Anthony Russo (whistleblower)

Infobox Person
name=Tony Russo


caption=
birth_name=Anthony J. Russo, Jr.
birth_date=October 14, 1936
birth_place=Suffolk, Virginia
death_date=death date and age|2008|8|6|1936|10|14
death_place=Suffolk, Virginia
residence=
nationality=
other_names=
known_for=The Pentagon Papers
education=Virginia Tech
Princeton University
employer=RAND Corporation
occupation=
title=
religion=
spouse=
children=
relatives=
website=
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Anthony J. "Tony" Russo, Jr. (October 14, 1936 – August 6, 2008) was an American researcher who assisted Daniel Ellsberg, his friend and former colleague at the RAND Corporation, in copying the Pentagon Papers.

Early life

Russo was born in Suffolk, Virginia. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in aeronautical engineering in 1960, then worked on a NASA space capsule program. He continued his education at Princeton University, earning master's degrees in aeronautical engineering and in public affairs. He began working at the RAND Corporation as a researcher in the late 1960s.

Pentagon Papers and trial

Russo arranged for a Xerox machine and copied the 7,000 pages at night. Russo and Ellsberg would be charged with espionage, theft, and conspiracy.Woo, Elaine (August 8, 2008). [http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-russo8-2008aug08,0,3350490.story Anthony J. Russo, 71; Rand staffer helped leak Pentagon Papers.] "Los Angeles Times"] On May 11, 1973, a federal court judge dismissed all charges against them. Judge William M. Byrne Jr. dismissed the case in May 1973 before it reached a jury, after the office of Ellsberg's psychiatrist had been burglarized and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had lost records of what may have been illegally taped telephone conversations. Byrne was also offered the position of FBI director by John Ehrlichman during the trial.Martin, Douglas (August 8, 2008). [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/09/us/politics/09russo.html Anthony J. Russo, 71, Pentagon Papers Figure, Dies.] "New York Times"]

Later life

Russo died of natural causes at his home in Suffolk, Virginia on August 6, 2008.

References

External links

* [http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/pentagon/pent1.html Complete text of the Gravel Edition of the Pentagon Papers] with supporting documents, maps, and photos
* [http://www.topsecretplay.org "Top Secret: Battle for the Pentagon Papers" ] a resource site that supports a currently-playing docu-drama about the Pentagon Papers. The site provides historical context, time lines, bibliographical resources, information on discussions with current journalists, and helpful links.
* [http://www.ellsberg.net Official website for "Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers"] by Daniel Ellsberg
*"Democracy Now!" Special: [http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/02/1331255 "How the Pentagon Papers Came to Be Published by the Beacon Press":] Mike Gravel and Daniel Ellsberg (audio/video and transcript)
* [http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB48/supreme.html Nixon Tapes & Supreme Court Oral Arguments]
* [http://nytimes.whsites.net/talk/podcasts.html Podcast of a live panel discussion moderated by Jill Abramson, New York Times managing editor and former Washington bureau chief, marking the 35th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling.]
* [http://www.allaboutvids.com/view_video.php?viewkey=d8176d665453cfb2e55f VIDEO Mike Gravel tells the story of how he released the secret Pentagon Papers into the public record]
* [http://www.clemson.edu/caah/history/FacultyPages/EdMoise/pentagon.html Article at Ed Moise's Vietnam Bibliography]
* [http://www.wcbs880.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=851936 1971 - The Pentagon Papers] A report from Steve Holt of WCBS Newsradio 880 (WCBS-AM New York) Part of WCBS 880's celebration of 40 years of newsradio.
* [http://www.beacon.org/client/pentagonpapers.cfm Beacon Press & "The Pentagon Papers"]