The Post (2017) Movie Script | Subs like Script

Well, take me back down

where cool water flow, yeh.

Let me remember things I love

Dan. Your rifle.

All right, do them all.

First and second squad, too.

Stoppin' at the log

where catfish bite.

Who's the longhair?

That's Ellsberg. Works for

Lansdale at the embassy.

He's observing.

I can hear

the bull frog callin' me.

Wonder if my rope's

still hangin' to the tree.

Let's move out.

Let's go. Moving out.

Love to kick my feet

way down the shallow water.

Shoe fly, dragon fly,

get back to your mother

I'll take good care of it.

Skip it across Green River.

Bravo 27, this is Kilo 4 Tango.

Fire mission. Grid 298471.

Lay down.

Just hang in there, buddy.

They're gonna fix you up.

Dan?

Dan!

Secretary would like a word.

You wanna follow me?

Well, you can say what

you want to the President.

I've read every one

of Ellsberg's reports...

and I'm telling you,

it's just not the case.

Dan, you know Mr. Komer.

He's been discussing the

war with the President...

and, well, his sense is that we've made

real progress over the past year...

but I've been doing my own

review, and it seems to me...

that things have gotten worse. But

neither of us have been in the field.

You have, you're

the one who knows.

So, what do you say?

Are things better or worse?

Well, Mr. Secretary...

what I'm most impressed by is

how much things are the same.

You see, that's exactly

what I'm saying.

We put another

hundred thousand troops

into the field,

things are no better.

To me, that means things

are actually worse.

Thank you, Dan.

Mr. Secretary!

Mr. Secretary! Sir!

How was your trip, sir? Sir.

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

I don't have

any prepared remarks...

but I'd be very happy to take

your questions one at a time.

- Jim.

- Mr. Secretary...

I'm wondering if the trip left

you optimistic or pessimistic...

about our prospects in this war

and our ability to win it.

He asked whether I was

optimistic or pessimistic.

Today, I can tell you that

military progress over

the past 12 months, has

exceeded our expectations.

We're very encouraged by what

we're seeing in Vietnam.

In every respect,

we're making progress.

And I'm especially pleased

to have had

Bob Komer along for the trip.

So he could see for himself

that we've been

showing great improvement...

in every dimension

of the war effort.

Derek.

Good night, Dan.

- Good night, Dan.

- Night, guys.

You okay, Dan?

Yeah. Yeah, thought

I'd forgot something.

I didn't.

Next left on Melrose.

We have committed

ourselves to the cause...

of a just

and peaceful world order

through the United Nations.

"May 3rd, 1950."

"President Truman

approved $10 million"

"in military aid to Indochina."

America's leadership

and prestige depend...

on how we use our power in

the interests of world peace.

"I feel concerned

about paragraph six..."

"which gives

authority to control"

"general elections in Vietnam."

The United

States, as the world knows,

will never start a war.

"May 11th, 1961."

"President Kennedy orders"

"a full examination

by the Defense Department..."

"of a possible commitment

of U. S. Forces to Vietnam."

We are not

about to send American boys...

9 or 10,000 miles

away from home...

to do what Asian boys ought

to be doing for themselves.

"President Johnson chose to

reaffirm the Kennedy policies."

"Military operations

should be initiated"

"under close political control."

Can we just do the numbers

just one more time?

The company's selling

how many shares?

1.35 million shares.

And the price range is?

Between $24.50

and $27 per share.

Not exactly a huge difference.

For them.

But, you know, the bankers

always do fiddle

with the prices.

But for us,

that's over $3 million...

and that represents

over five years' salary

for 25 good reporters.

Good. But why spend

in the newsroom?

You're far less profitable

than Gannett

or Knight or Ridder.

Gannett and Knight and Ridder

own monopoly papers

in smaller cities.

And our readers are leaders,

you know.

They're educated.

They demand more.

That's why we invest

in really good reporters.

And so...

Because quality

and profitability

do go hand in hand.

- See?

- Yeah.

- You know all this already.

- Oh, gosh!

I don't know if I do.

- I should get to breakfast.

- Yeah.

We don't want Paul or Arthur

too antsy this afternoon.

No.

Good luck.

- And thank you, Fritz.

- Mmm-hmm.

- See you downtown.

- I'll see you.

You think

this is really necessary?

Oh, God, yes.

Darling, you should hear how

they talk at these meetings.

It's as if

it's in a foreign language.

No, I meant

taking the company public.

It seems we are cash poor.

You know, barely solvent.

That's the newspaper business.

That's our newspaper business...

and we need the public offering

to stay in business

and to continue to grow.

That's what Fritz says.

And he also says that the family

can maintain control if we...

Anyway, I'm just not sure

your grandfather...

would have wanted us to

give up any control at all.

- Hello?

- Mrs. Graham?

Yes? This is she.

Please hold

for the Chief of Staff.

Who is it?

Haldeman.

Mrs. Graham, Bob Haldeman.

Yes, hello.

We've got a bit of

an issue over here.

Oh?

Well, that makes perfect sense.

Do you agree with that?

Without a doubt.

Oh, Jesus.

I'm so sorry.

- Sorry, sorry, sorry.

- Good morning.

So late. I had to get all this

stuff together...

and then I had

an unexpected call.

Well, what is with the suitcase?

Ben, I told you,

this is the day.

We're meeting

with the bankers today.

- Oh, yes. Right, right.

- You know this.

I bet you every dollar

in my wallet

that you are the only person...

in that boardroom who's read

through all that nonsense.

I'm probably

the only one who needs to.

What do you think

of Neil Sheehan?

Oh, gosh,

his coverage of Vietnam

is just absolutely marvelous.

Why?

You thinking of trying to

steal him from The Times?

I'm not sure we can afford him.

He... He hasn't had

a piece in three months.

Oh?

Do you think

he's onto something?

Well, I saw Abe

at a dinner party last week

and he was looking

mighty, mighty smug.

Doesn't he always?

So who was it?

Who was what?

Your unexpected call.

Oh, I buried the lede.

The White House.

- Haldeman rang.

- Yeah?

It seems

the President has decided

not to provide Judith...

with credentials

to cover the Nixon wedding.

- Jesus Christ.

- Yeah.

They said we could

send another reporter.

Oh, yeah? Can't believe that.

I know, I know.

- But...

- But what?

I'm not sure I entirely blame

the President on this one, Ben.

No?

Would you want Judith to cover

your daughter's wedding?

Well, my daughter's

only 10 years old...

I think she burned her bridges when

she crashed Julie's reception.

- They're being punitive.

- Her pen is so sharp.

- Of course it's punitive.

- This is punitive.

Of course it's punitive.

She compared Tricia Nixon

to a vanilla ice cream cone.

- Yeah, she did.

- Yeah.

I mean, why would

her father want Judy

to cover his daughter's wedding?

Oh, come on.

I just...

Are you sure we're striking

the right tone here, Ben?

Oh, we're gonna do this again?

No. Uh, the New Style section.

Sometimes that stiletto party

coverage can be a little mean.

I'm handling it.

I'm looking for a new editor.

Yes, are you? Because I know

I've talked to you

about this before.

You are losing

female readership, you know.

And I think you might

want to focus more

on what women read...

Katharine, keep your finger

outta my eye.

You...

These breakfasts

were your idea, you know.

Yes. And you are the publisher

and you are my boss.

And I, uh... I value the input,

but I... I heard you

the first three times.

You know, I just think

there might be another way...

that we could cool it with

the White House.

Maybe we could just send

somebody else, you know...

Nope, nope. Nope. I'm not

gonna send another reporter.

Because it's not hard news, Ben.

It's just a wedding.

It's not just a wedding.

- It's a wedding of the daughter

- of the President of the United States.

Why not let that girl

have her day?

And we can't have

an administration

dictating to us our coverage...

just because they don't like

what we print about them

in our newspaper.

Wonder if Abe

cares so passionately

about who covers

the wedding for his paper.

I don't give a rat's ass

what Abe or anybody

at The New York Times

cares about.

Not true. I give one rat's ass.

- Yeah.

- One retromingent...

rat's ass.

Well, it's real important.

Can you get him for me?

Tell them it's from Sheehan.

Don't walk.

It's from Sheehan.

Abe, here it is.

Okay, Broder's got Nixon

working on his second term.

Osnos has something on G. I. S

buying heroin in Saigon...

but Ryder's got

a rocket on the FBI list

of potential subversives.

Save it for the afternoon.

I need Chal and Judith.

Judith!

Is that real,

the subversives list?

Oh, yeah. Hoover

and Justice keep a copy.

Thousands of names.

Geyelin heard the White

House is shutting Judith out.

Yeah, I'm working on that.

We think editorial

should run something.

I just heard somebody say

they're working on that.

Well, if the White House is

gonna take a stance like that...

don't you think

we should plant a flag?

Did you see Sheehan at the

Kissinger press conference?

No.

What about the Al Haig thing?

No, Times sent the new kid.

The new kid, huh?

You think Sheehan's

onto something.

Yeah.

Well, Neil has been known

to disappear.

No, no. I'm telling you,

he has something.

You want me to do

a little digging?

No, that's below your pay grade.

Intern!

You working on anything

important, chief?

Uh, no, Mr. Bradlee.

Well, everything we do

is important at The Post.

Yeah. That's $40.

I want you to take the

first train up to New York...

and go to

The Times building on 43rd.

Don't tell them

who you work for...

but find a reporter

by the name of Sheehan.

Uh, Neil Sheehan?

Yeah, yeah, find out what

Neil Sheehan is working on.

Is that legal?

Well, what is it you think we

do here for a living, kid?

Get a receipt for the tickets.

Yeah.

- Morning, Mrs. Graham.

- Hello, morning.

Hello. Morning, everybody.

- Hi, Oz.

- Mrs. Graham.

Morning, Arthur.

Hello. Hello, everyone.

So, everyone's here.

- Hello, Ray. My Galahad.

- Good morning.

Thank you.

And I used to be the only one

who brought

his homework to class.

I think we're all here.

Should we get started?

Didn't you crash the wedding

of Nixon's other daughter

to get a story?

Well, I did get a story but I

didn't crash Julie's wedding.

No, just the reception

afterwards, right?

There is a distinction.

Not to the father of the bride.

He's paying per plate.

I think the American people

are paying per plate.

Wait, let's do

a story about that.

- Yeah, let's...

- Judith should crash again.

I didn't crash Julie's wedding.

What would you call it, Judith?

Well, I would call it

deft reportage.

All right, come on,

come on, everybody.

How are we gonna cover

this Nixon-Cox wedding?

Uh... Who else

is gonna be there?

- Here.

- Judith's got the guest list.

No, I mean of the other press.

The Times, the Sun, the Globe,

all the international papers.

All right.

So, we call them,

we call all of them...

and we say Nixon

has shut us out...

and then we ask them

for their notes.

Ben, there's no way in hell

anyone's gonna give me a fill.

No, it'll be

an act of solidarity.

They'll be defending

the First Amendment.

We'll tell them

that the only way

to protect

the right to publish...

is to publish.

I don't understand.

You said

we'd set the price at $27.

No, we said there was a range.

And the demand on the

road show was soft.

Why not set it at $26?

Or $25 even?

Well, Paul, we feel

that setting the price

at $24.50 would be more prudent.

It's just a couple bucks.

It's not just a couple of bucks.

It's 1.35 million shares...

so it is...

Three million.

Over $3 million less.

That's a lot to a newspaper.

How many reporters is that?

It's 25.

Let's not get bogged down.

It has to be quite a few.

At least a dozen. Fritz?

It's 25 reporters.

Twenty-five reporters.

Gentlemen,

we know it's not ideal...

but a few of our investors

balked at the nature

of the company.

They don't like newspapers?

They like Gannett and

Knight and Ridder...

but frankly they're concerned

about your ability

to turn a serious profit.

Gannett and Knight and Ridder

own monopoly papers

in smaller markets.

That's why

they're more profitable.

The whole point of the

offering is to grow...

while investing in the quality

of the paper.

Kay and I have talked

a great deal about this...

and we believe

that improving quality...

will naturally lead to

greater profitability.

Unfortunate.

It's more than unfortunate.

Doesn't this happen

all the time?

Bankers lowering the price for

their institutional investors.

Fritz, isn't this

what we discussed?

I think the family should

consider giving up some control.

- Maybe another board seat.

- Absolutely not.

This isn't a surprise, Fritz.

Ever since Phil's accident...

Arthur.

No offense, Kay.

It's unfortunate...

but the buyers

are obviously skittish

about having

a woman in charge...

and it's not like

it's an easy sell.

It's a local paper with modest

margins, modest ambitions.

I think Mr. Bradlee

would take issue

with that characterization.

Sure, she pads

his budget every year.

Call my office.

Tell them I'm going to

miss my lunch at Occidental.

Another dozen reporters.

For what?

To nip at the heels

of The Times?

So we can pretend like

we're even remotely

in the same league?

Make it a five o'clock drink

at the Jefferson.

Arthur, Kay was right.

Lazard is just trying

to cut a better deal

by squeezing us.

Come on, Fritz.

Why do you think that is?

Because they're bankers.

Which is why

they want more control.

They want assurances

that she's not

gonna squander it all.

I mean, come on.

Fritz, Kay throws

a great party...

but her father gave the paper

to her husband.

The only reason

she's running things

is because he...

Because Phil died.

Don't get me wrong,

I think she is a lovely woman.

But she got rid

of Al Friendly...

and brought in a pirate

who does nothing

but bleed our margins.

I mean, you can't be surprised

that the buyers are concerned...

that she doesn't have

the resolve

to turn a serious profit.

Kay, it's your decision...

but in my opinion,

if you want this

to be more than

a little family paper...

it has to be more than

a little family business.

Thank you, Arthur,

for your frankness.

All right.

We're set?

All set, Mr. Parsons.

Accident...

It wasn't an accident.

Phil's suicide.

I don't know why people insist

on calling it an accident.

Is it to make them feel better?

Or do they think

they're being kind?

I don't know, I don't know.

So, do you think I should

give up more seats on the board?

Of course not.

We're going to be fine.

Hmm.

This passage in the prospectus,

I read it earlier today.

Oh, yes.

"In the unlikely instance

of disaster"

"or catastrophic event..."

"in the week following the

initial public offering..."

"Lazard Frères

and Company retains"

"full right

to cancel the issue."

It's boilerplate, Kay.

It's standard

contractual language.

But, so, the bankers

could pull out.

Only if there's a true disaster.

Ben gets hit by a truck...

the world

runs outta newspaper ink...

the truck goes around the block

and hits Ben again...

You think

one of those is possible.

No, I don't...

but, you know,

the Nixon White House

is nothing if not vindictive.

Just this morning...

they barred us from covering

Tricia Nixon's wedding.

Somehow, I doubt that will rise

to the level of catastrophe.

I know. Rrobably not.

Although, when Ben sets

his mind to plunder...

it's not hard to imagine

something more serious.

Catastrophic events...

do occur, you know.

Yeah, but the right to cancel

is only for a week.

A week from the public offering.

Seven days after they

ring that bell on Tuesday...

the deal is done.

Hmm.

It's gonna be fine, Kay.

Jesus.

Do you know what floor

the newsroom's on?

Five.

Uh, no, no, six, yeah. Six.

Things are heating up

in East Pakistan?

Well, five million refugees

could destabilize West Bengal.

So, Lindsay's lowering

the boom tomorrow.

They gotta cut 100 million.

Gonna be some blood on

the floor of Gracie Mansion.

I heard the Mayors gave it to

Nixon in Philly.

Yeah, Tolchin's down there.

He's filing.

Take a look at this.

Any of you guys see that piece

on the hijacking?

Jeez, there's been

another hijacking?

You think six pages is enough?

Well, we got three columns on

the front page. I'll take it.

- On the flight?

- On the flight.

Can I help you, Mac?

Just delivering a package

to Mr. Meetson.

Mattson.

I'll see that he gets it.

I knew a couple

whose yacht was shipwrecked

in the South Racific.

Hold on, quiet.

I knew a couple whose yacht

was shipwrecked

in the South Racific.

It looks bleak,

so the man asks...

"Does the will take care

of the kids?" His wife nods.

"What about your mother?" "Yes."

"Okay, did we donate to Nixon?"

His wife shakes her head. "Yes."

"Did we pledge or give?"

"We pledged."

"Thank God," shouts the man.

"Nixon'll find us.

"We're saved!"

Well, speaking of Nixon,

I just talked to Kissinger...

who was going on about the end

of the China embargo.

He's convinced it's a rather

clever geopolitical move.

I think this is our cue, ladies.

Someone at this table

of luminaries

must have an idea

what they're up to.

I wonder what his buddy

Joe McCarthy would say.

The New Style Section

did a lovely piece

on Lawrence Durrell.

It's about time

Style had a good piece.

I think it's a bit improved.

I hear he's at work on

another series of novels.

I hear he's at work on finding

a fourth wife.

I will say, he's one of the few

individuals, who could probably

cozy up to communist China, without

fear of major political cost.

Eh, but is Nixon that smart?

He never laughed

at one of my jokes.

Oh, Kay, I don't know

how you do it.

I don't know

how you keep up with it all

when you have this day job.

You need to read more books.

Kay, could I have just a word?

Um...

Everything all right?

- Marg okay?

- Yes, she's fine.

Said the procedure

went very well.

Oh, good,

I've been meaning to...

I...

I wanted to tell you,

and I want you

to hear from me first...

there's an article about me

coming out

in The Times tomorrow.

It's not flattering.

Running? Me?

Now, you know me

better than that.

Three days and three

nights and not a word.

Well, I've been very busy.

For all I knew you were lying

in the gutter somewhere...

with a knife in your back.

Lying in the gutter?

Now, look, sweetheart,

I'll tell you what happened.

I was in Birmingham.

Birmingham?

Hello?

Hello, Ben.

Hello, Katharine.

I'm sorry to bother you so late.

Listen, were you able to make

any headway with Mr. Sheehan?

No, no. I haven't.

I just had an odd conversation

with Bob McNamara...

and I think The Times may

have a big story tomorrow.

Oh, damn it.

You know, he wouldn't

give me any details...

but Bob said it was quite

detrimental to him and...

Ben!

We got 'em.

Huh?

- Yeah, quite good.

- The happy couple.

- Hey, chief!

- Mr. Bradlee.

So, did you track down Sheehan?

No, but, I saw a mock-up

of tomorrow's front page.

There's a big gap.

Nothing there but the name.

Shit.

Shit!

- Give us three.

- Here you go.

Here, here, here.

Thank you, thank you.

Thanks, got it.

General Haig, sir.

- Hi, Al.

- Yes, sir.

What about

the casualties last week?

You got that figure yet?

No, sir, but I think

it's gonna be quite low.

Fine.

Okay. Nothing else of interest

in the world today?

Yes, sir. Very significant...

this goddamn

New York Times exposé...

of the most highly classified

documents of the war.

You mean that was

leaked out of the Pentagon?

The whole study that

was done for McNamara.

This is a devastating, uh,

security breach...

of the greatest magnitude

of anything I've ever seen.

Well, what's being

done about it then?

Did we know this was coming out?

No, we did not, sir.

I have Doctor Kissinger.

Henry, the thing to me

is just unconscionable.

This is treasonable action

on the part

of the bastards that put it out.

I'm absolutely certain...

that this violates

all sorts of security laws.

People have gotta

be put to the torch

for this sort of thing.

Christ! McNamara knew

we couldn't win in '65.

That's six goddamn years ago.

Well, at least

we got the wedding.

Is anybody else tired

of reading the news

instead of reporting it?

Do we have any leads?

There's a guy Rhil and I

know in Boston, who worked

at Defense when McNamara

commissioned the study.

All right, call him.

Anybody else?

So that's it?

Our best goddamn lead

is coming from editorial?

Well, we are sucking hind tit

in our own backyard.

Ben, come on, it's one story.

No, it's 7,000 pages...

detailing how

the White House has been

lying about the Vietnam War

for 30 years.

It's Truman and Eisenhower

and Jack and LBJ lying.

Lying about Vietnam.

And you think that's one story?

Let's do our jobs.

Find those pages!

Ben, uh...

I might have something. Maybe.

Well, let me know when it's

a little less wishy-washy.

I'm gonna go chase down

a lead of my own.

Why don't you cut

your bangs, just a little bit?

Mummy, I'm right in the middle.

It's a bit hard to read,

isn't it?

Harder for you, I imagine.

No.

Why?

These were your people...

McNamara and Kennedy

and Johnson.

Well, Jack and Lyndon

were your father's friends.

You flew down to Texas

with Lyndon

the weekend

after his convention.

That's your fault. You wanted

to see his helicopter land.

And the instant he saw you,

he invited you to the ranch.

Oh, well, he just wanted

the paper to endorse.

Yes, but my point is

you had Steve and Bill

waiting at home.

- You had houseguests...

- I know.

Waiting at the farm.

You had nothing but dirty

clothes in your suitcase.

How do you know what

I had in my suitcase?

Yet you jumped on Air Force

One, spent the weekend.

I did not jump.

Swimming and speed-boating...

You and Luvie Pearson

said I had to go!

With Lyndon and Lady Bird.

It's hard to say...

"no" to the Rresident

of the United States.

Were you expecting someone?

At this hour?

I hope I'm not too early.

Not at all. Must be urgent.

Where's your sister?

That's my tea, darling.

Where's your sister?

Let's go find her.

I trust you saw

The New York Times.

Hmm.

The study, the one

they are working off of...

that was commissioned

by Robert McNamara.

Yeah.

And if he commissioned it,

he might have a copy.

I don't need to tell you

that finding a source...

it's like finding a

needle in a haystack.

I don't need the metaphor.

Well, I haven't been a writer

for a while so that old

cliche, that was the best

comparison I could come up with.

I need a copy

of that study, Kay.

Give her the ball, Ben.

- Here you go.

- Thank you.

You know, Ben,

as much as I do relish

a good investigative

assignment...

Bob McNamara is an old friend.

He's going through a lot

in his life right now.

I just think he's probably

said all he wants to say.

Why do you think?

- Why?

Why is he talking to you?

Well, I just told you,

he's my friend and...

Is he talking to

any other friends?

I'm not sure

I appreciate the implication

of what you just said.

McNamara is talking to you...

because you are the publisher

of The Washington Post.

That's not true.

No, that is not why.

Because he wants you

to bail him out.

Because he wants you

on his side.

No, there's no ulterior... No!

Ben, that's not my role.

You know that.

I wouldn't presume to tell you

how to write about him.

Just as I wouldn't

take it upon myself...

to tell him he should hand

over a classified study...

which would be a crime,

by the way...

just so he can serve

as your source.

Our source, Katharine.

No. Uh... No...

I'm not. I'm not going to ask

Bob for the study.

All right.

I get it.

You have a relationship

with Bob McNamara.

But don't you think you have

an obligation as well

to the paper and to the public?

Let me ask you something.

Was that how you felt

when you were

palling around

with Jack Kennedy?

Where was

your sense of duty then?

I don't recall you pushing him

particularly hard on anything.

I pushed Jack when I had to.

I never pulled any punches.

Is that right?

'Cause you used to dine at

the White House once a week.

All the trips to Camp David.

Oh, and that drunken

birthday cruise

on the Sequoia

you told me about.

Hard to believe you would have

gotten all those invitations...

if you didn't

pull a few punches.

Street protests broke out today

across the country...

after the publication

of more excerpts...

from a classified

Department of Defense study

in The New York Times.

The study, commissioned

by former Secretary of Defense

Robert McNamara...

has ignited further debate

over the ongoing war

in Vietnam...

as it makes clear

that Kennedy and Johnson...

as well as

Eisenhower and Truman,

deeply misled

the country on Vietnam.

The bombshell series

has appeared

for the last two days

in The New York Times.

We don't want your stinking war.

One, two, three, four.

We don't want your stinking war.

I've walked and I've crawled

on six crooked highways.

Not for what is politic

but for what is right.

Right!

Like my brother Mario said...

"There is a time

when the operation"

"of the machine

becomes so odious..."

"that you've got to put

your body upon the gears..."

"and upon the wheels,

and upon the levers..."

"and you've got to

make it stop."

One, two, three four.

We don't want your stinking war.

Someone gives up his life,

so that the President...

doesn't have to admit something

the entire world already knows.

Your dinner with Mr. and Mrs.

Rosenthal is at seven

in the Oak Room, and then

I'll meet you tomorrow

morning in the lobby at

eight, so you'll have

plenty of time to get

downtown before the offering.

And the breakfast.

"All designed to meet

these five desiderata."

Bagdikian.

It's Harry Rowen.

Hey, uh, let me call you back

from outside the newsroom.

Excuse me, are you important?

I'm a general

assignment reporter.

Okay.

Uh, I think I got something.

Be my guest.

Can we lose The New York

Times from the nut graph?

Ben, they are

the source of the story.

Every time I read The New York

Times above the fold...

- Mr. Bradlee?

- No.

I feel like somebody's shoving

a hot poker up my ass.

All right, just say The Times,

and drop it

a graph below the fold.

There you go.

That would be less painful.

I think I got something.

"McNaughton had McNamara

plan for action."

Well, that's two months

before the election.

"Suggested sending large numbers"

"of U. S. Forces to interlard."

"Interlard"?

Where'd you get these?

Somebody left them on my desk.

All these guys

sound like they sleep

with a damn thesaurus.

So McNaughton was secretly

suggesting to McNamara...

to provoke the North so we'd

- have grounds for escalation?

- Yep.

Yeah, it was

in The Times article.

It was a good piece.

You should check it out.

- It was well-written.

- Jesus Christ.

Give it to someone who can't

type 91 words a minute...

and have it proofed, okay?

- Ben?

- Yeah?

I think we got something.

What is it?

Jesus Christ.

Shit. Are these

part of the pages

of the McNamara study?

Where did you get these?

Somebody left them on my desk.

On your desk?

- I didn't... It was a woman.

- A woman?

We got over 100 pages

of the McNamara study here.

A hippie woman.

Hey, Debbie, get me Bagdikian.

She had one of those skirts...

He's out. He went somewhere.

Fine.

Probably

between 5'4 " and 5'6"...

If these are the real thing,

we are back in the ballgame.

It was a tie-dye skirt.

And this is gonna be the front

page of tomorrow's paper.

Um... Give it to Marder.

It's his lucky day.

My God, the fun.

RAND Corporation.

Harry Rowen, please.

This is Harry.

Harry, it's Ben Bagdikian.

You think someone's

bugging your phone?

I think someone

might be bugging yours.

Why would someone bug my phone?

If I thought the McNamara study

had leaked from RAND...

I'd bug the phone of the

president of RAND.

It's a DoD study.

A copy of which was sent to

RAND for safekeeping.

Two copies, if I'm not mistaken.

Jesus Christ, Ben, that leak

didn't come from us.

You sure about that?

Look, in my experience...

guys who

want stuff like this out there

and have the guts to do it...

they're a particular type.

They've got conscience

and conviction...

but they've also got ego.

Now, there's a guy that

we both know, okay?

He was there

the same time as I was.

He left right after.

You know

who I'm talking about, right?

Isn't he the first guy

you thought of

when you saw

the article in The Times?

Okay, look, I gotta go.

Mr. and Mrs. Rosenthal.

- Oh, yes, I see.

- You're welcome.

I don't wanna push it.

- Hi.

- Ah, Kay.

What a treat!

I'm just going to

apologize in advance.

Great to see you.

I'm no fun at all, Abe.

I'm just so nervous...

about tomorrow

at the stock exchange.

And I have to make a big speech.

- No, no, no, no.

- Poor you.

No, going public is

a good move for The Post.

Maybe you can even think

about expanding.

Try to be more

of a national paper.

I wish Abe would

let me buy shares.

That's against company policy...

but if you're nervous

and need distraction...

I do happen to have a copy

of today's Times.

Abe!

Unless you read it already.

Oh, you awful man.

You really are.

Can we get you

something to drink?

Bundy argues

for sustained bombing.

Great stuff.

He thinks it'll turn the tide.

This is February of '65.

Jesus Christ.

But by April, they realize

it's not gonna cut it...

and LBJ sends two battalions.

- Great stuff.

- And get this.

He changes the mission

from base security

to active combat.

- My God.

- It's a huge shift.

He's widening the war.

But he insists on secrecy.

The American people are

not to be told.

All right, okay.

So this is the real deal...

so how long

till you can write it up?

I can have it for Thursday.

Well, what if we pretend

you're a reporter,

not a novelist?

Uh, I suppose I could pull

something together

by tomorrow night.

Okay, we can

run it on Wednesday.

I know

we need to get this out, Ben,

but I'd like to

spend a minute...

going through what we've got

on Rolling Thunder.

Go through

all the research you want...

but so help me God,

if we don't have

these pages by tomorrow night...

we might as well

not have them at all.

Too late.

What?

Times already has it.

Well, of course they have it.

"President Johnson

decided on April 1, 1965..."

Of course The Times had...

Written by Neil Sheehan.

"because a month of bombing..."

Neil Sheehan's a bastard.

He's been a bastard for years.

Mr. President,

the Attorney General

has called a couple times...

about these

New York Times stories.

You mean to prosecute The Times?

Hell, my view is

to prosecute the goddamn

pricks that gave it to 'em.

If you can find out who that is.

Yeah, I know.

I mean, could The Times

be prosecuted?

Apparently so.

As far as

The Times is concerned,

hell, they're our enemies.

I think we just oughta do it.

Son of a bitch.

Abe Rosenthal.

Good evening. Their table

is right over there, sir.

Brownell and Loeb over

at Lord Day and Lord...

told Punch in no uncertain

terms not to publish.

Only after Scotty Reston

threatened

to publish

in the Vineyard Gazette...

did Punch decide to print.

Wouldn't have had

quite the same impact.

Jimmy.

We've been asked to refrain

from further publication...

by the Attorney General.

Nixon's taking us to court?

Kay, I'm sorry...

Oh, no.

Gosh.

Why don't I go get the check?

No, sit tight,

don't argue with me.

I'll be right back.

Mr. Rosenthal

had to leave on business.

Certainly,

we'll put it on his tab.

No, I'll take the bill,

but could I trouble you

to use your telephone?

But of course, madam.

There's a fella I overlapped

with at RAND.

He was a bit of

a showboat, but smart.

And he worked for McNamara...

and he had opinions

on the decision-making

that went into Vietnam.

Okay.

Word is, he doved. Pretty hard.

Would he have access

to the study?

Pretty sure RAND had a copy.

No shit. All right,

well, can you find him?

Thought maybe I'd try.

I've got

Mrs. Graham on the line.

Katharine.

Hey, listen,

I've got tomorrow's headline.

Oh, Christ, okay, again?

John Mitchell contacted

The Times.

Seems the President is going

to seek an injunction.

No, shit.

This means that we're in

the goddamn ballgame.

Because if The Times

gets shut down...

If they get shut down,

there is no ballgame.

Ballgame's over.

Now, Katharine,

anybody would kill

to have a crack at this.

Well, sure, but not if it

means breaking the law.

If a federal judge stops

The Times from publishing...

well, I don't see how

we could publish...

even if we could

get hold of a copy.

Ben? You have something?

No.

Okay, so then there's

nothing to talk about really.

No, nothing

to talk about at all...

but thank you for the tip,

Mrs. Graham.

What are you still doing here?

Excuse me.

All right.

Oh, there she is.

- Hello.

- How are ya, Kay?

Good morning, everyone.

Good to see you.

Hello?

Yeah, I'm looking

for Dan Ellsberg.

He doesn't work here anymore.

Do you know where he is now?

No, I don't. Who is this?

Thank you.

And it is

my great privilege to welcome.

The Washington Rost Company...

to the American Stock Exchange.

More than a privilege,

Mrs. Graham.

This is a real honor.

Hello, this is Karen.

Yeah, I'm looking

for Dan Ellsberg.

You got the wrong number.

Speech.

Go and project confidence, Kay.

Gentlemen...

thank you all for helping make.

The Washington Post

a more robust company.

Center

for International Studies.

Yeah, I'm looking

for Dan Ellsberg.

He's not here.

But he still works there?

Yes. Can I take a message?

Uh, tell him

Ben Bagdikian called.

Congratulations.

Guys, why don't we

get together for a photograph?

- Yes.

- Good idea. Absolutely.

- Here we go.

- Let me see it.

- Smile, Kay.

- Shall I hold it?

You just bought

a share of The Post!

I know. I'm so happy.

1.35 million shares

at $24.50 a share.

I believe this will not only

make The Post solvent...

but stronger

than it ever has been.

- To The Post!

- The Post!

He said to call

from a secure phone.

Mmm-hmm.

I hear Kennedy said Phil Graham

was the smartest man

he ever met.

Yeah, for Kay's father to hand

her husband the company...

says something about the guy.

I thought it said something

about the time.

Turn it up.

Good evening.

The New York Times late today

was barred,

at least until Saturday...

from publishing any more

classified documents...

dealing with the cause and

conduct of the Vietnam War.

The Times, true to its word...

said it would abide

by the decision

of Federal Judge

Murray Gurfein...

but will resist

a permanent injunction

at a hearing Friday.

The Nixon administration

have charged that

the final two parts of

The Times' series...

would result in

irreparable injury

to the national defense.

Hell, why bother

fighting the communists?

Think Jefferson just

rolled over in his grave.

Have the courts ever stopped a

paper from publishing before?

Not in the history

of the republic.

Good thing

we're not part of this mess.

I'd give my left one

to be in this mess.

There's our

front page lede tomorrow.

Chal, that's yours.

All right.

Party's over.

Let's get back to our jobs.

- Hello?

- Hi, it's Ben.

- Yes.

- Dan?

No.

Oh, I'm trying to get a hold

of a fella I used to know...

617-597-4580.

Okay.

Hold on.

Was it 4580?

Call from another phone.

617-597-4580.

Hello?

- Yeah, I'm looking for...

- Yeah. Hey, Ben, it's Dan.

Dan, it's good

to hear your voice.

Yeah, it's been a while.

Yeah.

- Who is it?

- It's Ben.

Ben.

Dan.

The study had 47 volumes.

I slipped out

a couple at a time.

Took me months to copy it all.

What the hell?

Well, we were

all former government guys.

Top clearance, all of that.

McNamara wanted

academics to have

the chance to examine

what had happened.

He would say to us,

"Let the chips fall

where they may."

Brave man.

Well, I think guilt was a

bigger motivator than courage.

McNamara didn't lie

as well as the rest...

but I don't think he saw what

was coming, what we'd find.

But it didn't take him long

to figure out...

well, for us all to figure out

if the public ever saw

these papers...

they would turn against the war.

Covert ops, guaranteed debt,

rigged elections?

It's all in there.

Ike, Kennedy, Johnson.

They violated

the Geneva Convention.

They lied to Congress

and they lied to the public.

They knew we couldn't win

and still sent boys to die.

What about Nixon?

He's just carrying on

like all the others.

Too afraid to be the one who

loses the war on his watch.

Someone said this

at some point...

about why we stayed

when we knew we were losing.

10% was to help

the South Vietnamese.

20% was to hold back

the commies.

70% was to avoid

the humiliation

of an American defeat.

70% of those boys...

just to avoid being humiliated?

That stuck with me.

They're gonna come after you,

you know.

And I gotta be honest...

the bread crumbs

weren't too hard to follow.

I know.

They're gonna lock you up, Dan.

Wouldn't you go to prison

to stop this war?

Theoretically, sure.

You are gonna

publish these documents?

Yeah.

Even with the injunction?

Yes.

Well, then it's not

so theoretical then, is it?

I'm gonna go do some

work in the studio.

My day was great,

thanks for asking.

That picture makes me sad.

Me too.

- Bradlee.

- I'm in Boston.

I'm gonna need two seats.

Why?

I'm gonna need to buy two seats

on the first flight

out tomorrow...

probably first class.

No shit, you have them?

Well then just get

your ass back here...

and come straight to the house.

Get Chal and Meg and the others.

I don't want the whole newsroom

knowing about this yet.

I gotta go.

Didn't you just invite

a bunch of people over?

Yeah.

Yeah, they'll show up

sometime tomorrow.

When sometime tomorrow?

Is this a breakfast thing

or a lunch thing?

- Don't know.

- Do you need me to get things?

- Nah, we'll figure it all out.

- Okay.

- Well, where are you going?

- Out.

- You going to the newsroom?

- No.

Love you, bear.

I got a cake. I hope it's okay?

Oh, sure, as long as nobody

counts the candles.

Uh, sorry to barge in again.

Maybe I should give you a key.

Ah, not here

to crash your party.

What's up?

Well, I could use a minute.

So, can I ask you a

hypothetical question?

Oh, dear, I don't like

hypothetical questions.

Well, I don't think you're gonna

like the real one either.

Do you have the papers?

Not yet.

Oh, gosh, because you know...

the position

that would put me in.

You know, we have language

in the prospectus that we've...

Yeah, I know that the

bankers can change their mind.

And I know what is at stake.

You know...

the only couple I knew

that both Kennedy

and LBJ wanted

to socialize with...

was you and your husband and

you owned the damn paper.

Of course that's the way

things worked.

Politicians and the press,

they trusted each other...

so they could go to

the same dinner party

and drink cocktails

and tell jokes...

while there was a war

waging in Vietnam.

Ben, I don't know

what we're talking about.

I'm not protecting Lyndon.

No, you got his former

Secretary of Defense,

Robert McNamara...

the man

who commissioned this study.

He's one of about

a dozen party guests...

- out on your patio.

- I'm not protecting him.

I'm not protecting any of them.

I'm protecting the paper.

Yeah? Well, I wasn't a stooge

for Jack Kennedy.

The night he was assassinated

Tony and I were down

at the Naval Hospital...

so we would be there to meet

Jackie when she landed.

She was bringing Jack's body

back on the plane from Dallas...

and she walked into the room.

She was still

wearing that pink suit

with Jack's blood all over it.

She fell into Tony's arms

and they held each other...

for quite a long time.

And then Jackie looked at me

and said...

"None of this,

none of what you see,"

"none of what I say..."

"is ever going to be

in your newspaper, Ben."

And that just about

broke my heart.

I never...

I never thought of Jack

as a source,

I thought of him as a friend.

And that was my mistake.

And it was something that

Jack knew all along.

We can't be both.

We have to choose.

And...

And that's the point.

The days of us all

smoking cigars together

down on Pennsylvania Avenue

are over.

Your friend McNamara's

study proves that.

The way they lied.

Those days have to be over.

We have to be the check

on their power.

If we don't

hold them accountable,

I mean, my God, who will?

Well, I've never

smoked a cigar...

and I have no problem

holding Lyndon or Jack...

or Bob or any of them

accountable.

But we can't

hold them accountable

if we don't have a newspaper.

When I get my hands

on that study...

what are you going to do,

Mrs. Graham?

Oh, uh...

Happy birthday, by the way.

Oh, that's not what I heard.

Am I right?

- Hi. Good morning.

- Club soda.

- Enjoy your flight.

- Yes, thank you.

Sir, I'm gonna need

to put your seat

in the full upright position

before takeoff.

Yeah.

Must be precious cargo.

Yeah. It's just

government secrets.

Rlease fasten

your seatbelt. Thank you.

- You know why we're here?

- Beats me.

- Hi, Marina.

- Hi.

- Do you want lemonade?

- Little early for me.

Loosen up, I'm buying.

What kinda lemonade

do you have there?

Uh... It's the one

with the lemons in it.

Okay.

There you go.

Phil, help me out.

Grab my briefcase.

- Is that...?

- Yep.

It's not the full report

but it's over 4,000 pages of it.

- Are these in order?

- I don't think so.

There are no page numbers.

Yeah, that's where the

top secret stamps were.

My source had to cut 'em off.

I was supposed to

retire on Friday.

Ben, how we supposed

to comb through

4,000 pages of material?

They're not even

loosely organized?

The Times had three months.

There's no way

we can possibly get this done.

He's right. We've got

less than eight hours.

We could shoot for city.

Then we'd have ten.

Hey, hey, hey.

For the last six years

we've been playin' catch-up...

and now thanks to

the President

of the United States...

who, by the way,

is taking a shit

all over the First Amendment...

we have the goods.

And we don't have

any competition.

There's dozens

of stories in here.

The Times has barely

scratched the surface.

We have ten hours

'til the deadline...

so we dig in.

I think this memo's

from McNamara.

"It is my belief

that there should be"

"a three- or four-week pause

in bombing."

Wait, wait, wait. I saw

the other half of that memo.

Anyone have the back half of

a cable from Dulles in '54?

I thought I saw one from July.

Yeah, here it is. "The reasons

for this belief..."

"are that we must

lay a foundation"

"in the mind

of the American public."

That's it! That's it!

So Johnson wasn't trying

to make peace.

He was just

manipulating the public?

Eyes out for a suspension

in bombing from when?

'65 to '68.

What about a memo

from Eisenhower's special

committee on Indochina?

Uh, Meg read

a part of one to me.

Meg?

Anybody see a mention

of the RAND Viet Cong study?

Yeah, I think this might be

from your RAND study.

"VC are deeply committed."

"South Vietnam is a lost cause."

- Whoa! There you go.

- Bingo.

- All right.

- Meg, I need the...

Yeah, I put it on the shelf.

Couple of piles.

We're getting somewhere.

All right, it's 1:30.

Four o'clock story conference.

Can I interest anyone

in some lemonade?

- Yes!

- Does it have vodka in it?

I don't put vodka

in my lemonade.

Go easy on the kid.

Why not?

- How much, sweetheart?

- A quarter.

It's 50 cents.

- Inflation.

- Price is going up.

Mr. Bradlee.

Roger Clark.

Oh, you're Roger Clark?

It's nice to meet you in person.

You are our

senior legal counsel.

Yes, we've spoken on the phone.

My voice should sound familiar.

When did you finish law school?

- I graduated...

- Rhetorical question.

You know,

the guy we had before you

is now Secretary of State.

I did not know that.

A little joke,

perhaps not the time.

What exactly

can I help you with...

So, why would the CIA Director

send a memo on war policy?

Because they weren't

calling it a war yet.

Okay, I've got

turkey with mustard.

Roast beef with horseradish.

- Howard, come look at this.

- Chal, you've gotta see this.

It's a full analysis

of McNamara's

changing view of the war.

Does it say anything

about why he does?

So we knew they were

gonna assassinate Diem.

Yeah, and we did

nothing to stop it.

I think I got something

on McNamara on the fireplace.

The other fireplace.

Murrey, where's

the back half of this one?

What's the thing

you just gave me?

Tell me these aren't

the classified documents

from the McNamara study.

4,000 pages of 'em.

- Hungry?

- I need to use a phone.

There's one in the other room.

- Two.

- Is that it?

This is it. This is it.

Hmm?

This is the other half of it.

Oh, my God.

Hi. Thanks for

letting me drop by.

- Marg still napping?

- Yeah.

Do you mind

if we talk in the sunroom?

Just so I can hear her

if she wakes.

No, of course not.

I can't stay long.

I've got a big event

at the house later.

I guess you've read

everything now.

Yes, I have. I have, yes.

And I went over it

again this morning.

All of it.

And I just...

Forgive me, Bob, I know

you're dealing with so much...

but it's just so hard to try

to make sense of why.

Of how you could have done

all these things.

How you could

just lie to us all.

Well, it's easy for the papers

to characterize us as liars.

We were just trying to

push back...

No, but you let it

go on and on and on.

My son is home now and safe,

thank God.

But you watched him go.

You knew

we couldn't win over there...

for years and years and years,

and yet you let me...

you let so many of our friends

send our boys off.

Kay, we were doing

the best we could.

It was domino theory,

containment...

and eventually we felt

that military pressure

was the only thing...

that was gonna drive

Ho Chi Minh to the table.

Our decision-making

process was...

Flawed.

It was flawed.

That's what your study said.

Yes.

I do believe that you were

trying to do your best...

and I know

how difficult it can be

to make choices that will...

That's kind of you.

Well, what comes next

might not be so kind.

You have the papers.

Let's just say...

I may have

a big decision to make.

They will argue it's a violation

of the Espionage Act.

That is a felony, Ben.

That's only

if the documents we print

could damage the United States.

There's a federal judge

in New York

who seems to think

that they could.

Well, I've got

six seasoned journalists

in the next room...

who've been reporting on this

war for the last ten years...

and I'll lay odds that they

have a better idea...

of what could damage

the United States

than some judge...

who is just now wading

into this territory

for the first time.

"Wading." Is that a metaphor

for Vietnam?

Okay. Ben, look, we know

your reporters are talented.

But The New York Times

spent three months

going over these documents.

You've got, what,

seven hours now

until the paper goes to press?

Can you honestly tell me

that that is enough time...

to make sure

not a single military plan,

not a single U. S. Soldier...

not a single American life

will be put in harm's way?

That this will do no damage

to the United States

if you publish?

Yes.

You're sure about that?

No!

That's why I've called you guys.

Look, Kay, I know

why The Times ran the story

but you need to understand...

the study was for posterity.

It was written for academics

in the future...

and right now we're still

in the middle of the war.

The papers can't be objective.

And I suppose the public

has a right to know...

but I would prefer

that the study

not be made widely available...

until it can be read with some

perspective. You understand.

Mmm.

We've been through a lot,

haven't we?

You and Marg

were there for me...

at the lowest point of my life.

You helped me, you selected

my entire board...

you're my most

trusted advisor...

my dear friend.

But my feelings about that

and about you...

can't be part of this decision

to publish or not.

I'm here

asking your advice, Bob...

not your permission.

Well, then as one of your

most trusted advisors...

and someone who knows how much

you care about this company...

I'm worried, Kay.

I worked in Washington

for ten years,

I've seen these people up close.

Bobby and Lyndon,

they were tough customers,

but Nixon is different.

He's got some real bad

people around him.

And if you publish he'll

get the very worst of them.

The Colsons and the Ehrlichmans

and he'll crush you.

I know he's just awful, but I...

Nixon's a son of a bitch!

He hates you.

He hates Ben.

He's wanted to ruin

the paper for years...

and you will not get

a second chance, Kay.

The Richard Nixon I know

will muster

the full power

of the presidency...

and if there's a way

to destroy your paper,

by God, he'll find it.

Rublish information

that harms national security.

I told you,

there is nothing in there.

If there is, the paper

will be prosecuted.

Isn't that why you're here?

Yes, Ben, but if we lose...

With what we pay you,

you really shouldn't lose.

Ben, you need to listen to them.

Hey, Fritz. Good to see you.

This is about

the future of the company

and ensuring there is one.

That's a little melodramatic,

don't you think?

Melodramatic?

You're talking about

exposing years

of government secrets.

I can't imagine they're

gonna take that lightly.

You could jeopardize

the public offering.

You could jeopardize

our television stations.

You know a felon can't

hold a broadcast license.

You think I give two shits

about the television stations?

You should. They make a hell of

a lot more money than you do...

and without that revenue

we'll be forced to sell.

If the government wins

and we're convicted...

The Washington Post as we

know it will cease to exist.

If we live in a world

where the government

can tell us what we can

and cannot print...

then The Washington Post

as we know it

has already ceased to exist.

What if we wait?

What if we hold off

on printing today

and instead we call

the Attorney General...

and we tell him that

we intend to print on Sunday?

That way we give

them and us time

to figure out

the legality of all of it...

while the court in New York

decides The Times' case.

You're suggesting we alert

the Attorney General...

to the fact that we

have these documents...

that we're going to print

in a few days?

Well, yes, that is the idea.

Yeah, well...

outside of

landing the Hindenburg

in a lightning storm...

that's about the shittiest

idea I've ever heard.

Oh, boy.

Oh, here's the man of the hour.

Kay.

For you.

I'm found.

Thank you, Kay.

You didn't have to

go through all this trouble.

No, we had to turn them

away at the door.

Didn't we, dear?

- Thanks.

- Oh.

- Gene.

- Mrs. Graham.

So, everything okay?

Uh, it's gotten pretty hot

over at Ben's house.

Oh, things are not going well?

No. Ben and Mr. Beebe

are at real loggerheads.

Fritz and Ben on opposite sides?

I made a commitment

to publish these papers.

Excuse me. Pardon me.

The whole staff will revolt,

if we don't publish.

Meg, I hardly think

people are gonna resign.

Enjoying the fight?

Yeah, who's winning?

- Nixon.

- I didn't see him come in.

Really? He's got his hand

so far up Fritz's ass.

Where is Fritz?

That is not at all

what I'm saying. No.

Not in so many words,

but you're a bunch of lawyers.

Will you cut through the shit!

Is the profanity necessary?

If we're not gonna publish,

why are we busting

our rear ends, Ben?

Just keep writing.

Can you stop playing Chopsticks?

We're not gonna get it wrong!

What's up there, Fritz?

Calling Kay.

I'm sorry, Ben.

I know you want this.

There will be another one.

Like hell there will be.

Given the

sensitive circumstances...

Sensitive circumstances? Really?

How would you describe it?

Uh, well,

we're trying to make a story.

Hello. Hello, I'm

making a telephone call.

Yeah, well, it's my house.

- So I'll be on the call.

- All right, Ben.

I just want to thank you all

for coming out this evening...

to help me launch

Harry Gladstein...

and his new sailboat...

into the Chesapeake Bay.

And into his

very well earned retirement.

Let me just tell you

a little bit about

why I'm so wild about Harry.

Mrs. Graham.

It's Mr. Beebe on the phone.

In 1949, wasn't it?

Uh, Phil Graham first brought

Harry to the company.

- I'm afraid they need you now.

- And I remember, he told me...

Mrs. Graham.

They need you now.

Oh, dear. I'm so sorry.

- Forgive me, Harry.

- Yeah.

I think I'll have to suspend.

Well, you're paying

the overtime.

I'll be right back.

I'm so sorry, Mrs. Graham.

Yeah.

We should wait.

Yeah, I understand, Ben,

but if you wait a day...

- Fritz on the phone for me?

- We should be on this call.

Well, there's an extension

in the living room.

Liz, show them where, please?

Thank you.

Hello, Fritz?

Hello, Kay. Would you like me

to catch you up?

I say we can, he says we can't.

There, you're caught up.

- Ben...

- Hello, it's Art.

Well, Ben,

there are concerns here

that are frankly

above your pay grade.

Well, there's

a few above yours, Art,

like fucking freedom

of the press.

Let's just be civil if we can.

Do you think

Nixon is going to be civil?

He is trying to censor the

goddamn New York Times.

Yes, The Times, not The Post.

It's the same damn thing.

This is an historic fight.

If they lose, we lose.

Hello? Is someone on the phone?

This is Phil.

Is that Phil Geyelin?

Uh, yes, Mrs. Graham.

Good. I'd like you to weigh in

if you would...

because I wanna know

what the staff

is feeling about this.

Uh, well,

frankly, Mrs. Graham...

Ben Bagdikian and Chal Roberts

have, uh, both

threatened to resign...

if we don't publish, that is.

Come on, Kay,

what do you expect?

They got nothing to lose.

Due respect,

we all have everything

to lose if we don't publish.

What will happen to the

reputation of this paper?

Everyone will find out

we had the study.

Hell, I bet half the town

knows already.

What will it look like

if we sit on our asses?

It'll look like we were prudent.

It will look like

we were afraid!

We will lose! The country

will lose! Nixon wins!

Nixon wins this one,

and the next one...

and all the ones after that,

because we were scared.

Because the only way to assert

the right to publish

is to publish.

Fritz.

Is Fritz there?

Fritz, are you on?

I'm here, Kay.

What do you think?

What do you think I should do?

I think...

there are arguments

on both sides.

Yeah.

But I guess I wouldn't publish.

Let's go. Let's do it.

Let's go. Let's go, let's go.

Let's publish.

- What?

- Phil?

What'd she say?

We go.

She says, we publish.

- Hot damn.

- My God.

- Holy shit.

- Let's get this out.

Holy shit.

- I need that, Meg.

- Sorry.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Hold your horses.

- I need the notes!

- Sorry.

- How many pages is it?

- 13.

We got two hours to get it

to the composing room.

I got it! Almost!

Wait one moment. I'm typing.

All right.

Wait, wait, wait.

Who's taking it?

I got it.

Call National desk.

Tell them Bagdikian

is coming with the story.

Done!

- All right.

- Get it in the paper.

Editorial meeting.

Ben? Yeah? Thanks.

Good job, Murrey.

- That it?

- That's it.

You... You got half an hour.

I'm not sure how much thought

you've put into this decision...

but we still have time.

The print deadline

is not 'til midnight.

I know when the

print deadline is.

Look, I'm still learning

how to do this,

but everything

I know about business...

tells me you're making

a serious mistake here.

One that will cost you

and your paper dearly,

and hurt every person

gathered here.

Not to mention, the hundreds

of others who work for you.

I'm just trying to put

my thoughts together.

Kay, all I want is what is best

for you and your business.

But I just got off the phone

with a couple of bankers...

and they think it's possible,

likely even...

that a number of their

institutional investors...

will pull out

if you go ahead and publish.

And if they pull out, Kay...

You got a couple of hours.

For your sake,

and for the sake of every one

of your employees...

I hope you will reconsider.

Give me the canister.

Get it downstairs...

and I want the page editor

standing over Lino

'til they got it ready to print.

Okay.

Mr. Bagdikian.

I need to know your source.

I thought I was clear earlier.

Well, we weren't

going to press earlier.

Yeah, well,

my answer's the same.

"This action has been

commenced to enjoin."

"The New York Times

and their agents..."

"from further

disseminating or disclosing"

"certain alleged

The Post (2017) - full transcript