Changes

The general story is largely accurate, in that the <i>Pentagon Papers</i> were leaked to the <i>The Times</i> and eventually the <i>The Post</i> played an important role in fully releasing the leak. The struggle the characters face in publishing the story also holds some truth, as there was a real threat that Katherine and her staff could have gone to jail. The movie also focuses on Katharine become becoming the first female leader of a major US newspaper. The protagonist Bradley Whitford is shown opposing her leadership and publication of the story, but this character never existed and was used simply for dramatic effect. There were also other dramatic moments which did not happen, namely Katharine receiving the leaked documents on her birthday during a party for her. This never happened. However, the biggest inaccuracy or at least misleading aspect of the movie is the fact the <i>The New York Times</i> , which played a far more prominent role in exposing the leaked documents, receives relatively little credit. The <i>The Post</i> took advantage of the fact the <i>The Times</i> was prevented from publishing due to the court injunction. The important role of the <i>The Times</i> in leaking the story was underplayed and many of those reporters, particularly Sheehan, played the critical role in bringing the story to light.