Havill, Adrian. Deep Truth: The Lives of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.
New York: Birch Lane Press, 1993. 264 pages.
If "All the President's Men" in book or movie version is all you know
about Watergate, be advised that several of the scenes in the book couldn't
have happened as reported, and the screenplay takes additional liberties.
In the end, Bob, Carl, Robert and Dustin take us all for a ride. Undoubtedly
something important was happening with Watergate. But the popular version,
in which Bradlee paternally supports "Woodstein" investigative shoe-leather
and causes the collapse of mega-corruption, is merely what the Washington
Post wants you to believe. And if you liked the Hearst empire but prefer
yellow journalism that's not so transparent, then you'll love the Post.
Havill believes that Deep Throat was a composite of various sources,
including some (like Alexander Haig) whom Woodward knew from earlier days
when he was "probably" working for the CIA. His entire career demonstrates
amazing access to intelligence sources. William Casey gave him several
interviews, but the famous one at the end of Woodward's "Veil" just didn't
happen, judging from the evidence. Woodward keeps churning out dubious
best-sellers that are saved only by his amazing Old-Boy-Ivy-League access
to spooky insiders. Today he's worth $8 million and his readers are starved
for facts untainted by their legitimate suspicions of a hidden agenda.
ISBN 1-55972-172-3
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