The Nixon Administration
Responding to the Publication
President Nixon and his advisors had a flurry telephone calls.
June 13, 1971 at 12:18 P.M.
June 13, 1971 at 1:28 P.M.
June 13, 1971 at 3:09 P.M.
Jane 14, 1971 7:18 P.M.
"Mr. President, the attorney general has called a couple times, about these New York Times stories; and he's advised by his people that unless he puts the Times on notice - he's probably gonna waive any right of prosecution against the newspaper; and he is calling now to see if you would approve of his putting them on notice before their first edition for tomorrow comes out." John Ehrlichman, close advisor to President Nixon, June 14, 1971 at 7:13 P.M. |
Even before June 1971, the Nixon Administration considered The New York Times its enemy. Once the Pentagon Papers were published, they became enraged. President Nixon consulted key advisors by phone in the hours following the breaking story. They had many decisions to make and decided to fight the press and defend its right to protect national security. First, the Attorney General sent a telegram to the Times instructing them to stop publication and return the documents. When the Times refused, they went to court.
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