Deep Truth: The Lives of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein [Hardcover]

Adrian Havill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1993

A dual biography of the two Washington Post reporters who broke the Watergate story reveals how Woodward and Bernstein reached the top of their profession and then suffered the perils of fame and fortune. By the author of The Last Mogul.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Though hardly comprehensive, this dual biography of the famed Watergate case journalists directs potent accusations at their work. Havill ( The Last Mogul: The Unauthorized Biography of Jack Kent Cooke ) got little cooperation from friends of his subjects, yet he has cobbled together credible sketches of the Calvinistic Bob Woodward and the free-wheeling Carl Bernstein. He suggests that Woodward's unusual access to government secrets has roots in contacts from Yale and his work at the Pentagon, speculating that Woodward also had links to the CIA. Attempting to reenact a crucial ritual from All the President's Men , a narrative he considers embellished, Havill declares that Woodward could not signal "Deep Throat" by pulling a flowerpot to the rear of his apartment balcony because the balcony overlooked a courtyard that was virtually inaccessible to a lurker. And such a person most likely would be detected since 80 apartments overlooked the courtyard. He tags The Brethren , the Supreme Court expose by Woodward and Scott Armstrong, as a vendetta by their source, Justice Potter Stewart, against Chief Justice Warren Burger, and argues that in Veil Woodward fabricated his account of his deathbed interview with CIA chief William Casey. Bernstein's disjointed memoir Loyalties , the author suggests, has not redeemed his checkered career. Havill's charges merit response from Woodward and Bernstein. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In his preface, Havill states that he is writing "an honest, balanced book with no ax to grind." While this is not exactly a hatchet job, it does set out to neatly carve the reputations of Woodward and Bernstein into succulent morsels. Havill gives evidence, some of it convincing, that All the President's Men was a fictionalized account of Watergate. Hints that Woodward was a CIA employee; a whole chapter on Janet Cooke, who concocted a false story while Woodward was Metro editor of the Washington Post ; and allegations of Bernstein's womanizing and his lackadaisical work habits combine with accounts of the mostly unsatisfactory childhoods for both men to make this a litany of failure and unhappiness. The author bases his allegations on a number of interviews with coworkers, ex-wives, acquaintances, and friends of the two journalists. While not badly written, the result is a compendium of gossip and trivia suitable only for libraries needing every detail about the men who broke the Watergate story.
- Rebecca Wondriska, Trinity Coll. Lib., Hartford, Ct.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 264 pages
• Publisher: Birch Lane Pr; First Printing edition (June 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559721723
• ISBN-13: 978-1559721721
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,935,626 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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8 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More about Woodward & Bernstein and "Deep Throat"., October 4, 2003

By 

James McDonald (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deep Truth: The Lives of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein (Hardcover)

A very personal book on the lives of the Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein who broke the story of the slush fund and the ultimate resignation of President Richard Nixon. This book contains much more information about Bob Woodward's "secret informer" also known as "Deep Throat" (This has nothing to do with that "adult" film of the same name. They just borrowed the name). Many things were not filmed for All the President's Men (Two-Disc Special Edition) (1976). This book discusses the accuracy of the film, and the follow-up book "The Final Days. Patricia Nixon had a stroke two months after the release of "The Final Days" book and Richard Nixon wanted to sue. Woodward and Bernstein would not reveal their sources for the book, just like they will not reveal who "the secret informer, "Deep Throat" is until after the secret informer dies. The author believes he knows who or what people were "the secret informer" was. If you enjoyed the film, All the President's Men (1976) and the tv-movie, Final Days [VHS] (1989-TV), you will like the juicy information in this book.
They can not really reveal who the "secret informer" is until that person has died. With respect, they must protect their source. Some time after the interment, perhaps, Woodward will announce who the "informer" was.
We don't know how this will be announced, no doubt with high security for Woodward and Bernstein and concern for family survivors. Surely, The Washington Post Newspaper and all news channels will break the announcement.
Bob Woodward is an occasional guest on Larry King Live (CNN) and in 2004, Bob Woodward and carl bernstein appeared on Larry King Live (CNN) and in part discussed that time in 1974. Bernstein even made a joke about putting the flower pot outside again. Carl Bernstein has recently been a frequent guest on MSNBC with his insight about "His Holiness" ( also the name of Carl Bernstein's book).
Is the "secret informer someone who is high-profile: John Dean, Alexander Haig, Henry Kissinger, George McGovern, Gerald Ford, Patrick Buchanan, Robert Dole? Or is it someone who is lesser known or forgotten?
Could it be a woman, perhaps, Presidential Journalist Helen Thomas (Well, now I am being silly guessing)?
What is certain, this important secret is the best kept secret in over 30 years. The wonder will finally be revealed.
Please see the film, ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN (1976) and keep your eyes on The Washington Post and CNN-Cable News Network and the NBC Networks.
Update: February 8, 2005--Donald Segrette reportedly said, it is not a former President and the person is not currently sick.
Update: W. Mark Felt, now the age of 91 and in declining health, is claiming in an article in Vanity Fair Magazine on this day that he was the secret informer, "Deep Throat". He was second-in-command at the FBI in the 1970's.
Later that night after W. Mark Felt appeared before the cameras, Bob Woodward did confirm that W. Mark Felt was the secret informer (the source) that he had secretly met with in the parking garage (played by Hal Halbrook in the film, All The President's Men [1976]).
The Washington Post also confirmed.
The 33-year secret has finally been revealed.

Tom Brokaw shared on NBC's The Today Show, June 1, 2005 that the "first clue" was Bob Woodward mentioned the secret informer as "My Friend" (attention to the initials: M.F.). The Washington Post Managing Editor thought it best to change that to another name "Deep Throat". However, nobody thought of Mark Felt being possibly the "secret informer" until just six years ago in 1999.

Another secret revealed was Bob Woodward has been keeping in touch with W. Mark Felt and had lunch with him in 1999.

Bob Woodward wrote a new book on his meetings with the "secret informer", W. Mark Felt,The Secret Man: The Story of Watergate's Deep Throat, was published July 6, 2005.