“I was struck, in fact, by President Johnson's reaction to these...” – Daniel Ellsberg, The Post ... Movie Quotes Database

Daniel Ellsberg

I was struck, in fact, by President Johnson's reaction to these revelations as close to treason. Because it reflected to me the sense that what was damaging to the reputation of a particular administration, a particular individual, was in itself treason. Which is very close to saying, "I am the State".

In this scene

Daniel Ellsberg Matthew Rhys More Daniel Ellsberg quotes →

More from The Post

Meg Greenfield ...from the majority opinion: 'In the First Amendment the Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to fulfill its essential role in our democracy. The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.' Fritz Beebe If the government wins and we're convicted, the Washington Post as we know it will cease to exist. Ben Bradlee Well, if we live in a world where the government could tell us what we can and cannot print, then the Washington Post as we know it has already ceased to exist. Katharine Graham Ben, that's not my role. You know that. I wouldn't presume to tell you how to write about him. Just as I wouldn't take it upon myself to tell him he should hand over a classified study, which would be a crime, by the way, just so he can serve as your source. Ben Bradlee Our source, Katherine.