Episode 11: A Short History of Leaks

The business of leaking government secrets has a long, long history and the whole subject of leaking and leaks is complicated. Why do leaks happen? What motivates the leaker? Are leaks good or bad or sometimes vital? In this episode we consider two leaks from history – a pre-World War II leak of U.S. war planning and the celebrated leak of the Pentagon Papers in 1971. Marc Johnson interviews historian Lynne Olson, Daniel Ellsberg biographer Tom Wells, Fredrick Schwartz of the Brennan Center and the Columbia Journalism Review’s David Uberti. Oh, yes, we offer a little current perspective, too. Leaking…a short history.