Did a Hollywood film rewrite the history of the Pentagon Papers' historic publication?
In short: Steven Spielberg’s 2017 thriller The Post dramatizes the Washington Post’s decision to publish the Pentagon Papers. While critics lauded its performances and timely political parallels, some veterans of the New York Times argue the film distorts history by overstating the Post's role compared to the Times' original, foundational investigative work.
The Post depicts the 1971 struggle of publisher Katharine Graham and editor Ben Bradlee to print classified documents detailing decades of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The film emphasizes the immense pressure Graham faced from her board, investors, and the Nixon administration, as well as the potential for criminal liability under the Espionage Act. By focusing on the Post’s internal turmoil, the film aims to capture the high-stakes tension of defending First Amendment rights against a hostile executive branch.
However, the film’s narrative choices sparked debate among those who lived through the events. Former New York Times figures, including general counsel James Goodale and bureau chief Max Frankel, criticized the production for minimizing the Times' role. The Times was the first to receive the leak from Daniel Ellsberg via reporter Neil Sheehan and bore the brunt of the initial legal injunctions. Goodale famously labeled the film 'a good movie but bad history,' arguing that it creates a false impression of the Post's involvement, akin to making a film about the Times' role in the Watergate scandal.
Despite these historical disputes, the film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $179.8 million worldwide. Spielberg’s direction, paired with performances by Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, was praised for its ability to make complex legal and ethical decisions feel immediate and suspenseful. Supporters, including journalist Bob Woodward, have called the work a masterpiece, suggesting that its value lies not in strict historical documentation, but in its function as a 'coded commentary' on the responsibility of the press in any era.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Post (film)
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