News > December 6, 2007

By Elliot Engstrom | Asst. news editor

This coming January, the “Voices of Our Time” series and the Secrest Artist Series will collaborate to present “Secrets vs. Security.”

The events will provide an opportunity for the university community to consider the issues of national security, free speech and government secrets in a variety of venues.

The first main event will be “Secrets vs. Security: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers,” a docudrama starring John Heard.

The play will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 in Wait Chapel.

The play is a reenactment of the battle between the Washington Post and the U.S. government over publishing the Pentagon Papers.

“We are collaborating on these events because the docudrama is about a historical event and uses factual sources, and Daniel Ellsberg is the person who put this historical event into motion,” said Lillian Shelton, Secret Artist Series director.

“These two events will give a more comprehensive look at the real ‘battle for the Pentagon Papers.’

Additionally, the issue of the government’s right to keep secrets and the citizen’s right to know what our government is doing, is very relevant today.”

The play will be presented by the L.A. Theatre Works company, with Susan Albert Loewenberg as producing director.

The work uses material such as interviews and documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

It is set in the home of Ben Bradlee, editor of the Washington Post, and tells the story of the newspaper’s attempt to decide if publishing the Pentagon Papers would violate national security.

Tickets to the performance are $25 for general public, and $20 for non-university students.

Tickets are free to university students, faculty and staff.

The second main event of “Secrets vs. Security will be a lecture by Daniel Ellsberg. Ellsberg is a former military analyst who leaked the top secret Pentagon Papers.

The lecture will be given at 7 p.m. Jan. 24 in Brendle Recital Hall.

“Ellsberg has made a point of speaking on the similarities between the Pentagon Papers and the Vietnam War and the current administration and the war in Iraq,” said Pam Barrett, news service media relations specialist.

“He also actively encourages what he calls ‘patriotic whistle-blowing.’”

Seating for both the performance and the lecture will be on a first come, first serve basis.

“After booking Pentagon Papers for this Secrest season, I approached ‘Voices of our Time’ with the idea of booking Ellsberg on their series,” Shelton said.

“Part of the ‘Voices of Our Time’ mission is to be a crossroads of discussion and Secrest’s mission is to present the best of the professional performing arts.

“It seemed a natural partnership to present a more comprehensive examination of the issue.”

Shelton said that those with interest in either event should attend both to get a full perspective. “Anyone interested should attend both events to receive full educational and entertainment benefit,” Shelton said.

“The docudrama presents an historical perspective, while Ellsberg presents his personal one. Students and the entire audience will be able to round out their own opinion of this still controversial political affair from truly informed sources.”

“Was Ellsberg a patriot or a traitor? Attending both of these events will assist in shaping an informed opinion.”