The Watergate scandal is one of the most notorious political scandals in American history. It involved a break-in at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington D.C. in 1972 and the subsequent cover-up by members of President Richard Nixon's administration. The scandal exposed corruption at the highest levels of government and eventually led to Nixon's resignation in 1974.
At the centre of the scandal was the question of what Nixon knew about the break-in and when he knew it. Reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of The Washington Post doggedly investigated the story with help from an anonymous source they dubbed "Deep Throat." For decades, Deep Throat's identity was one of the biggest mysteries surrounding Watergate.
The Break-In and Early Stages of the Scandal
On June 17, 1972, five men connected to Nixon's re-election campaign were caught breaking into the DNC offices at Watergate. They were attempting to bug the phones and steal documents. At the time, Nixon denied any involvement and tried to contain the escalating scandal.
Woodward and Bernstein, however, kept digging. They uncovered information suggesting White House officials were involved in the planning and cover-up of the break-in. Their explosive report on October 10, 1972 alleged that the Watergate operation was part of a massive campaign of political spying and sabotage run by the White House and Nixon's re-election committee.
The Nixon Administration Fights Back
As the scandal grew, Nixon launched a counterattack against the press, denying any White House role in Watergate. He won re-election in a landslide victory in November 1972, taking it as a mandate from the public to put Watergate behind him.
Behind the scenes, Nixon and his top aides worked to slow or stop investigations into Watergate. They paid hush money to the burglars and tried to block inquiries from the FBI and Congressional committees.
Woodward and Bernstein's Mysterious Source
Woodward and Bernstein's reports for The Washington Post relied heavily on information from a source they referred to as Deep Throat. They described him as someone from the government who didn't want his identity revealed.
For decades, Deep Throat's identity was one of the biggest unsolved mysteries surrounding Watergate. Woodward revealed little about his secret source besides vague physical descriptions. Deep Throat provided guidance, confirmed information, and shared leads from behind the scenes.
The identity of Deep Throat became the subject of intense public speculation over the years. Potential candidates included Nixon White House officials like Alexander Haig, William Ruckelshaus, and Fred Fielding. Some speculated Deep Throat was a composite character fabricated from multiple sources.
Watergate Special Prosecutors Appointed
In 1973, Nixon nominated Elliot Richardson as Attorney General on the condition he would appoint a special prosecutor for Watergate. Richardson appointed Archibald Cox in May 1973.
Cox and the Senate Watergate Committee subpoenaed Nixon for copies of White House recordings related to Watergate. Nixon refused to turn over the tapes, ordering the special prosecutor fired in what became known as the "Saturday Night Massacre."
Nixon eventually agreed to release some transcripts of the recordings, which revealed his direct role in the Watergate cover-up. Additional tapes released in 1974 proved that Nixon had taken steps to block the FBI investigation within days of the break-in.
Impeachment Proceedings and Nixon's Resignation
The House Judiciary Committee opened formal impeachment proceedings against Nixon in May 1974. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Nixon had to release the remaining tapes to investigators.
On August 5, 1974, the White House released the "smoking gun" tape proving Nixon’s involvement in the cover-up just days after the break-in. Within days, leading Republicans withdrew their support for Nixon, who finally resigned on August 9, 1974.
Mark Felt Revealed as Deep Throat
Even after Nixon's resignation and the end of the Watergate trials, the identity of Deep Throat remained a mystery. In 2005, Mark Felt, the former #2 official at the FBI, revealed himself to be Woodward's famous secret source.
Felt had been directly involved in early Watergate inquiries but later felt they were being stifled by Nixon's inner circle. Motivated to expose the cover-up, he provided key evidence and confirmation to Woodward off the record.
Felt authorized his family to reveal his identity in 2005 at the age of 91. Some speculate his willingness to come forward may have been driven in part by anger over being passed over as FBI Director and a desire to shape his legacy.
Regardless of his motivations, Mark Felt helped Woodward and the public uncover the abuses of power that led to Nixon’s downfall. His information proved critical in bringing Watergate into the light. After decades of speculation, Felt finally stepped forward to write the final chapter in the Deep Throat mystery.
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