THE PENTAGON PAPERS AND VIETNAM

(HIS 1930 – Freshman Seminar)

Tuesdays, 4:00-6:50pm, FL 105 (sequence # 15046)

 

Instructor: Dr. Kenneth Osgood

Office: AL 155

Office Hours: Thursday’s 11am-1pm & by appointment                

Phone:  (561) 297-2816                                  

Email:  kosgood@fau.edu

Instructor’s Web Site: http://www.fau.edu/~kosgood

 

About the Course:

 

“Isn’t it after all only history?” So Senator William J. Fulbright asked Daniel Ellsberg, about the Pentagon Papers -- arguably the most important, most widely discussed, and most controversial historical study ever written.  This University Scholars seminar investigates the history of America’s longest war by looking at the history of the Vietnam War through the eyes of Daniel Ellsberg.  His decision to leak 7,000 pages of top secret documents, known collectively as the Pentagon Papers, to the New York Times and other media outlets was a conscious attempt to bring the war to an end by revealing its secret history to the American people.  He did so knowing full well that his actions might lead to a life behind bars.  Indeed, he was eventually arrested, and the Pentagon Papers case made its way to the Supreme Court.

 

But Daniel Ellsberg was once the ultimate government insider.  He held Top Secret security clearance and he worked for some of the most important officials who planned and executed the war in Vietnam.  And, like many of these officials, he once supported the war – he believed it was the right course of action to take.  It was only over time that he became convinced that the war was not only unwise; it was immoral.  What made Ellsberg change his mind?  What made him risk his professional career and personal freedom to take the risky and illegal act of leaking classified materials to the press?  What does his experience teach us about the Vietnam War and about American life in the turbulent 1960s?

 

We will explore these questions by tracing Ellsberg’s life and times – through his recently published, best-selling memoir, Secrets.  We will also read documents from the Top Secret Pentagon Papers themselves – documents that, in fact, remain classified to this day.  While reading the Papers, ask yourself:  what do these documents reveal about the planning of the war in Vietnam, and why would the release of these documents change the way people thought about the war? 

 

Course Requirements:

 

This is primarily a reading and discussion course, not a lecture course.  You will learn not by passively listening to me deliver wisdom from on high, but from reading, writing, and discussing.  To do well, you must complete all of the reading prior to class, you must complete all of the writing assignments, and you must come to class prepared to discuss.  All in all, consistency and effort, as well as quality of work, will determine your grade.

 

Required Readings:

 

Daniel Ellsberg, Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers (Penguin Books, 2002).

 

George C. Herring, The Pentagon Papers: Abridged Edition (McGraw Hill, 1993).

 

— and miscellaneous documents and sources, listed on the course schedule.

 

 

Readings and Discussion:

 

Reading and discussion are integral parts of this course.  Most class meetings will be spent discussing readings and other sources.  It is essential that you complete all of the required reading before coming to class, or else you cannot participate!  Your regular participation and attendance count for a sizable portion of your course grade.  This is good news: it means your effort will be rewarded! 

 

There is a fair amount of reading in this course, typically 50-100 pages per week.  Some selections will be easy, others will be challenging.  For you to succeed in this course, it is essential that you stay on top of the readings and study them closely. And by closely, I mean closely.  You cannot simply just cram the readings into your head in one sitting.  You will have to read, take notes as you read, and think about what you have read. 

 

  • To facilitate discussion, please bring the day’s reading to class for each meeting.  This includes online sources; print them out and bring to class. 
  • Be advised that I do assign grades ranging from “A” to “F” on participation, which counts for a quarter of your grade! 
  • Also be warned that occasionally I will give unannounced reading quizzes to verify that you have done the reading for the day.  These quizzes will always be open-notes: so if you take notes while you read, you are welcome to use them while you take the quiz.

 

 

Attendance:

 

Attendance is mandatory.  Absences will affect your grade as follows:

  • 1 absence: no penalty
  • 2 absences: 1/3 grade reduction (i.e. B+ to B)
  • 3 absences: full-letter grade reduction (i.e. B to C)
  • 4 or more absences: failing grade in the course

There are no exceptions to this policy, so don’t waste your free absences: save them for when you are sick or for when your car breaks down, etc.

 

Papers:

 

The bulk of your written work for this class consists of 9 short papers analyzing the weekly reading.  These essays will serve as the starting point for discussion, so you may be asked to share your papers with your classmates.  The essay questions are listed with the readings on the schedule section of the syllabus.   

 

Each paper should be at least two-pages long.  It should begin with a short opening “thesis paragraph” that summarizes your answer to the question in a few brief sentences.  Then, in 3-4 subsequent paragraphs, your paper should elaborate on your answer using evidence and direct quotations from the readings. 

 

To receive a passing grade each paper must do the following:

(a)    directly answer the question;

(b)   directly refer to the week’s readings;

(c)    use quotations from the week’s readings;

(d)   reflect serious effort and thought.

 

Revising Papers:

 

Because you will be writing your papers before we have had the chance to discuss the topics as a class, you may find that you will want to revise your paper after class discussion to take advantage of things you learned in class. Go for it!  All you need to do is come up to me after class, ask me to initial your first draft as proof that you completed it on time; and then, the following week, submit your revised paper together with your original paper.  You can do this as often as you like!

 

Submitting Papers:

 

All your papers must be submitted two ways:  (1) as paper copies handed in to me; and (2) as electronic copies submitted via Blackboard.  If you do not submit your paper both ways, you will receive a zero for the assignment.  Please be advised that the Blackboard site will check your papers using Turnitin.com to search for cases of plagiarism. 

 

Late Policy:

 

Late work will not be accepted.  Exceptions will be made in only the most dire of situations – serious, documented, emergencies, or extenuating circumstances approved by me in advance.

 

Plagiarism and Outside Sources:

 

Consider yourself warned:  plagiarism is a serious offense.  It is academic theft that involves taking the words or ideas of another and passing them off as your own.  You are welcome – indeed encouraged -- to consult outside sources when completing your work.  However, all such sources must be properly cited using footnote references.  Quotation marks should be used to indicate direct quotations.  Please be advised that all cases of plagiarism will be prosecuted to the fullest, according to FAU policy. 

 

 

Grade Breakdown:

 

25%     Participation, Quizzes, and Homework

75%     Short Papers

 

 

Helpful Resources:

 

 

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