In the early 1970s, a Supreme Court case tested the boundaries of press freedom and governmental power. The Nixon administration had attempted to prevent the publication of the “Pentagon Papers,” a classified report detailing the United States' political and military involvement in Vietnam. Understand why the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the New York Times, emphasizing the essential role of a free press in a democratic society. Learn how Justice Hugo Black's opinion underscored that the government could not restrain the press from publishing even sensitive information without proving direct and immediate harm to national security. Explore the enduring effect of this case, reinforcing the First Amendment rights of the press and ensuring transparency and accountability within the government.