Top Secret

The Battle for the Pentagon Papers (1991)

By: Geoffrey Cowan, Leroy Aarons

Narrated by: Philip Abbott, Irene Arranga, Edward Asner, Ed Begley Jr., Jack Coleman, Richard Dysart, Hector Elizondo, Bo Foxworth, Robert Foxworth, Gerrit Graham, Stacy Keach, Nan Martin, Harry Shearer, Harris Yulin, full cast

The original version of LATW’s groundbreaking docudrama about the Pentagon Papers, the infamous classified documents about US involvement in the Vietnam War, and how The Washington Post fought the government to publish them.

Includes a 1991 panel discussion with journalists Ben Bradlee, Peter Braestrup, Robert Maynard, Carla Robbins, Robert Scheer, and George Wilson.

Recorded before a live audience at the Guest Quarters Suite Hotel, Santa Monica in March, 1991.

Directed by Tom Moore
Producing Director: Susan Albert Loewenberg
Philip Abbot as Chal Roberts
Irene Arranga as Bailiff/Clerk
Edward Asner as Ben Bradlee
Ed Begley, Jr. as George Wilson
Jack Coleman as Eugene Patterson/Carl Coogan
Richard Dysart as Narrator
Hector Elizondo as Fritz Beebee
Bo Foxworth as The Soldier
Robert Foxworth as Ben Bagdikian
Robin Gammell as Murray Marder
Gerrit Graham as Robert Mardian
Howard Hesseman as Brian Sullivan
Stacy Keach as John Mitchell
Darrell Larson as Darryl Cox
Nan Martin as Meg Greenfield
Marsha Mason as Katherine Graham
Richard Riehle as Lamont Vanderhall
Harry Shearer as Richard Nixon
Joe Spano as Ron Ziegler
James Whitmore as Judge Martin Peel
Harris Yulin as Henry Kissinger

Stage Manager and Sound Effects, Barnaby Harris. Recording Engineer, Steve Barker.

©1991 L.A. Theatre Works (P)1991 L.A. Theatre Works

How the Times have changed

Lately, it seems like the legacy news has become the fake news.
This story shows how the news used to keep the government in check.
Now, it has become a cheerleader for the Democrat government.
This story shows how the government can shape the news to control the public.