468. "Woodstein" - backstory to the two young journos who uncovered the Watergate scandal, which led to Nixon resigning his presidency.

It looked like an amateur burglary at first. Until Woodward & Bernstein delved deeper and discovered the true level of corruption in the Nixon administration. There's always more to know . . .

Bob Woodward (1943- ) and Carl Bernstein (1944- ) were as different as two people can be.

Woodward was the son of a lawyer/judge. He studied English and History at Yale, graduating BA. The ROTC scholarship he enjoyed required 4 years of service in US Navy where he worked in communications. He became a linkman between the Pentagon and the White House. So he got to know many top people.

After his naval duty ended Woodward applied to join Washington Post, but he was declined. However they saw his potential and placed him at the weekly Montgomery County Sentinel to get news gathering experience.

Carl Bernstein (1944- ) has a Jewish heritage. He is stocky at 5’8” / 1.7m. He claims no prowess at school, except for writing stories. That skill became his career.

“I was a terrible student and finally I was suspended at age 16.” Bernstein became a surly youth supporting left-leaning causes and civil rights protests. But he persevered at finding work in the newspaper industry. Initially he became a copyboy/gofer at Washington Evening Star. He was a quick learner and soon moved to the Elizabeth Daily Journal in NJ as a junior reporter.

Bernstein’s skill as a robust investigative journalist was noticed at WP, so his next job application was accepted. At age 22 he was assigned the night desk where mostly nothing interesting happened.

But on the night of 17 June 1972 something did happen!

His work buddy that night and next day was Bob Woodward. They decided to delve deeper into the case of the five men apprehended for breaking into the offices of the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate building.

The journos figured photographing files and putting wiretaps on DNC phones was not a simple burglary.

The other newspapers dismissed the Watergate incident as a simple burglary. But Woodward’s detailed knowledge of the people in Washington politics suggested otherwise. He noted that one of the apprehended men was a former CIA employee now associated with the ReElect Nixon Campaign. That was a key link.

Woodward sensed a bigger, more sinister, implication than burglary

Woodward and Bernstein were authorised by WP editor Ben Bradlee to follow wherever the Watergate story led them. For two years they delved into the backgrounds of the five burglars and - with the secretive help of FBI insider ‘Deep Throat’ (Mark Felt) - they found incriminating links to many senior administrators in Nixon’s cabinet.

The eventual outcome of Watergate was when President Nixon resigned.

Woodward and Bernstein wrote a blockbuster book ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN. A film followed. Then various other participants wrote books. The Watergate incident has become a money-spinner for lots of people.

Woodward and Bernstein are higly paid celebrities who frequently appear on stage, podcasts, talk shows etc. They have each written several books.

Report #468. My other reports are here >

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