Bob Woodward- The Secret Man...Review

Undoubtedly, the most enduring mystery in American political history has been the identity of Deep Throat. Bob Woodward's book is also an inspiring story of investigative journalism intent on discovering and exposing that truth during a tumultuous period in American history.

This text is also about constitutional rights and the necessary right of a journalist to protect their sources. However, Woodward defended the identity of Deep Throat for over thirty years, setting a professional precedent for him personally, gaining the trust of sources in Washington's political arena that otherwise would have remained silent.

For the most part, though, Woodward explores the multifaceted relationship with W. Mark Felt (Deep Throat), the former number two man in the FBI. What was Felt's motivation to lead Woodward and Bernstein in the direction of criminal activities in the highest echelons of government, eventually leading to the disgraced downfall of a president? What did Felt have to gain? Woodward attempts in this highly readable text to examine these motivations and his conscience regarding exposing Deep Throat to the world.

Despite the passing of half a century, the Watergate scandal remains fresh in the minds of many people worldwide. Why? Watergate was a striking example for the ordinary citizen that even those in the highest realms of power could not escape the hands of justice. Yet, it also showed how a free democracy with a free press could question authority, expose power abuses, seek the truth, and serve justice.

(So much has changed).

The resignation of President Nixon in 1974 was instigated, the final death blow, the so-called smoking gun, by the infamous Nixon tapes, when Nixon ordered the CIA to ask the FBI to stop their investigation on false national security grounds. This blew the lid sky high, and the message was clear: the tapes recorded Nixon ordering the cover-up revealing the president and his cronies were lying and their attempt to bury the scandal.

Woodward paints an exciting picture of Deep Throat: a solid FBI man who greatly admired J. Edgar Hoover and was passed over for the number one spot at the agency not once but twice. After Hoover died, Nixon, politicizing the agency, appointed Patrick Gray as number one, and Felt was left doing all the work with none of the perks. Later in the text, it becomes clear that Felt was not acting on a personal vendetta but saw his beloved FBI being tainted with political skulduggery and wanted to do something about it. I believe this was his initial motivation for developing his relationship with Woodward as Deep Throat.

This is an entertaining read, as Woodward can combine journalism with a novelist's flair. The Secret Man fills that gap in American history, which has remained a mystery for over fifty years.