I recently came across this book about the Watergate scandal which culminated in the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) on August 9, 1974. The break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex on June 17, 1972, and its fallout have been discussed and studied extensively, but this book caught my attention because it is authored by the reporters who played a significant role in uncovering the deeds of the Nixon White House. This is the account of journalists and authors Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward about the Watergate scandal and the search for the truth.

Readers may be aware that there is a film of the same name starring the late Robert Redford (1936-2025) as Woodward and Dustin Hoffman as Berstein. The movie is highly rated, and the stars do what they do best. But reading the words of the men who broke the story provides a unique experience and this book kept me glued to it from start to finish. Prior to reading the book I did have a fair amount of knowledge of the Watergate affair, and its aftermath. But I was still curious to see what the authors had to say. The unlikely pair left no stone unturned as they revealed what the public did not know about covert operations authorized by the president and his cabinet.

Prior knowledge of Watergate is not required to understand what is taking place in the book. In fact, the reporters are thorough in explaining how and why things happened as they did. After an interesting foreword, we jump into the mix in which the break-in becomes the focus of attention. Initially, the story does not gain much attention, but as the reporters begin to dig, they soon learn surprising details about the burglars caught by the police. Their names alone begin to set off alarm bells in Washington, and it is not long before Bernstein and Woodward find themselves in on the Government’s radar due to their inquisitive motions. However, both are committed to journalism, and under the guidance of their chief Ben Bradlee (1921-2014), they explore leads and soon realize that the break-in is not your run of the mill event. The acronym CREEP (Committee for the Re-Election of the President) soon became well-known and the “plumbers” used by the administration come into sharp focus. And one by one, the power players within Nixon’s cabinet are examined as Bernstein and Woodward uncover their roles within the White House.

From the start, I was pulled into the story, and the suspense never lets up. As the story progresses, the network of critical operatives expands, and the Washington Post is all over it, even in the face of attacks on the press. But the sharpest turns in the book are the cash or “slush” fund for the nefarious operation and the secret recording system Nixon activated himself which captured disturbing conversations and removes doubt as to how much he knew and was directly involved. Of course, what is included here are snippets from much longer running recordings, but they are enough to send chills down your spine as Nixon’s paranoia is on full display. The recordings also reveal other unsettling aspects of his persona which were difficult to accept. I can only imagine the shock felt by the authors as they pieced together the full story.

Watergate is the focus of the book and rightfully so, but a sub-story is the arduous work performed by journalists, and that should not be lost to readers. The duo goes above and beyond and takes risks that are both surprising and humorous. Through them, we meet an interesting cast of characters with knowledge of Washington’s secrets. They range from a housewife to an insider who became famously known as “Deep Throat”. It’s a classic mystery dissected by Woodward and Bernstein as weave together the fabric of the group of all the president’s men. Readers interested in journalism will find this aspect of the book invaluable. It is hard-nosed reporting with the goal of telling the full story. There are no social media platforms, artificial intelligence, or streaming platforms. This is old school journalism by two of the best to have ever done it. There are twists and turns in the book, and the account of the authors is a valuable inside look into the Washington Post and the challenges they faced while covering a scandal which changed American history.

If you are curious about Watergate and how it applies to modern-day politics, this is must read. And if you like this book, I also recommend Fred Emery’s ‘Watergate: The Corruption of American Politics and the Fall of Richard Nixon‘ which is a particularly good analysis of the scandal.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000SEOIDS
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster, ‎ November 1, 2007