Final answer:
In New York Times v. United States, Justice Byron White's concurring opinion discussed the government's attempt to keep the Pentagon Papers classified.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the case of New York Times v. United States, Justice Byron White's concurring opinion did not specifically mention the Espionage Act of 1917, but it did express the view that the government's desire to keep the Pentagon Papers classified was not strong enough to justify violating the First Amendment by imposing prior restraints on the material.
The Espionage Act of 1917 was a controversial law that criminalized certain behaviors related to hindering the war effort or assisting the enemy. It prohibited actions such as seeking to disrupt military recruitment and making false statements that might hamper the war effort.
The Sedition Act of 1918 extended the Espionage Act and made criticizing the federal government during a time of war a criminal offense.
Overall, the Espionage Act and its extension, the Sedition Act, were used to restrict freedom of speech and suppress dissent during World War I.