Most Dangerous: Daniel
Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War
Steve Sheinkin
956.7043092 El598s
From
Steve Sheinkin, the award-winning author of The Port Chicago 50 and
Newbery Honor Book Bomb comes a tense, narrative nonfiction account of
what the Times deemed "the greatest story of the century": how
whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg transformed from obscure government analyst into
"the most dangerous man in America," and risked everything to expose
years of government lies during the Nixon / Cold War era.
On
June 13, 1971, the front page of the New York Times announced the existence of
a 7,000-page collection of documents containing a secret history of the Vietnam
War. Known as The Pentagon Papers, these files had been commissioned by
Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara.
Chronicling every action the government had
taken in the Vietnam War, they revealed a pattern of deception spanning over
twenty years and four presidencies, and forever changed the relationship
between American citizens and the politicians claiming to represent their
interests. The investigation that resulted--as well as the attempted government
coverups and vilification of the whistleblower--has timely relevance to Edward
Snowden's more recent conspiracy leaks.
A
provocative and political book that interrogates the meanings of patriotism,
freedom, and integrity, Most Dangerous further establishes Steve
Sheinkin as a leader in children's nonfiction.
(from publisher)
