Book Review: The Secret Man: The Story of Watergate's Deep Throat

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

The Secret Man: The Story of Watergate's Deep Throat     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Bob Woodward , Carl Bernstein
Class/Genre:   Non-Fiction   Politics   Historical
Simon & Schuster 2005 232 pages

Early in 2002, Bob Woodward of the famous team of Washington Post reporters who worked during the Watergate years sat down to summarize his experiences with his most famous confidential source, dubbed "Deep Throat" by a Post editor with a wry sense of humor. For 30 years Woodward and his writing partner Carl Bernstein had guarded the identity of the person who helped them through the maze of evidence and conflicting claims which enveloped the unfolding story reporting the burglary and resulting coverup which began the slow crumbling of the Nixon presidency.

Woodward's aim in summarizing his memories was to prepare the story for publication in the event of his informant's death. After a gap of more than 20 years Woodward had neither seen nor spoken with "Deep Throat" but in the late 1990's on a business trip to California he sought him out and endeavored to gain some insight on his long ago motives.

When Mark Felt's family went public in late spring 2005, revealing that their elderly father had been the long ago informant, Woodward revised, updated his three year old manuscript and sent it to the publisher.

While answering many questions, this book raises many more as Woodward readily admits. Woodward also discusses his long role as a highly regarded investigative journalist and writer and analyzes how the long held secret has been a positive tool in his own career. Very readable and instructive, especially to those who endured the tumult of 1972-1974.

Woodstock - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Woodstock - RAM