In the summer of 1971, President Richard Nixon ordered the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to develop a psychiatric profile of Daniel Ellsberg, a military analyst responsible for leaking the Pentagon Papers, which disclosed misleading information regarding U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. This directive was part of Nixon's broader strategy to discredit Ellsberg and retaliate for his revelations about the administration's actions.

Dr. Barney Malloy, who served as the chief of the CIA's psychiatric division from 1958 to 1989, was assigned to this task. Initially, he expressed concerns about the ethical implications of profiling an American citizen. However, he proceeded after being assured by his supervisor that the request had the approval of CIA Director Richard Helms. Malloy's report, based on publicly available information and interviews with FBI informants, concluded that Ellsberg was a highly intelligent individual motivated by a sense of patriotism, which did not align with the White House's intentions.

Following the submission of this report, Howard Hunt, a member of Nixon's special investigations unit known as the Plumbers, approached Malloy to request a more damaging portrayal of Ellsberg. Hunt pressured Malloy to include personal psychological conflicts that could be used to discredit Ellsberg. Malloy resisted this pressure, citing his ethical obligations and the need to consult with CIA leadership. Ultimately, the CIA's leadership, including Helms and Deputy Director Gen. Robert Cushman Jr., decided to comply with the White House's demands, illustrating the complex dynamics of agency autonomy and the challenges faced by federal employees in maintaining integrity under political pressure.