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‘The Most Dangerous Man in America’ Thursday, January 7, 2010 Photos by Mark Halperin and Maile Klein At the time, the revelation was the most explosive political bombshell surrounding America’s involvement and conduct in what was to become the country’s most unpopular and bitterly divisive war. Ellsberg’s decision to have the highly sensitive secret papers “go public” produced a firestorm of discussions at the White House, in the courts and around the coffee tables of America. There were those who saw him as a patriot. Others viewed him as a traitor. The irony in his decision to leak the files is that his actions did ultimately lead to the end of the Vietnam War. But it was a decision that would change Ellsberg’s life forever with repercussions being felt to this day, 40 years later. To date, he has been arrested almost 80 times on civil disobedience charges.  Documentary filmmakers Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith have been interested in anti-war and anti-violence subject matter for years. Four years ago, Ehrlich met and became interested in her Berkeley, Calif., neighbors Daniel and Patricia Ellsberg. It was a kindred spirits attraction of philosophies that brought them together with the result being a highly revealing, exciting and powerful documentary about absolute political power. It depicts their arrogance for the rule of law, as well as for the contempt with which the American people were held then and continue to be held — some claim — by a number of the country’s highest government officials today, even our presidents. Oval Office residents through the years have not been immune.Ehrlich’s riveting film is extremely well researched and is packed with archival footage, actual government transcripts, along with highly annotated references and documentation. At the center of the political maelstrom is Ellsberg, a soft-spoken, self-effacing man who is staring at the very real possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison for his actions. He was just 38 years old at the time.  Following the screening of the film I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with Ellsberg and his “touchstone to reality and his rock” (who has been a source of inspiration and support to him all these years) his wife Patricia.The first thing I notice about them is their genuine respect for each other. The light, brief touching and the holding of hands reveals a commitment and love for one another that has been a source of strength for both through the last 40 roller-coaster years. Also missing from Ellsberg are the “two horns” one expects to see on the head a person who has been so reviled. Pat Ellsberg says glowingly, “He’s my hero. Dan is always challenging the dark. The film is so moving it brings tears to my eyes.” A tender glance from Dan, and Pat continues, “Dan wants to see a new way of thinking ‘big’. Forty years from now, the changes, hopefully, will come from the people, not from entrenched interests, or the Senate or the Oval Office.” Dan Ellsberg picks up the thread and thrust of the film about him and his reasons for doing what he did. “I’m not a total pacifist. I understand the Holocaust and Obama’s ‘a just war’ position. But the Vietnam War was a war of aggression. Reasons for withdrawing from the war were present and compelling. After several years of fighting and not winning, as we were we told we would, the government’s position then became a case of not wanting to be seen as leaving without winning.” Ellsberg served in Vietnam as a Marine company commander and faced the enemy in combat. “We were fighting 14- and 15-year-old kids who displayed such dedication and commitment that it soon became apparent to me, that we were not going to win this war. I reported these feelings to my superiors.” To underscore his feelings, he relates the story concerning Ho Chi Minh and the French Consul in 1946 when French colonial forces were the opponents. “For every 20 deaths you inflict on us, we may just kill one. But we are willing to fight for our homeland forever,” said Ho Chi Minh. When the Americans arrived in Vietnam, the same strategy was employed, with the results being the same as with the French. On the subject of Iraq, he says, “The Iraq invasion of 2003, was a clear-cut case of aggression — U.S. aggression.”  He is concerned that our leaders haven’t learned, or will not learn, from the past concerning fighting foreign wars in the enemy’s homeland. In the case of the Soviets and their Afghanistan War, he acknowledges that privately at the highest levels, governments do understand the stakes, but it’s their public positions that become the problem.“They withhold the facts from the people and manipulate the information so as to continue their efforts until a clear win or a ‘saving face’ position can be presented. I’m afraid we will do the same thing the Soviets did in Afghanistan.” For more about the Palm Springs International Film Festival, click here. For more information about “The Most Dangerous Man in America,” click here.  Palm Springs Guides Theatre & Cinema Critic/Reviewer Jack Lyons is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Writers Guild of America, West and Screen Actors Guild and is interested in all things “show biz.” An entertainment journalist, TV, radio and theater reviewer/critic seen locally in the Coachella Valley on channel My13 KPSE-TV on “Desert Entertainment This Week.” To visit Jack’s blog, click here. |
