The Post Page #10

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that the newspaper

will be dedicated

to the welfare of the nation

and to the, uh...

principles of a free press.

Yes, but...

So,

one could argue

that the bankers

were put on notice.

But Kay, these are

extraordinary circumstances.

Are they? Are they?

For a newspaper?

One that covers the

Nixon White House?

Can you guarantee me that

we could go to print

without endangering

any of our soldiers--

You can't be considering--

I'm talking to Mr. Bradlee now.

Fritz, you're not gonna let

her do this, she can't--

Oh, no, she can, Arthur.

And it's entirely her decision.

Kay, you're allowing Mr. Bradlee

to uh, t-t-to lead you to folly.

The legacy of the

company is at stake.

-And if you want to

-Arthur.

protect that legacy,

This company has been in my life

for longer than most of the people

working there have been alive

so I don't need the

lecture on legacy.

And this is no longer

my father's company.

It's no longer my

husband's company.

It's my company.

And anyone who thinks otherwise

probably doesn't

belong on my board.

Can you guarantee

me that we--

One hundred percent.

All right then.

My decision stands.

And I'm

going to bed.

It's Ben Bradlee.

Run it.

Yes, sir.

Start it up.

Here we go.

Let's go! Let's go!

More here!

I've got the Assistant

Attorney General.

Put him on.

Good morning.

Good morning, this

is William Rehnquist

from the office of legal

counsel at Justice.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Bradlee, I have been advised

by the Secretary of Defense

that the material published in

The Washington Post this morning

contains the

information relating

to the national defense

of the United States

and bears a top secret

classification.

As such the publication

of this information

is directly prohibited

by the Espionage Act,

Title 18 of the

United States Code,

Section 793.

As publication will cause

irreparable injury

to the defense interests

of the United States,

I respectfully request that

you publish no further

information of this character.

And advise me that you

have made arrangements

for the return of

these documents

to the Department of Defense.

Well, thank you for the call,

Mr. Rehnquist.

But I'm sure you understand,

I must respectfully decline.

I appreciate your time.

What's next?

We're going to court.

Today.

If we get a ruling in our

favor or The Times does,

we'll be at the Supreme

Court sometime next week.

We're focusing on Johnson.

I don't want any more arguments,

it's about shoes and about dresses.

Sorry.

Your Honor, the stories

published in The Times

and now The Post have created a

diplomatic and security disaster

for the United States.

How exactly have these papers

created a diplomatic disaster?

Why would other countries

talk to us in confidence

if secrets like these

can be leaked?

So, does this make it difficult

for the President to govern?

If the President can't keep

secrets, he can't govern.

Nothing less than the integrity

of the presidency is at stake.

Yes, I know.

I'm sure it has rattled

investors, Terry.

That's why I'm calling you.

Yes, I understand a number of

them have considered pulling out

but we feel...

Of course. I stand

behind the decision.

Well, you know,

one could argue it's

raising the profile of The Post.

Would The Post have published

military plans for D-Day

if they'd had them in advance?

Well, I don't think

there's any comparison

between a pending

invasion of Europe

and a historical survey of American

involvement in the Vietnam war.

The Supreme Court has decided to

hold a hearing tomorrow morning

to resolve the tangle of

conflicting decisions

over what of the Pentagon

papers can be published

and more broadly, the issue

of freedom of the press

versus government security.

But in agreeing

to hear the cases

of The New York Times and

The Washington Post--

The Supremes granted us a

emergency expedited basis--

We're in court with

The Times tomorrow.

What are you so happy about?

I always wanted to be part

of a small rebellion.

I ask him what he considers the

most important revelations to date

from the Pentagon documents.

I think the lesson is the

people of this country

can't afford to let the President

run the country by himself--

even foreign affairs any

more than domestic affairs

without the help of Congress.

I was struck in fact by

President Johnson's reaction

to these revelations

as close to treason.

Because it reflected

to me the sense

that what was damaging

to the reputation

of a particular administration--

a particular individual

was, in itself, treason

which is very close to saying,

"I am The State."

Ben.

What on Earth are you doing?

Oh.

Oh.

They all followed your lead,

published the papers.

At least we're not alone.

No matter what happens tomorrow,

we are not a little

local paper anymore.

Hm.

I'm sorry.

Mrs. Graham, there's an entrance

over on the side for the appellates.

Oh, thank you very much.

I'm sorry I'm walking so fast.

I was supposed to be

here half hour ago

but then I had to make

copies of the brief

and there was so

much traffic and I

just wouldn't think there'd

be all these people.

Well, no, you wouldn't.

You work for Roger Clark, then?

I work for the government.

the Solicitor General's office.

Oh, you're on the other team.

Mrs. Graham,

I probably shouldn't say this.

Um...my brother...

he's still over there.

And...

Well, I hope you win.

Besides, I like someone telling

these guys what's what.

But don't tell my

boss I said that.

He'd fire me just

for talking to you.

I told you to be here at 8:00.

Yes, I was here at 8:00,

but Richard sent me back.

Is Richard your boss?

No, but you weren't here, so--

I don't want excuses.

Just take a seat.

-Mrs. Graham.

-Morning.

Morning, gentlemen.

-Morning.

-Punch, Ed.

Nice to be on the same side

for a change.

I'll tell you what's nice.

Making the front page of your

newspaper on the daily basis.

Must be a lot of people from Boston

to Washington reading about us.

Yes, well, I suppose

it's appropriate

given what's at stake.

All rise.

The Honorable the Chief Justice

and the Associate Justices

of the Supreme Court

of the United States.

All yea, all yea, all yea.

All persons having business

before the Honorable...

Mr. Rosenthal! Mr. Rosenthal!

Sulzberger!

Sulzberger, do you think

they'll side to your favor?

Overall we feel encouraged.

27 congressmen filed amicus

briefs on our behalf.

As well as the ACLU...

-We should make a statement.

-I think that's her job.

I believe everything we had

to say we've already said.

Meg Greenfield.

Okay.

Everyone, listen up!

Listen up.

We've got a decision.

We've got a decision.

The Supreme Court,

the decision's in.

The vote is...

Six to three...

Six to three, we win!

We win!

And so does The Times!

Whoo!

Yes!

No sh*t.

Nice job, Gene.

Whoo!

-No gloating.

-I'm just satisfied.

What?

I can't hear you, it's too loud.

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