Thank you for being the personification of integrity. I am a young, successful entrepreneur who was thrusted into the business world made up of mostly older, less idealistic people. I see that I cannot sustain a life in business nor politics, as I believe strongly in standing up for a principal. You are an inspiration to me, and my group of friends who are always digging for more knowledge. I send you a lot of positive energy, and I hope you have a wonderful day.

I don’t often feel compelled to write to a producer/writer about a film or book I find fascinating/inspiring. However, your documentary rises above the ordinary or even the extraordinary for it’s impact on the course of U.S. policy in Vietnam after the release of the Pentagon Papers. As with many others before me, I thank you for your courage and the strength of your conviction. I would like to say that most Americans are appreciative of individuals like yourself, but, I’m not entirely certain. I see America today as more concerned with its financial well-being and maintaining its economic superpower status than it is about foreign policy. Many polls and studies have shown that a majority of Americans understand very little of the issues surrounding our involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq. How do we as a nation overcome this political apathy? How do we get people to see beyond the demagoguery of tv political talk show hosts? How do we get people to think critically and ask more probing questions? I applaud your generation for the passion and zeal you and others of your era had for pricking the national conscience, but, I’m afraid that these attributes are a figment of the past not to be seen again.

I have just watched the movie “The Most Dangerous Man in America”. I was most deeply touched by it. Watching that I started questioning my values. Even though I consider myself to be very much socio-centric instead of ego-centric, I have been considering happiness to be my highest value because to my belief that true happiness cannot be achieved without service for the greater good. However, watching the film made question which one of the two values has higher priority to me. Seeing the scene where you made the decision that you were ready to go to jail and even further for you cause put tears to my eyes. I am starting to believe that I could also probably put my own happiness below a cause such as this.

I want to express my deep gratitude for what you did and for the inspiration that you have provided to us, inspiration that goes far beyond America as I come from Eastern Europe. From now on you are one of my key heroes.

Dr. Ellsberg, I was an idealistic 23yo guy who hitched hicked from Detroit to N.Y. in 1964 with $23 in my pocket and battled my way there to solvency.. I was against the war from nearly day one thanks to Pete Seeger especially… I was in danger of being drafted or prosecuted for resistance for years.. I went to the demonstrations against the war many times.. Once I was only one row away from the heads being clubbed by the police, I will never forget that sound.
You became an instant hero to me upon your release of those histories… But more important I believe, is your never ending activism and especially your apt level headed and sober deportment throughout these long years since that release. So many leaders, indeed almost all, have stumbled or blundered into actions or speech which detracted from their personal stature and thereby to a greater or lesser extent gave the enemies of peace and tolerance tools to lower, discredit and smear all of our leaders. You are a [the] paragon of correct leadership… I am forever in your debt, and will always be untill the day I die, come whatever…All leaders are human and therefor make mistakes….. I just can’t think of any you have made since you broke your silence to the wrongs and crimes OUR country commits. My profoundest thanks….. TGW

I just finished watching “The Most Dangerous Man in America” and am moved to say what I wished I had said to you at the time: Thank you so much for what you did on behalf of your country.
Don Bishoff
Eugene, Oregon

If anyone else was in his position, you’d do exactly the same thing.