Deep Throat-the Watergate one!

ejr · Post by **ejr** » June 1, 2005 12:34 am

I know it is probably largely a generation thing and many of you here are too young to have been following this story when it originally developed in '72, but the news today revealing the identity of Deep Throat was a huge news story in my world---I followed the whole Watergate story as it unfolded and have always wondered when we would find out this person's identity.

For a secret like this to have remained a secret, in Washington DC for over 30 years is amazing to me, and I am fascinated to listen to much of the conversation as we now can look back with this new insight.

Anyone else following this story?

parrothead338 · Post by **parrothead338** » June 1, 2005 12:38 am

I think this is an amazing story. I remember studying this in my high school history classes. It is really like seeing history and one of America's greatest mysteries unfold in front of us. Really neat.

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » June 1, 2005 12:55 am

what caused him to come out now??

ejr · Post by **ejr** » June 1, 2005 1:06 am

From what I have heard, he is now 91 and in failing health. His family encouraged him to do so now so it would be on their terms (as opposed to Woodward and Bernsteins), so they could do more to control the story, and so that, perhaps, he could be recognized and acknowledged for what he did (many of us feel a great deal of thanks is owed to this individual while others do still think he is anything but heroic).

In any event, I am delighted to finally know who it was, and to be able to listen to all the commentary on it.

DonnaKayDunbar · Post by **DonnaKayDunbar** » June 1, 2005 1:15 am

It cracked me up today at work when someone I knew was gay, but who confirmed it just recently, said "Guess who outed himself?! Deep Throat!"

I nearly p*** my grass skirt.

Wino you know · Post by **Wino you know** » June 1, 2005 1:35 am

The entire news media have been having orgasms all day over this "hero" "coming out."

DonnaKayDunbar · Post by **DonnaKayDunbar** » June 1, 2005 1:42 am

Wino you know wrote:The entire news media have been having orgasms all day over this "hero" "coming out."

admittedly, I don't care either way...

But its water cooler chat... and I've gotta be in on the office politics... because you don't know what these people will say about you if you aren't... friggin backstabbers!

Wino you know · Post by **Wino you know** » June 1, 2005 1:48 am

DonnaKayDunbar wrote:
Wino you know wrote:The entire news media have been having orgasms all day over this "hero" "coming out."
admittedly, I don't care either way...

But its water cooler chat... and I've gotta be in on the office politics... because you don't know what these people will say about you if you aren't... friggin backstabbers!

I did care at one time, but that was 30-plus years ago.
Hopefully these people's next big story won't be "HARRY TRUMAN DIES OF HEART FAILURE."

But you're definately right about the office politics thing. I do tend to listen to what's being said, because you just never know what they'll talk about. Not that I care, but if they're saying NICE things about me, it means I'm not trying hard enough.

DonnaKayDunbar · Post by **DonnaKayDunbar** » June 1, 2005 1:51 am

Wino you know wrote:
DonnaKayDunbar wrote:
Wino you know wrote:The entire news media have been having orgasms all day over this "hero" "coming out."
admittedly, I don't care either way...

But its water cooler chat... and I've gotta be in on the office politics... because you don't know what these people will say about you if you aren't... friggin backstabbers!
I did care at one time, but that was 30-plus years ago.
Hopefully these people's next big story won't be "HARRY TRUMAN DIES OF HEART FAILURE."

But you're definately right about the office politics thing. I do tend to listen to what's being said, because you just never know what they'll talk about. Not that I care, but if they're saying NICE things about me, it means I'm not trying hard enough.

I might just be paranoid... but after there was a rumor that I was.... "with child"... all bets were off... these f**** can't be trusted at all... with anything...

Wino you know · Post by **Wino you know** » June 1, 2005 2:08 am

AHH, YES!

My FAVORITE kind of people!

The gossipers supreme REIGN supreme!

You see them EVERYWHERE. These people's lives (the ones that HAVE lives) are SO dull and empty, their only source of recreation is to make everybody else's business THEIR business. And they INSIST on making it their business, instead of trying to get their OWN G.D. life in order, they try to drag you and whoever else down the tubes with them.
They're very rampant at my job too, believe me.
My step-daughter (who was 27 at the time) was up here for a visit not too long ago, and was with me one day when I had to stop by my office to pick up some paperwork. I didn't introduce her to anybody there, because in addition to not having anytime for socializing with those dolts that day, I just felt they didn't have the need to know WHO she was. We were in and out of there in about five minutes.
When I went back to work a few days later, I'd found out those a-holes did everything but call the NEW YORK F'ING TIMES!

captainjoe · Post by **captainjoe** » June 1, 2005 3:31 am

How did he get the name "Deep Throat"? Did he have to prove "it" first in order to get the name?????

Sidew13 · Post by **Sidew13** » June 1, 2005 5:14 am

captainjoe wrote:How did he get the name "Deep Throat"? Did he have to prove "it" first in order to get the name?????

I've often wondered that too.

HockeyParrotHead · Post by **HockeyParrotHead** » June 1, 2005 7:05 am

Just watch (if you can stand it) the onslaught of reporters "interviewing" eachother over this. The worst kind of "journalism."

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » June 1, 2005 7:40 am

ejr wrote:Anyone else following this story?

I was in 8th grade when the story broke. I recall CIVICS class... we followed the whole story...literally! Each student was a "character" and we read the transcripts (posted in the newspaper) from the previous day's hearing EVERY day for weeks! I was John Erlichman!

Island_Dog · Post by **Island_Dog** » June 1, 2005 8:04 am

So many jokes, so little time ....

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/06/01/ ... topstories

"Thanks for coming," he told reporters.

"He's grinning from ear to ear," Joan Felt said. "I think it's a great moment in American history; it's a great moment for our family."

Woodward and Bernstein used Deep Throat largely to confirm information or fill gaps

All the President's Men

riveted the nation

er father first denied he was Deep Throat and then conFIRMed it,

LIPH · Post by **LIPH** » June 1, 2005 8:22 am

ejr wrote:From what I have heard, he is now 91 and in failing health. His family encouraged him to do so now so it would be on their terms (as opposed to Woodward and Bernsteins)

Woodward and Bernstein have always said they had an agreement with Deep Throat not to reveal his identity until after he died. Since they kept the secret for 31 years I don't think the family was concerned about whose terms the announcement would be on.

captainjoe wrote:How did he get the name "Deep Throat"? Did he have to prove "it" first in order to get the name?????

From what I've heard, when journalists use an anonymous source they sometimes use the term "deep cover". The movie Deep Throat was produced around the time this story broke so someone at the Washington Post decided to use Deep Throat as the source's name.

ejr · Post by **ejr** » June 1, 2005 10:06 am

LIPH wrote:
ejr wrote:From what I have heard, he is now 91 and in failing health. His family encouraged him to do so now so it would be on their terms (as opposed to Woodward and Bernsteins)
Woodward and Bernstein have always said they had an agreement with Deep Throat not to reveal his identity until after he died. Since they kept the secret for 31 years I don't think the family was concerned about whose terms the announcement would be on.

captainjoe wrote:How did he get the name "Deep Throat"? Did he have to prove "it" first in order to get the name?????
From what I've heard, when journalists use an anonymous source they sometimes use the term "deep cover". The movie Deep Throat was produced around the time this story broke so someone at the Washington Post decided to use Deep Throat as the source's name.

money may be part of the reason why the family wanted this done on their terms-so they might benefit some from it. clearly you are right they were not worried about confidences being broken; in fact all reports are that Woodard and Bernstein were totally taken by surprise.
Tom Brokaw also said that Woodward apparently would refer to his source as "my friend, using the sources initials, and that got changed to Deep Throat.

I continue to find this story fascinating, and while some may question his motives, if you were around at the time and truly followed the story, you have to recognize the role this person played in changing the presidency.

bravedave · Post by **bravedave** » June 1, 2005 10:16 am

It is reassuring to find out that some secrets can stay secret, even in Washington. (But this would not be the only example.)

What worries me more is the question of who is holding the secrets and why.

What other Washington secrets would you like to see revealed?
(Deep Throat was one of my all time favoritres.)

sonofabeach · Post by **sonofabeach** » June 1, 2005 11:18 am

Heck I was just a squirt back then so I file it in my "who cares" catagory, which is rather large btw.
However, if ya wanna talk about Linda Lovelace, I'm game

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » June 1, 2005 11:30 am

bravedave wrote:
What other Washington secrets would you like to see revealed?
(Deep Throat was one of my all time favoritres.)

All the files on the Kennedy assassination.

BuffettNews.com

Deep Throat-the Watergate one!

Deep Throat-the Watergate one!

Re: Deep Throat-the Watergate one!