How did the Department of Defense analysis that was leaked as the Pentagon Papers affect the Nixon Administration?

The Pentagon Papers leak in 1971 significantly impacted the Nixon Administration by exposing the government's misrepresentation of the Vietnam War's progress and its rationale for escalating U.S. involvement. This revelation fueled public distrust in the administration and intensified anti-war sentiment, leading to increased protests and calls for transparency. The leak also prompted legal battles over press freedom and government secrecy, ultimately influencing the Nixon administration's approach to communication and policy in the later years of the war.