Customer Reviews

A G-Man's Life: The FBI, Being 'Deep Throat,' And the Struggle for Honor in Washington

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I've been a student of Watergate for years. Maybe in part because I was born in October 1973, and I enjoy asking people who was Vice President the day I was born (answer: no-one). Maybe also in part because ten years ago I picked up "The Haldeman Diaries" off the remainder rack at Barnes & Noble, and then started collecting all the Watergate autobiographies still in print (yes, that includes your own, Jeb Stuart Magruder).

I never really had an intelligent guess as to who Deep Throat actually was. When Mark Felt's name was released by his family last year, I finally understood why -- he's only a tangential part of the books I read, not mentioned by name in the Woodward/Bernstein books, not mentioned even in "The Haldeman Diaries" or the Oliver Stone "Nixon" movie, both of which fixated on J. Edgar Hoover and Clyde Tolson, Felt's immediate FBI superiors.

When I purchased "A G-Man's Life", I thought I'd bought my last Watergate book. I was wrong. This book necessarily leaves lots of questions unanswered, primarily because Felt is now essentially senile and then, according to my reading of co-author John O'Connor's portions of the back, he took no active role in the writing. "G-Man" is drawn mostly from Felt's long-forgotten FBI memoir, and supplemented by unpublished writings and interviews with family members (who learned Felt's secret only at the same time as did family friend O'Connor).

Oddly, even the unpublished writings do not acknowledge that Felt was Deep Throat (hence the odd parsing of his phrase last year, "I'm the guy they used to call Deep Throat"). O'Connor does explain this gap in two different ways: first, he points out where Felt didn't identify with the Deep Throat character portrayed in the movie; and second, he prints his speculation that Woodward's Deep Throat was a composite of which Felt was only a part. That speculation, however, is not echoed in Woodward's own "Secret Man", a book about Felt written before the public announcement.

Felt's own writing, about his rise through the FBI ranks, well reflects the fatigue of hard work with the rewards of a job well done. This is a more than adequate crime memoir, with lots of decent anecdotes along the way. The FBI is not publicly regarded the way it used to be, so "A G-Man's Life" is not only an effective period piece, but a reminder of what good a governmental organization can achieve when motivated solely by the public interest.

The toll that Felt's career took on his own family is mentioned not at all in the memoir chapters-- that is left to O'Connor to describe in the epilogue. O'Connor, whose daughter went to college with Felt's grandson, has become a family friend and is thus in the best position to write objectively about these struggles. Where Felt's own writing also seems naive in retrospect is his celebration of Hoover the man -- there are tens of thousands of pages of well-documented books offering contrary evidence -- and also in his take on the New Left, the obsession that ultimately brought down his FBI career. Whether the New Left was a Communist-infiltrated organization that actively conspired with foreign governments to overthrow the United States is not a question answered by Felt, although he does try.

The aftermath of Felt's authorization of "black bag jobs" against the Weather Underground resulted in his conviction in federal court -- after a trial in which Richard Nixon testified in his favor. Felt's principled refusal to come forward as Deep Throat in the midst of his trial postponed his receiving the accolades he so richly deserved. The question remains... was Felt's three decades of secrecy worth the wait?

I give this book a high grade but with a caveat. And the caveat is that this is not relly a book on Watergate. It is a book on 'A G-Man's Life.'

This book really has several parts, any of which would make a book on their own. ==First is the introduction by John O'Connor. This covers Mr. Felt's role in Watergate, the relationship with Woodward, and particularily the decision to become public.

Second is a history of being in the FBI. Mr. Felt entered the FBI in January 1942, just in time for the counter spy efforts of World War II. He went on to spend thirty years as an agent.

Then there is the story of the witch hunts that the Government was going through as part of Watergate and it's aftermath. During this time he was tried and found guilty of making 'black bag jobs.' He had made them, but was doing so in what he felt was the best interest of the country's fight against terrorism. He was pardoned by the President.

All in all, a most interesting book that presents a slightly different view than that of Woodward's 'The Secret Man.'

I have given a three as it seems that the book we all clamour for is like "Deep Throat" himself was.
A secret hidden away brilliantly.
The same will apply to the book as Felt ages and unfortunately already is a man who is quite sick,with poor memory etc.
I believe that the family should come first and that the realisation that Mark Felt cannot tell the story as many would like it should also be respected,
As for one comment about this being the "last of the Watergate books then".
Nothing could be further from the truth,the American public and their unquenchable thirst for scandal and hearing scandal at such a level is something that will always grow no matter how strange and wild the premise of future books where there is literary gold you have to mine it until it collapses in on itself and then pick through the rubble again.
Ian.

John O'Connor writes a clear and compelling story about a man who spent his life being Hoover's ideal G-Man, smart, hard-working and above all loyal; a public servant dedicated to getting the bad-guys who threatened America's citizens, values and democracy. He fought the Mafia, the Ku Klux Klan, and the Weathermen. He also fought Nixon's attempts to make the FBI the President's enforcer by exposing Nixon's efforts to quash the Watergate investigation. His tireless dedication alienated him from his family and ultimately led to his being disgraced by a politicized Justice Department bent on revenge. It is important to understand the potential consequences of an FBI headed by a political appointee assigned to do the President's bidding. Ann S.

This book was very interesting and informative about "A G-Man's Life" -however it did not cover the topic of Deep Throat. I purchased it specifically because I was interested in Mark Felt's role in Watergate. The book was almost solely from his memoirs published before he outed himself. I almost skipped ahead to read the chapter on Watergate but I'm so glad I didn't - I would have been deeply disappointed! The only mention of Deep Throat was written by John O'Conner. I did get into the book and enjoyed it. I would recommend it, just don't expect to learn anything "on being Deep Throat."

Mark Felt dedicated this book to the stalwart Special Agents of the modern FBI who served their country. "When permitted to do their jobs" they evenly enforced the laws against criminals and terrorists. John O'Connor dedicated his work to his father, a former FBI Agent. His 'Introduction' tells how "Nixon's men had subverted the democratic electoral process and obstructed the criminal justice system" (p.ix). Government agencies were manipulated to punish political enemies and harass opponents. Bob Woodward used a source to point him in the right direction to expose the crime and corruption behind the burglary at Watergate. This book explains why Mark Felt acted as a confidential source: to guard the FBI's integrity (p.xiii). Ironically, Mark Felt himself was convicted for illegal break-ins (p.xiv)! Felt helped to stop the "Huston plan" for massive surveillance of the public (pp.xvii-xviii). When Patrick L. Gray was appointed head of the FBI, Felt stayed on to actually run the FBI (p.xviii). Felt leaked information to Bob Woodward for his story on the Wallace shooting that portrayed Bremer as a "lone gunman". Felt later took responsibility for warrant-less break-ins against terrorists.

Felt graduated from George Washington University Law School after graduating from the University of Idaho. He worked in the office for the Senator from Idaho. His law degree allowed him to join the FBI. Page xxxix repeats Felt's careful language in denying being a source to Woodward and Bernstein; close reading suggests this denial confirms the suspicions. The 'Contents' provides a guide to Felt's rising career in the FBI. Good luck favors the well-prepared.

Chapter 1 tells of his first private meeting with J. Edgar Hoover in the spring of 1954. Felt suggested that low-level employees could be investigated by the Civil Service Commission. Felt believes this started his rise in the FBI hierarchy (p.3). Felt was skilled in writing memoranda with a short abstract (pp.4-5). Hoover effected close control over the FBI from the apex of the pyramid; this prevented slacking-off (p.6). The weight charts did not allow for aging. [Did they ever have any scientific basis?] A report on wartime plant protection brought Felt his first commendation (p.14). Chapter 3 tells how Felt was able to catch an overlooked Nazi spy (p.18). [It seems that parts of this book were taken from Felt's earlier book.] The remaining chapters tell of his career at the FBI. The chapter on "Watergate" is the most important (p.226).

The 'Epilogue' explains how movies and radio were used to glorify the "G-Men" (p.284). FBI agents and their offices were interchangeable - the hardship was on their families (p.286). Felt's job in the Inspection Division limited his closeness to other agents, and allowed him to mete out punishment that was severe but not unjust (p.288). His long hours took a toll on his family (pp.289-291). Felt's long life took a toll on him, but he is at peace. The Supreme Court now permits warrant-less searches in national security cases, and so does the "Patriot Act". Does this justify Felt's actions, or Nixon's (p.276)?

John O'Connor mentions that the "antipsychotic drugs" administered at Mark's "care facility" adversely affected Mark's health (p.301). This common scandal awaits investigative journalists around the country.

Mark Felt group up in Idaho, worked in Washington D.C. as an aide to his state's Senator while attending law school at night. Felt's first job was at the FTC, but he disliked the assignments and soon joined the FBI, where he began by checking references on those applying for federal jobs. Over the next 33 years he moved 17 times - something he didn't enjoy.

Felt soon moved to reviewing files and interviewing possible German spies; after WWII he moved to Seattle and repeated the process with potential Russian spies. Then back to D.C. (monitoring field office performance), New Orleans (tracking and apprehending fugitives), etc. Eventually it was back to D.C. as Chief Inspector.

Felt recalls conflict with Robert Kennedy, who with JFK wanted personal direction of certain investigations and to use the FBI on political enemies. Hoover resisted. Two top MLK aides had their phones tapped because they were alleged communists (JFK did not want his administration bogged down because of its support for MLK). King promised to drop one of the advisors, but instead continued, using deception. Robert Kennedy then authorized wiretaps of MLK's nome and office, in writing (per Hoover's request - he understood the political ramifications). MLK's hotel rooms were also monitored, uncovering sex affairs. MLK's unwarranted charges against the FBI led to a feud with Hoover who was also upset over the "wild sex" goings on.

Nixon's presidency brought far more problems, beginning with secret tapings per Kissinger, requests to find leakers and to investigate Daniel Schorr. Then came Watergate and Hoover's death.

Felt hoped to be appointed Director, but Patrick Gray (considered loyal to Nixon) was brought in instead, temporarily. Felt found out that Gray was informing the White House about the Watergate investigation and trying to limit its scope, but he pressed on anyway. "Life of a G-Man" asserts that Felt went to the Post reporters to prevent the investigation from being totally derailed.

Gray's permanent appointment as Director fell through when it became obvious that his constant absences and bias towards the White House were out of line. Felt again hoped to become Director, but was denied again - William Ruckelshaus was brought in from the EPA, and Felt retired.

Unfortunately, that was not the end of Felt's "FBI experience." After nearly 33 years of repeated moves, 6-7 day weeks and 12+ hour days, Carter's Attorney General Bell prosecuted Felt for having authorized five "black bag jobs" (break-ins) involving the Weathermen group. Felt was convicted and fined $5,000; then pardoned months after President Reagan came into office.

"A G-Man's Life" is a bit hard to interpret since Felt is now 90+ years old, with little memory of the events involved. His co-author reportedly pieced the book together from Felt's earlier writings and personal papers, as well as interviews with friends.

Bottom-Line: Felt was a great American public servant, though "A G-Man's Life" is less than earth-shattering.

"A G-Man's Life" is a true slice of history, superbly written and most compelling. Mark Felt's voice rings true through the efforts of co-author John O'Conner, a gifted wordsmith who doubles as one of the nation's most prominent attorneys. In effect, the book is monumental in stature for the text finally enlightens us with a first-hand account of not only Watergate mess but the sordid political atmosphere present in our nation's capital during the early 1970s. But it is the words of Mark Felt, "Deep Throat," that captive the reader for he is, as O'Conner writes in the Introduction, "a balanced man, one who does not try to collapse the tension inherent in a free society by viscerally moving left or right on any issue." That is the blessing of this book, and it is a tribute to O'Conner that he was able to secure the trust of Felt to tell his wondrous and fascinating story.

This medium-length biography of Mark Felt provides the reader with a good insight into the FBI during that institution's heyday from the late 1930's to the late 1970's; basically during the reign of J. Edgar Hoover. As told from the POV of career G-man Mark Felt, the book shows how this organization functioned, how it interacted with the outside world, and how it interacted with its dual masters; Congress and the White House. The latter third of the book focuses on Watergate and the ensuing bad publicity and criminal trials that engulfed many members of the FBI, including the book's subject.

The book itself is well written, with many attributes that make it worth reading. First, it offers straight-forward, yet objective comments about the FBI's relationship with key individuals such as MLK Jr., Nixon, RFK and JFK, and occasionally the CIA. Second, it is very upfront about some of the less-savory aspects of the FBI's history. This includes its initial and stubborn rejection of employing women as agents, and the fact that Mark Felt, along with many in the FBI's ranks considered the 4th amendment as pertaining only to the investigations of a specific crime, and not as a prohibition on unwarranted search/seizure as a form of intelligence gathering.

In my opinion, the 2nd best part of the book is its portrayal of the life of an FBI agent, and all the duress they went through. As a long-time fan of X-files, I always thought Fox Mulder was not the normal FBI agent; always working, even on weekends and holidays. I guess this work-life "balance" has been typical of the FBI for decades.

This leads me to the best part of this book, and that is its total silence on the assasinations of JFK, RFK and MLK Junior. For a book that devotes so much verbage to smaller topics such as the chasing of a Japanese spy in WW2, or the inspection routines by upper management of field offices, the book's silence on these 3 events, probably the 3 most important criminal events of the 1960's, indicates FBI complicity in each of them.

In 2005 after nearly 33 years of secrecy, William Mark Felt, retired associate director of the FBI, revealed his true identity as Deep Throat, the secret source behind the Watergate case's public exposure - and in A G-Man's Life, Felt tells his own story of how the Watergate case grew to create personal challenges, isolation, and the dilemma of whether his duty as an FBI official superseded his duty to expose the truth. Both college-level collections strong in social and political American history and general-interest libraries strong in true crime and autobiography will find this an absorbing discussion.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch