Daniel Ellsberg, the whistleblower behind the Pentagon Papers leak, has died at the age of 92.
Significant impact: Ellsberg’s disclosure of the Pentagon Papers in 1971 contributed to ending the Vietnam War, prompted a landmark Supreme Court decision on freedom of the press, and led to a response from President Nixon that resulted in the Watergate scandal.
* Working as a military analyst, Ellsberg released an extensive record of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, revealing the willingness of one administration after another to continue the war despite knowing it would ultimately fail.
Notable actions: Ellsberg continued to be an advocate for peace and a critic of government secrecy throughout his life.
* He opposed the Iraq war in 2003 and spoke in defense of whistleblowers, such as Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning, and Edward Snowden.
Personal life: Ellsberg was born in Chicago in 1931 and served as a Marine Corps officer before pursuing his doctoral degree at Harvard.
* He worked for RAND Corporation before becoming a military analyst for the Pentagon.
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