- Stole classified documents from the Pentagon concerning the Vietnam War, and leaked the information to The New York Times. Eventually caught after fleeing authorities, he was indicted, but the charges were dismissed in 1973 after it was discovered that Richard Nixon had authorized the break-in of Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office in an attempt to discredit Ellsberg. Leonard Weinglass was a member of Ellsberg's defense team.
- He is portrayed by Matthew Rhys in The Post (2017).
- Served in the U.S. Marine Corps and reached the rank of first lieutenant before being discharged.
- His mother had wanted him to be a concert pianist but he gave up playing after her death when he was fifteen.
- Biography/bibliography in: "Contemporary Authors". New Revision Series, vol. 135, pages 127-131. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2005.
- Father of Robert Ellsberg.
- He grew up in Detroit.
- Holds degrees from Harvard and Cambridge, and a Ph.D from Harvard.
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