Quotes

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...from the majority opinion: 'In the First Amendment the Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to fulfill its essential role in our democracy. The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.'

Dialogue

Daniel Ellsberg: But it didn't take him long to figure out, well, for us to figure out if the public ever saw these papers they would turn against the war. Covert ops, guaranteed debt, rigged elections? It's all in there. Ike, Kennedy, Johnson... they violated the Geneva Convention. They lied to Congress and they lied to the public. They knew we couldn't win and still sent boys to die. Ben Bagdikian: What about Nixon? Daniel Ellsberg: He's just carrying on like all the others, too afraid to be the one who loses the war on his watch.

Dialogue

Ben Bradlee: So, can I ask you a hypothetical question? Ben Bradlee: Well, I don't think you're gonna like the real one, either. Katharine Graham: Do you have the Papers? Ben Bradlee: Not yet.

Dialogue

Anthony Essaye: Ben, look, we know your reporters are talented. But, The New York Times spent three months going over these documents. You've got, what? Seven hours now until the paper goes to press? Can you honestly tell me that that is enough time to make sure not a single military plan, not a single U.S. soldier, not a single American life will be put in harms way? That this will do no damage to the United States if you publish? Ben Bradlee: Yes. Roger Clark: And you're sure about that? Ben Bradlee: No! That's why I've called you guys.

Dialogue

Roger Clark: What if we wait? What if we hold off on printing today. Instead we call the Attorney General and we tell them that we intend to print on Sunday. That way we give them and us time to figure out the legality of all of it, while the Court in New York decides the Times case. Ben Bradlee: Are you suggesting we alert the Attorney General to the fact that we have these documents, that we're going to print, in a few days? Roger Clark: Well, yes, that is the idea. Ben Bagdikian: Yeah, well, outside of landing the Hindenburg in a lightning storm, that's about the shittiest idea I've ever heard. Fritz Beebe: Oh boy!

Dialogue

Fritz Beebe: If the government wins and we're convicted, the Washington Post as we know it will cease to exist. Ben Bradlee: Well, if we live in a world where the government could tell us what we can and cannot print, then the Washington Post as we know it has already ceased to exist.

Dialogue

Ben Bagdikian: They're going to lock you up, Dan. Daniel Ellsberg: Wouldn't you go to prison to stop this war? Ben Bagdikian: Theoretically, sure. Daniel Ellsberg: You are gonna publish these documents? Ben Bagdikian: Yeah. Daniel Ellsberg: Even with the injunction. Ben Bagdikian: Yes. Daniel Ellsberg: Well, then. It's not so theoretical then, is it?

Dialogue

Robert McNamara: If you publish, you'll get the very worst of him, the Colsons and the Ehrlichmans and he'll crush you. Katharine Graham: I know, he's just awful, but I... Robert McNamara: [Interrupting and getting extremely angry] He's a... Nixon's a son of a bitch! He hates you, he hates Ben, he's wanted to ruin the paper for years and you will not get a second chance, Kay. The Richard Nixon I know will muster the full power of the presidency and if there's a way to destroy your paper, by God, he'll find it.

Dialogue

Ben Bradlee: Jack Kennedy. The night he was assassinated, Tony and I were down at the Naval Hospital so we would be there to meet Jackie when she landed. She was bringing Jack's body back on the plane from Dallas and she walked into the room. She was still wearing that pink suit, with Jack's blood all over it. She fell into Tony's arms and they held each other for quite a long time. And then Jackie looked at me and said, "None of this. None of what you see. None of what I say, is *ever* going to be in your newspaper, Ben." And that just about broke my heart. I never - never thought of Jack as a source. I thought of him as a friend. And that was my mistake. And it was something that Jack knew all along. We can't be both. We have to choose. And - that's the point. The days of us smoking cigars together on Pennsylvania Avenue were over. [pause] We have to be the check on their power. If we don't hold them accountable, then, my God, who will? Katharine Graham: Well, I've never smoked a cig

Dialogue

Katharine Graham: The Nixon White House is nothing if not vindictive. Just this morning they barred us from covering Trisha Nixon's wedding. Fritz Beebe: Somehow, I doubt that will rise to the level of catastrophe. Katharine Graham: [laughs] No. Probably not. Although, when Ben sets his mind to plunder, its not hard to imagine something more serious. Catastrophic events - do occur, you know.

Dialogue

Katharine Graham: Ben, that's not my role. You know that. I wouldn't presume to tell you how to write about him. Just as I wouldn't take it upon myself to tell him he should hand over a classified study, which would be a crime, by the way, just so he can serve as your source. Ben Bradlee: Our source, Katherine.

Dialogue

Katharine Graham: Oh well, we don't always get it right. You know, we're not always perfect. But, I think if we just - keep on it, you know, that's the job, isn't it? Ben Bradlee: Yes, it is.