SillyDog701

[EddiePaxil]

I sat there yesterday watching TV after not having seen much of the days media coverage stunned to see that the identity of "Deep Throat" had been revealed. Those who don't know "Deep Throat" was the anonymous source for Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein's Pulitzer Prize winning coverage of the Watergate scandal that brought down Richard Nixon's presidency here in the US in 1973.

Yesterday, Vanity Fair went online with the story "I am the guy they called Deep Throat" which you can read here http://www.vanityfair.com/commentary/co ... 0530roco02 . Apparently "Deep Throat" was someone who had always been one of the leading candidates; FBI second in command W. Mark Felt.

Quick Note here. Those wanting to keep the mystery alive. Refusing to believe this is true. Wishing it was someone more well known. Please check out http://www.washingtonpost.com/ for extended coverage. Bob Woodward still works for the Post and has confirmed that W. Mark Felt is "Deep Throat". As has Carl Bernstein and their former editor Benjamin C. Bradlee. The three people besides "Deep Throat" publicly known to know his real identity.

I found this revelation quite interesting for a number of reasons. First, I'd read the book "All the President's Men" some years ago and always found the magnitude of the story interesting. In an era where we attribute so many things to giant government conspiracies here is a case where the government was toppled by a conscience from within.

Secondly, in another thread here at Silly Dog the topic of urban legends just came up over memorial day weekend. The shady cloaked character in the movie "All the President's Men" had perpetuated an almost urban legend like quality around "Deep Throat". Credit Woodward & Bernstein as well as their editor with guarding this secret as they had promised until "Deep Throat's" death, or until "Deep Throat" released them from their promise. That shows tremendous integrity. But, also credit years of speculation, and people saying "so & so told me that so & so said this person was 'Deep Throat'" helping to keep this an incredibly well guarded
secret. In many of those cases it was Mark Felt's name that came up. One such instant that now seems it may carry some weight, was Carl Bernstein's own son saying it was Mark Felt. Carl Bernstein denied at the time that this was true. But many other instances where other prominent figures names came up seemed to mask the veracity of the occasions when Mark Felt's name would come up. A case of the modern role of the urban legend stifling the revelation of the very mystery it's trying to solve. Someone tell Alanis Morrisette that that's irony.

If you've ever read, "All the President's Men" you know that "Deep Throat" wasn't really the source for most of the information, but the person who was perfectly placed to confirm it. He also provided invaluable guidance to Woodward & Bernstein on what to look for. (Another factor which perpetuated the speculation that he was a composite character.) Well, he's not.

So as Memorial Day weekend came to end I had the answer to a mystery I'd long wondered about. (For the record I had never guessed that "Deep Throat's" identity was Mark Felt. So I was fooled.) I wondered what to think of him? Was he a traitor? Or was he an American hero? That's a very tough call. If I were on the jury for this. I'd hang it. Because on one hand he did help expose details of a highly sensitive investigation. But, on the other hand, he helped expose a corrupt, underhanded, strong arming, and overly powerful administration. So I guess he was a little of both. But, I hope that when people in the future look back they view him as more of a hero. After all, here in the US we are not a democracy as is often misstated. We are a democratic-republic. We put a lot of faith in the officials we elect. If they stray secretly from the job they are hired to do. It can only be someone like Mark Felt who clues us in on it. Whether through the press or any other means.

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[Antony]

I sat there yesterday watching TV after not having seen much of the days media coverage stunned to see that the identity of "Deep Throat" had been revealed. Those who don't know "Deep Throat" was the anonymous source for Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein's Pulitzer Prize winning coverage of the Watergate scandal that brought down Richard Nixon's presidency here in the US in 1973.

So "Deep Throat" is FBI's second in command W. Mark Felt, and I assume Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein are two journalists.
And what information did Mark Felt provide to those two journalists?
We all know the output to Richard Nixon's presidency, but exactly, "what" happened?

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[EddiePaxil]

So "Deep Throat" is FBI's second in command W. Mark Felt

Well he was second in command in 1972.

I assume Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein are two journalists.

Yes, they are the two journalists who did not let Watergate die. When all trails to Nixon seemed to dry up they kept digging. In no small part due to "Deep Throat". Whom I guess I can now comfortably call Mark Felt. Woodward & Bernstein are credited for spawning what is now the flood of investigative journalism.

And what information did Mark Felt provide to those two journalists?

Well, there are many people waxing poetic as I write this about the fact that Deep Throat was only one of many sources. And how, primarily he was someone who mainly confirmed information they already had (Though he did provide some information and many opinions). And gave them "tips" on where to look. The most famous "tip" made famous in the book they later wrote and the subsequent movie, "Follow the money." All true. All of which they have maintained consistent about over the years. Providing many people with fuel to say that there was no "Deep Throat", that he was a composite of many people.

However because of libel laws in this country amongst other issues, especially in a case involving the President. All information must be checked vigorously, and all parties must be given a chance to comment. By having someone as high up as Mark Felt verifying all information, Woodward & Bernstein were providing their story, the newspaper, & themselves with a rock solid base to go to print. Meaning that when people were called to comment the information being used was so accurate the smarter thing was for people to not comment. Otherwise they'd be admitting to the President's involvement and cover up, or they'd be lying.

So the best answer to your question is, he didn't provide much information. But, he did have a very big hand in making sure the information had a rock solid base to go to print. That can't be underestimated.

We all know the output to Richard Nixon's presidency, but exactly, "what" happened?

I tried to make sure I provided links and be as clear as I could be without dragging on.Because I know that some folks reading this are from various parts of the world, and perhaps not as familiar with something like this. I'm not old enough to remember all of this. I learned all of this through books and History classes.

To put it simply. President Nixon and some of the people in charge of his re-election campaign in 1972 put together a group of former intelligence operatives to steal information on the Democratic candidate for President George McGovern. They broke into a hotel called The Watergate where some documents were kept. They were caught and some folks that were part of the re-election campaign were fingered. However, the President's administration was able to minimize the damage and make sure the incident didn't reach too high. Subsequently, McGovern was unable to capitalize on the issue as the President himself was initially shielded. Nixon won the election by a wide margin.

The FBI had just lost the only director it ever had J. Edgar Hoover and was in a bit of turmoil. But, tried to continue the investigation. Nixon's administration went to great lengths to obstruct the investigations of both the CIA and FBI. However it wasn't long before the wall of cover ups started to leak.Woodward & Bernstein were the only two reporters who never let the Watergate incident, "go quietly into that good night." With their stories continuing to unravel the web, eventually a Legislative commitee was put together to look squarely at how high the incident reached. Eventually, it got to Nixon. We know the rest. In no small part due to two reporters who simply wouldn't let it go, and now we know an FBI man who thought justice would never see the light of day because those above him were the ones that the scales of justice would fall on.

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[James]

Hey, Eddie

You've some very evident writing skills. I enjoyed reading your posts (and actually learned something).

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[Antony]

To put it simply. President Nixon and some of the people in charge of his re-election campaign in 1972 put together a group of former intelligence operatives to steal information on the Democratic candidate for President George McGovern. They broke into a hotel called The Watergate where some documents were kept. They were caught and some folks that were part of the re-election campaign were fingered. However, the President's administration was able to minimize the damage and make sure the incident didn't reach too high. Subsequently, McGovern was unable to capitalize on the issue as the President himself was initially shielded. Nixon won the election by a wide margin.

Thank you very much Eriel, I now finally know what exactly what "Watergate" was about. (All I knew about Watergate was the scandal for President Nixon.)

... Woodward & Bernstein were the only two reporters who never let the Watergate incident, "go quietly into that good night." With their stories continuing to unravel the web, eventually a Legislative commitee was put together to look squarely at how high the incident reached.

Sorry, can't stop myself not quoting this bit.
I am not a journalist, however I can assure you that all important issues relating to SillyDog701 will be transparent. SillyDog701 won't let any insults to SillyDog701 go quiet as the other party wishes, (you know [sdt=7565]what[/sdt] I am talking about.)

Again, thank you for the explanation.

Antony

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[EddiePaxil]

Hey, Eddie

You've some very evident writing skills. I enjoyed reading your posts (and actually learned something).

Thanks, you've no idea how much that means to a kid who's first language was spanish.

Thank you very much Eriel, I now finally know what exactly what "Watergate" was about. (All I knew about Watergate was the scandal for President Nixon.)

I love my countries (US & Cuba). But every country is a composite of it's good & bad. I think this is one of those things all countries should know about the US. With so many rumours over the years about massive government conspiracy theories, knowing now that someone as high up as Mark Felt had a conscience, shows that maybe when push comes to shove, for whatever their reasons someone's going to step up.

Do you think it's a coincidence that his last name is Felt???

I can assure you that all important issues relating to SillyDog701 will be transparent. SillyDog701 won't let any insults to SillyDog701 go quiet as the other party wishes, (you know [sdt=7565]what[/sdt] I am talking about.)

I got as involved in this one as I was going to get.

Again, thank you for the explanation.

Antony

You're most welcome. Thanks for the site. And the occasional soapbox.

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