Earlier this week, one of the 20th-century's best-kept secrets was revealed when former FBI boss Mark Felt admitted to being Deep Throat, the source behind Watergate. At age 91, after decades of hiding his role -- as The Washington Post's tipster -- from politicians, the public and even his immediate family, Felt finally told his secret to a lawyer his family had consulted on whether Felt should come forward. The sensational revelations about Nixon administration's espoinage activities and clandestine bugging of the Democratic National committee (DNC) offices -- in the Watergate hotel -- in early 1970s brought crashing down his presidency.
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the Washington Post's lead reporters in the Watergate coverage, broke -- and followed tirelessly -- the Watergate story in August 1972. The first report about the break-in at the Democratic National Committee's headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. broke out on June 17, 1972. Most of newspapers dismissed the story, calling the incident a 'caper.' However, Woodward teamed with Bernstein raised the issue of the link between the burglars and President Nixon's re-election committee with their first report for the Watergate scandal. It was the high-point of their journalistic careers. Infact it was the acme of investigative journalism. Both Bob and Carl would go on to become celebrity journalists, win a pulitzer for the best story on Watergate, write books, and never actually 'reveal' their mysterious source.
The media has worshiped at the altar of "Deep Throat" for 33 years. The character "Deep Throat" was celebrated in major media and leftist culture as the ultimate whistleblower, a man who helped save America's Constitutional republic by exposing the crimes of the Nixon administration.
Untill June 1,2005. Felt came out in Vanity fair magazine declaring, 'I was the man they called Deep Throat'. At last after more than three decades of silence, denails and speculation, the world's best kept secret was out in the open, available for less than a dollar -- price of a vanity fair copy.
"Watergate" is a general term used to describe a complex web of political scandals between 1972 and 1974. The word specifically refers to the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. The term entered the political lexicon as a word synonymous with corruption and scandal, yet the Watergate Hotel is one of Washington's plushest hotels. Even today, it is home to former Senator Bob Dole and was once the place where Monica Lewinsky laid low. It was here that the Watergate Burglars broke into the Democratic Party's National Committee offices on June 17, 1972. If it had not been for the alert actions of Frank Wills, a security guard, the scandal may never have erupted.
The scandal that brought Nixon's resignation began with a burglary and attempted tapping of phones in Democratic Party offices at the Watergate office building in Washington during Nixon's 1972 re-election campaign. It went on to include disclosures of covert Nixon administration spying on and retaliating against a host of perceived enemies. But the most devastating disclosure was the president's own role in trying to cover-up his administration's involvement.
Bob and Carl relentlessly followed the story, aided by their mysterious source. Among other things, Deep Throat urged Woodward and Bernstein to follow the money trail -- from the financing of burglars who broke into the Democratic National Committee offices to the financing of Nixon's re-election campaign. The resulting campaign finance scandal led Congress to overhaul the nation's campaign finance rules, ordering federal candidates and national party committees to disclose their donors' identities and observe new contribution limits.
Forty government officials and members of Nixon's re-election committee were convicted on felony charges. Felt was convicted in 1980 for authorizing illegal break-ins in the 1970s at homes of people associated with the radical Weather Underground. He was pardoned by President Reagan in 1981.
At 9 pm on the evening of August 8, 1974, Nixon delivered a nationally televised resignation speech. The next morning, he made his final remarks to the White House staff before sending his resignation letter to the Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger.
Gerald Ford became the 38th President of the United States when Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974. He was the first Vice-President and the first President to ascend to both positions without being elected. Regarded on all sides of politics as a decent man, Ford will be remembered for his controversial pardon of Richard Nixon.
Nixon died in 1994 and was eulogised by the political establishment, although he was still a figure of controversy.
Nixon never knew who his nemesis was. Although Felt was always in the realm of suspicion but his name was always a speculation, along with numerous others. Woodward, Bernstein and Bradlee -- WP editor -- had kept the identity of Deep Throat secret at his request, saying his name would be revealed upon his death. But then Felt revealed it himself, a move that startled Woodward , Bernstein and the Post, the newspaper reported yesterday.
Also surprised was Nixon chief counsel Charles Colson, who worked closely with Felt in the Nixon administration and served prison time in the Watergate scandal. Even the existence of Deep Throat, nicknamed for an X-rated movie of the early 1970s, was kept secret for a time. Woodward and Bernstein revealed their reporting had been aided by a Nixon administration source in their best-selling book "All the President's Men." Felt's name doesn't appear there.
A hit movie was made of the book in 1976 starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman. It portrayed cloak-and-dagger methods employed by Woodward and Deep Throat. When Woodward wanted a meeting, he would position an empty flowerpot containing a red flag on his apartment balcony. When Deep Throat wanted to meet, the hands of a clock would appear written inside Woodward's New York Times on page 20.
The identity of the source had sparked endless speculation over the past three decades. Dean, Nixon chief of staff Alexander Haig, White House press aide Diane Sawyer, speechwriter Pat Buchanan and Garment were among those mentioned as possibilities.
Felt also had been mentioned, but he regularly denied it. His motive for tipping off Woodward and Bernstein remains unknown, but the Post suggested in a story Tuesday night that anger over Nixon's decision to pass him over for FBI director after the death of J. Edgar Hoover could have been a factor.
Whatever the reasons. I think all of us love to keep secrets and when secrets are outed, they loose the curiosity about them. I respect the manner in which the identity of Deep Throat was protected by Bob and Carl.
Now that modern history's most intriguing secret is out , let us raise a toast to WP, Bob and Carl for their work and word! For Felt, because the world needs Deep throats -- to keep the faith intact -- in democratic institutions and transpiracy at high places.
For a more sweet sip!
Sameer Bhat
