The Post (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Ellsberg leaked the Pentagon Papers because he discovered that four U.S. presidents, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson, had systematically concealed the true nature of the Vietnam War from the public and Congress. After experiencing the war's harsh realities firsthand in Vietnam and witnessing Secretary McNamara lie to the press about progress, Ellsberg felt a moral obligation to expose the decades-long government deception. His decision was driven by a belief that the public had a right to know the truth about a war that was costing thousands of American lives.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Ellsberg witnessing the disconnect between what he saw in Vietnam and what McNamara told the press, planting the seed of his eventual action.

• daniel ellsberg
• pentagon papers
• leak
• vietnam war
• government deception

The Pentagon Papers were a classified Department of Defense study detailing the history of U.S. involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967. The documents revealed that multiple presidential administrations had systematically misled the public about the war's progress, including overstating success and downplaying the likelihood of victory despite internal knowledge that the war was unwinnable. The revelation exposed a profound breach of public trust between the government and the American people.

• pentagon papers
• vietnam war
• government cover-up
• classified documents
• president kennedy
• president johnson

Graham faced multiple sources of hesitation: she was new to publishing leadership as the widow of the former publisher, male colleagues questioned her competence in board meetings, and the newspaper was about to go public, making legal liability a major financial risk. Additionally, President Nixon had expressed personal displeasure about her paper's coverage of his daughter's wedding, creating political pressure. She also feared the personal and professional consequences of defying a sitting president during a time of intense government scrutiny.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Arthur Parsons openly challenging her leadership in a boardroom dominated by men, highlighting the institutional resistance she faced.

• kay graham
• washington post
• hesitation
• publishing
• legal risk
• nixon

After the New York Times published its story, President Nixon directed the Justice Department to seek an injunction against both The New York Times and The Washington Post, arguing that the publication of classified documents threatened national security. The government filed emergency petitions with the Supreme Court to stop the publications, creating an unprecedented constitutional crisis over press freedom. Nixon was determined to silence both newspapers despite the constitutional implications.

• nixon
• justice department
• injunction
• supreme court
• legal action
• first amendment

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of The Washington Post and The New York Times, declaring that the government had failed to meet the heavy burden of proof required to prior restrain the press. The ruling emphasized that the press serves as a check on government power and that "the court rules in favor of the governed, not the governors." This landmark decision affirmed the First Amendment right to publish matters of public importance, even when the government claims national security concerns.

• supreme court
• ruling
• first amendment
• press freedom
• constitution
• governed

McNamara visited Graham to warn her that the next day's paper might contain unfavorable coverage about him, likely referencing his role in the Vietnam War deception documented in the Pentagon Papers. This visit was strategically timed to create personal pressure on Graham, leveraging their social relationship to influence her editorial decision. It demonstrated how deeply connected the government cover-up was to individuals still in positions of power who had much to lose from publication.

• robert mcnamara
• kay graham
• warning
• vietnam war
• pentagon papers

The film ends with a guard discovering a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex, which directly led to Nixon's resignation. While the Pentagon Papers exposed past government deception, Watergate revealed ongoing illegal activities by the Nixon administration. The connection is symbolic: the publication of the Pentagon Papers emboldened journalists to investigate further, and the same investigative spirit eventually brought down a president. Both events represent the press's role in holding government accountable.

• watergate
• nixon
• connection
• democratic national committee
• break-in
• resignation

Graham's leadership was questioned primarily because she was a woman in a male-dominated industry during the early 1970s, and she had inherited the newspaper through her late husband rather than earning it through traditional journalistic credentials. Board member Arthur Parsons explicitly voiced skepticism about her abilities, citing both her gender and the stigma of being a widow who took over a family business. Additionally, her lack of experience in editorial decisions made some believe she was unprepared for the high-stakes moment.

• kay graham
• leadership
• the post
• gender discrimination
• board
• arthur parsons

The Post's decision to publish the Pentagon Papers created what became known as the "Washington Post effect", a domino situation where newspapers across the country rushed to publish their own stories about the documents. The Post's brave decision validated other news organizations to follow suit despite the legal risks, transforming a single newspaper's act of courage into a nationwide journalistic movement. This collective action demonstrated the power of a free press to collectively challenge government secrecy.

• newspapers
• publication
• domino effect
• washington post
• other papers
• media

Ellsberg was charged with theft, conspiracy, and violating the Espionage Act, facing up to 115 years in prison. His trial became a symbol of the government's attempt to suppress whistleblowers, but the case was dismissed in 1973 due to prosecutorial misconduct, including illegal evidence gathering by the Nixon administration. His actions, while controversial, are credited with helping to end American involvement in Vietnam and inspiring future whistleblowers.

• daniel ellsberg
• after
• charges
• trial
• espionage act
• prison
• whistleblowers