by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright June 3, 2005
All Rights Reserved.

nlocking one of Washington's most intriguing puzzles, former No 2 man at the FBI 91-year-old W. Mark Felt outed himself as “Deep Throat,” the clandestine news source of Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein that brought down former President Richard M. Nixon. Nixon's “paranoia” was confirmed revealing his undoing from a government source—no less the FBI. While some Watergate buffs now say, “I told you so,” most were blown away. Over the years, Felt denied any involvement, giving him, a G-man, plausible deniability. Woodward and Bernstein didn't help matters, cleverly disguising “Deep Throat” as a chronic smoker in their 1974 bestseller “All The President's Men.” Headlines missed the real story about (a) Felt's ethical dilemma and (b) the origins of Washington's bitter partisan divide: the bloody fight to save Nixon.

      Felt's revelation was curiously timed with Bob Woodward's new book, detailing his relationship with “Deep Throat.” Woodward and Bernstein's sleuth-like reporting won them the Pulitzer Prize in 1973, spurring the field of investigative journalism. Two undaunted reporters braved recriminations—even death threats—to safeguard the First Amendment and indeed the country. While Woodward and Bernstein fulfilled their duty, Felt faced a dilemma, serving the FBI in his official capacity. “There wasn't a shred of evidence,” was the frequent refrain from partisans defending Nixon, despite overwhelming evidence fingering the White House in the burglary and cover-up of the Democratic National Headquarters at the Watergate Hotel. Former Nixon speechwriter and presidential candidate Patrick J. Buchanan called Felt a “snake” and a “snitch” for blowing the whistle.

      According to Nixon's co-conspirators, including such household names as G. Gordon Liddy, Charles “Chuck” Colson, Alexander Haig and, of course, Pat Buchanan, Felt was a traitor, betraying their employer, Nixon. If there were any enduring lessons from Nuremberg where Nazis were held accountable for wartime atrocities, “following orders” was not an acceptable excuse. Heinrich Himmler, Joseph Goebbels and Hermann Goering were Hitler's diehards, displaying loyalty to the bitter end. While Nixon's crimes were inconsequential in comparison to the Third Reich, “all the president's men” showed blinding loyalty at the expense of ethics and the U.S. Constitution. Chicago Sun-Times columnist Bob Novak disparaged Felt's disclosures to Woodward, saying he did so out of spite, when Nixon picked L. Patrick Gray to head the FBI after J. Edgar Hoover's death May 2, 1972.

      Former Nixon chief counsel Charles Colson, one of Watergate's co-conspirators who served seven months in federal prison, repented, becoming an ordained minister and founding Prison Fellowship Ministries. When he heard about Felt's admission, he tipped his hand. “Mark first served this country with honor, and I can't imagine how Mark Felt was sneaking in dark alleys leavings messages under flower pots and violating his oath to keep this nation's secrets,” said Colson, agreeing with Buchanan that duty and loyalty trump the Constitution and rule of law. In Buchanan and Colson's world, obedience to authority supersedes all ethics and responsibility. Felt had to rise above his institutional oath for the good of the country. Nearly 31 year after Nixon's resignation Aug. 9, 1974, it's clear that disgruntled Nixon supporters still don't get Watergate's lessons.

      Had Watergate occurred today with strong Republican majorities in both house of Congress, it's doubtful Nixon would have been forced out. Nixon loyalists still believe he was a victim of a Democratic witch-hunt—a type of left wing conspiracy. Many Republicans believe Bill Clinton committed far worse crimes, fooling around with Monica Lewinsky and lying about it in a grand jury. “The family believes my grandfather W. Mark Felt Sr. is a great American hero who went well above and beyond the call of duty at much risk to himself to save his country from a horrible injustice,” said Nick Jones, Felt's grandson, taking exception to Nixon apologists focused on trashing his grandfather. “If he were interested in performing his duty, he would have gone to the grand jury with his information,” said convicted Watergate burglar G. Gordon Liddy, taking one last parting shot.

      Ex-Nixon White House staffers still don't get the lessons of Watergate, namely, that they swore allegiance to the Constitution not Richard M. Nixon. Whether Felt's family went public for money or to rewrite history is anyone's guess. One thing's for sure: His recent admission opened up festering old wounds, contributing in no small part to Washington's bitter partisan divide. Watergate was one of the most disgraceful chapters in American history, where paranoia and blinding loyalty trashed the Constitution and rule of law. Felt's clandestine disclosures to Woodward and Bernstein can only be interpreted as true “statesmanship,” sadly missing in today's rancorous partisan atmosphere. It's even more shameful to realize that rabid partisans haven't learned the lessons of Nuremberg: That following orders is no excuse for abandoning ethics and engaging in criminal behavior.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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