President Nixon tried to stop The New York Times from publishing the Pentagon Papers because he believed that their release would damage national security. He argued that the papers contained sensitive information that could be used by America's enemies. Nixon also believed that their publication might weaken public support for the Vietnam War.
The New York Times argued that the Pentagon Papers were in the public interest and that the public had a right to know about the government's decision-making process regarding the Vietnam War. The Times also argued that the papers would not harm national security because the information they contained was already widely known.
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of The New York Times in a landmark decision known as the Pentagon Papers Case (1971). The Court ruled that the First Amendment protected the newspaper's right to publish the Pentagon Papers. The Court also ruled that the government could not prevent the publication of information simply because it was classified as secret.
The Pentagon Papers case is considered a major victory for freedom of the press in the United States. It set an important precedent that protects the right of journalists to publish information that is in the public interest, even if it is classified as secret by the government.