavy price.

Last note: That night we talked on the phone Mr. Ellsberg said he hadn’t really talked to any reporters in decades before we spoke. That changed afterwards.