"Deep Throat" Revealed

It was so interesting watching various TV channels the day Mark Felt's role as "Deep Throat" was made public. All these former Nixon guys were trying their best to spin Felt as a criminal when, in fact, he is an American patriot. Here are some various links to the story:

PDF of the original Vanity Fair Article



2005-06-01: NPR : Complete Collection of NPR Watergate Links

2005-06-01: NPR : Daniel Schorr on the Nixon Guys Calling Felt a Criminal

2005-05-31: NPR : 'Deep Throat' Revealed as Ex-FBI Official Felt

2005-05-31: NPR: Daniel Schorr on Felt as Deep Throat

2005-06-01: NPR: Washington Post Acknowledges Felt and His Role in Watergate

2004-08-09: NPR: Recalling Nixon's Resignation 30 Years Ago

2001-12-09: NPR: Daniel Schorr Reports Nixon White House Suspected Felt



The Origins of "Deep Throat"

An excerpt from 'All the President's Men,' introducing the source known as "Deep Throat" ...

Woodward had a source in the Executive Branch who had access to information at [the Committee to Reelect the President] as well as at the White House. His identity was unknown to anyone else. He could be contacted only on very important occasions. Woodward had promised he would never identify him or his position to anyone. Further, he had agreed never to quote the man, even as an anonymous source. Their discussions would be only to confirm information that had been obtained elsewhere and to add some perspective.

In newspaper terminology, this meant the discussions were on "deep background." Woodward explained the arrangement to managing editor Howard Simons one day. He had taken to calling the source "my friend," but Simons dubbed him "Deep Throat," the title of a celebrated pornographic movie. The name stuck.

At first Woodward and Deep Throat had talked by telephone, but as the tensions of Watergate increased, Deep Throat's nervousness grew. He didn't want to talk on the telephone, but had said they could meet somewhere on occasion.

Deep Throat didn't want to use the phone even to set up the meetings. He suggested that Woodward open the drapes in his apartment as a signal. Deep Throat could check each day; if the drapes were open, the two would meet that night. But Woodward liked to let the sun in at times, and suggested another signal...

When Woodward had an urgent inquiry to make, he would move [a flower pot with a red flag to the rear of his balcony.] During the day, Deep Throat would check to see if the pot had been moved. If it had, he and Woodward would meet at about 2:00 A.M. in a predesignated underground parking garage...

From 'All the President's Men' by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward (Simon & Schuster)