Summary

Nixon and White House staff had read the article in the Times but were unconcerned; it was not the top subject of their discussions. Nixon hated leaks but he didn’t think this one was particularly damaging. He wanted the White House to stay out of it. Times attorney James Goodale didn’t hear any noise about the article and thought it was a bust. Things changed quickly. The buzz started about the article and who leaked it. Former State Department official William Bundy thought it was Ellsberg – so did Rand Company personnel.

Kissinger called the act unconscionable. He assured Nixon that the report was damaging to Johnson and prior administrations but not necessarily to him. But Nixon was furious – it was an act of treason. Attorney General John Mitchell was contacted for a legal opinion on taking action against...