All the President's Men
Encyclopedia
All the President's Men is a 1974 non-fiction
book by Carl Bernstein
and Bob Woodward
, two of the journalists investigating the first Watergate break-in and ensuing scandal
for The Washington Post
. The book chronicles the investigative reporting of Woodward and Bernstein from Woodward's initial report on the Watergate break-in through the resignations of H. R. Haldeman
and John Ehrlichman
, and the revelation of the Nixon tapes
by Alexander Butterfield
in 1973. It relates the events behind the major stories the duo wrote for the Post, naming some sources who had previously refused to be identified for their initial articles, notably Hugh Sloan. It also gives detailed accounts of Woodward's secret meetings with his source Deep Throat
whose identity was kept hidden for over 30 years. Gene Roberts
, the former executive editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer
and former managing editor of The New York Times
, has called the work of Woodward and Bernstein "maybe the single greatest reporting effort of all time."
A film adaptation
, produced by Robert Redford
and starring Redford and Dustin Hoffman
as Woodward and Bernstein, respectively, was released in 1976. That same year, a sequel to the book, The Final Days
, was published, which chronicled the last months of Nixon's Presidency, starting around the time that their previous book ended.
contacted them and expressed interest in purchasing the film rights. In Telling the Truth About Lies: The Making of "All the President's Men", Woodward noted that Redford played an important role in changing the book's narrative from a story about the Watergate events to one about their investigations and their reportage of the story.
The name of the book alludes to the nursery rhyme
about Humpty Dumpty
("All the king's horses and all the king's men / Couldn't put Humpty together again"), an allusion similar to that made more explicitly a quarter-century earlier in the Robert Penn Warren
novel All the King's Men
, which describes the career of a fictional governor loosely based on Huey Long
.
or in his re-election committee
, where applicable)
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
book by Carl Bernstein
Carl Bernstein
Carl Bernstein is an American investigative journalist who, at The Washington Post, teamed up with Bob Woodward; the two did the majority of the most important news reporting on the Watergate scandal. These scandals led to numerous government investigations, the indictment of a vast number of...
and Bob Woodward
Bob Woodward
Robert Upshur Woodward is an American investigative journalist and non-fiction author. He has worked for The Washington Post since 1971 as a reporter, and is currently an associate editor of the Post....
, two of the journalists investigating the first Watergate break-in and ensuing scandal
Watergate scandal
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement...
for The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
. The book chronicles the investigative reporting of Woodward and Bernstein from Woodward's initial report on the Watergate break-in through the resignations of H. R. Haldeman
H. R. Haldeman
Harry Robbins "Bob" Haldeman was an American political aide and businessman, best known for his service as White House Chief of Staff to President Richard Nixon and for his role in events leading to the Watergate burglaries and the Watergate scandal – for which he was found guilty of conspiracy...
and John Ehrlichman
John Ehrlichman
John Daniel Ehrlichman was counsel and Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs under President Richard Nixon. He was a key figure in events leading to the Watergate first break-in and the ensuing Watergate scandal, for which he was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury...
, and the revelation of the Nixon tapes
Watergate tapes
The Watergate tapes, a subset of the Nixon tapes, are a collection of recordings of conversations between Richard Nixon and his fellow conspirators plotting a break in to the Watergate Hotel. U.S. President Richard Nixon and various White House staff started communicating on February 1971 and...
by Alexander Butterfield
Alexander Butterfield
Alexander Porter Butterfield is a retired U.S. military officer, public servant, and businessman. He served as the deputy assistant to President Richard Nixon from 1969 until 1973. He was a key figure in the Watergate scandal, but was not personally involved in any wrongdoing, and was not...
in 1973. It relates the events behind the major stories the duo wrote for the Post, naming some sources who had previously refused to be identified for their initial articles, notably Hugh Sloan. It also gives detailed accounts of Woodward's secret meetings with his source Deep Throat
Deep Throat
Deep Throat is the pseudonym given to the secret informant who provided information to Bob Woodward of The Washington Post in 1972 about the involvement of United States President Richard Nixon's administration in what came to be known as the Watergate scandal...
whose identity was kept hidden for over 30 years. Gene Roberts
Gene Roberts
Gene Roberts may refer to:* Gene Roberts , American editor and professor of journalism* Gene Roberts , former NFL running back...
, the former executive editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
and former managing editor of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, has called the work of Woodward and Bernstein "maybe the single greatest reporting effort of all time."
A film adaptation
All the President's Men (film)
All the President's Men is a 1976 Academy Award-winning political thriller film based on the 1974 non-fiction book of the same name by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the two journalists investigating the Watergate scandal for The Washington Post...
, produced by Robert Redford
Robert Redford
Charles Robert Redford, Jr. , better known as Robert Redford, is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He has received two Oscars: one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime...
and starring Redford and Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Lee Hoffman is an American actor with a career in film, television, and theatre since 1960. He has been known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and vulnerable characters....
as Woodward and Bernstein, respectively, was released in 1976. That same year, a sequel to the book, The Final Days
The Final Days
The Final Days is a 1976 non-fiction book written by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. A follow up to their book All the President's Men, The Final Days concerns itself with the final months of the Richard Nixon presidency....
, was published, which chronicled the last months of Nixon's Presidency, starting around the time that their previous book ended.
Background
Woodward and Bernstein had toyed with the idea of writing a book about Watergate, but did not commit until actor Robert RedfordRobert Redford
Charles Robert Redford, Jr. , better known as Robert Redford, is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He has received two Oscars: one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime...
contacted them and expressed interest in purchasing the film rights. In Telling the Truth About Lies: The Making of "All the President's Men", Woodward noted that Redford played an important role in changing the book's narrative from a story about the Watergate events to one about their investigations and their reportage of the story.
The name of the book alludes to the nursery rhyme
Nursery rhyme
The term nursery rhyme is used for "traditional" poems for young children in Britain and many other countries, but usage only dates from the 19th century and in North America the older ‘Mother Goose Rhymes’ is still often used.-Lullabies:...
about Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty is a character in an English language nursery rhyme, probably originally a riddle and one of the best known in the English-speaking world. He is typically portrayed as an egg and has appeared or been referred to in a large number of works of literature and popular culture...
("All the king's horses and all the king's men / Couldn't put Humpty together again"), an allusion similar to that made more explicitly a quarter-century earlier in the Robert Penn Warren
Robert Penn Warren
Robert Penn Warren was an American poet, novelist, and literary critic and was one of the founders of New Criticism. He was also a charter member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers. He founded the influential literary journal The Southern Review with Cleanth Brooks in 1935...
novel All the King's Men
All the King's Men
All the King's Men is a novel by Robert Penn Warren first published in 1946. Its title is drawn from the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty. In 1947 Warren won the Pulitzer Prize for All the King's Men....
, which describes the career of a fictional governor loosely based on Huey Long
Huey Long
Huey Pierce Long, Jr. , nicknamed The Kingfish, served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928–1932 and as a U.S. Senator from 1932 to 1935. A Democrat, he was noted for his radical populist policies. Though a backer of Franklin D...
.
Cast of characters
The President's Men
(listed with their 1972 positions in either the president's executive staffExecutive Office of the President of the United States
The Executive Office of the President consists of the immediate staff of the President of the United States, as well as multiple levels of support staff reporting to the President. The EOP is headed by the White House Chief of Staff, currently William M. Daley...
or in his re-election committee
Committee to Re-elect the President
The Committee for the Re-Election of the President, abbreviated CRP but often mocked by the acronym CREEP, was a fundraising organization of United States President Richard Nixon's administration...
, where applicable)
White House
- Alexander P. Butterfield, Deputy Assistant to the President
- Dwight L. Chapin, Deputy Assistant to the President
- Ken W. Clawson, Deputy Director of Communications for the President
- Charles W. Colson, Chief Counsel for the President
- John W. Dean III, White House CounselWhite House CounselThe White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President of the United States.-Role:The Counsel's role is to advise the President on all legal issues concerning the President and the White House...
- John D. Ehrlichman, Counsel and Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs
- H.R. Haldeman, White House Chief of StaffWhite House Chief of StaffThe White House Chief of Staff is the highest ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and a senior aide to the President.The current White House Chief of Staff is Bill Daley.-History:...
- E. Howard Hunt, Jr., President's Special Investigations Unit ("White House PlumbersWhite House PlumbersThe White House Plumbers, sometimes simply called the Plumbers, were a covert White House Special Investigations Unit established July 24, 1971 during the presidency of Richard Nixon. Its task was to stop the leaking of classified information to the news media...
") - Henry A. Kissinger, National Security AdvisorNational Security Advisor (United States)The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor , serves as the chief advisor to the President of the United States on national security issues...
- Egil Krogh, Jr., head of the President's Special Investigations Unit ("White House Plumbers")
- Gerald Warren, White House Press SecretaryWhite House Press SecretaryThe White House Press Secretary is a senior White House official whose primary responsibility is to act as spokesperson for the government administration....
, succeeding Ziegler - David R. Young, special assistant at the National Security CouncilUnited States National Security CouncilThe White House National Security Council in the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials and is part of the Executive Office of the...
- Ronald L. Ziegler, White House Press Secretary
Committee to Re-elect the President (CRP)
- Kenneth H. DahlbergKenneth H. DahlbergKenneth Harry Dahlberg was an American businessman and highly decorated World War II fighter ace.-Early life:...
, CRP's Midwest finance chairman - Herbert W. KalmbachHerbert W. KalmbachHerbert W. Kalmbach was the personal attorney to United States President Richard Nixon .-Biography:...
, personal attorney to United States President Richard Nixon and Deputy Finance Chairman of CRP - G. Gordon LiddyG. Gordon LiddyGeorge Gordon Liddy was the chief operative for the White House Plumbers unit that existed from July–September 1971, during Richard Nixon's presidency. Separately, along with E. Howard Hunt, Liddy organized and directed the Watergate burglaries of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in...
, CRP employee - Clark MacGregorClark MacGregorClark MacGregor was a Republican U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District.MacGregor was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and graduated cum laude from Dartmouth College in the class of 1944 and the University of Minnesota Law School in 1946 . He was elected to the U.S...
, CRP Chairman - Jeb Stuart MagruderJeb Stuart MagruderJeb Stuart Magruder has had careers as a businessman, civil servant, political organizer, and Presbyterian minister. He is also a published writer...
, Deputy Director, and assistant to the Director of CRP - Robert C. Mardian, CRP political coordinator
- John N. MitchellJohn N. MitchellJohn Newton Mitchell was the Attorney General of the United States from 1969 to 1972 under President Richard Nixon...
, Attorney General, and CRP campaign director - Robert C. Odle, Jr.Robert C. Odle, Jr.Robert C. Odle, Jr. is an American lawyer, based in Washington, D.C..Mr. Odle joined the Washington office of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP after serving as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy. Mr. Odle represents clients on a wide range of matters before Congress, and agencies,...
, Director of Administration ("office manager") for CRP - Kenneth W. Parkinson, CRP counsel
- Herbert L. Porter, CRP organizer and former White House aide
- Donald H. Segretti, political operative for CRP
- Hugh W. Sloan, Jr.Hugh W. Sloan, Jr.Hugh W. Sloan, Jr. was Treasurer of the Committee to Re-elect the President, Richard M. Nixon's 1972 campaign committee. Previously, he was an aide to White House Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman....
, CRP treasurer - Maurice H. Stans, CRP finance chairman
- Gordon C. StrachanGordon C. StrachanGordon Creighton Strachan was an aide to H.R. Haldeman, Chief of Staff for U.S. President Richard Nixon and a figure in the Watergate scandal....
, staff assistant to Herbert G. KleinHerbert G. KleinHerbert G. Klein was best known as United States President Richard Nixon's Executive Branch Communications Director....
but was assigned to be H.R. Haldeman's liaison to CRP
Rest of the President's Men
- Alfred C. Baldwin III
- John J. Caulfield
- L. Patrick Gray III, acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Richard G. Kleindienst, Attorney General (succeeding John Mitchell)
- Fred LaRueFred LaRueFrederick Cheney "Fred" LaRue was a presidential aide of the administration of U.S. President Richard Nixon who served time in prison for his role in events resulting the Watergate first break-in and the subsequent Watergate scandal and cover-up...
, no rank, title, salary or even listing in the White House directory - Powell Moore
- Kenneth Rietz
- DeVan L. ShumwayDeVan L. ShumwayDeVan L. "Van" Shumway was an American publisher and aide to President Richard M. Nixon. He served as spokeperson for Nixon's Committee to Re-Elect the President and was a staunch defender of Nixon through the Watergate scandal.-Life and career:Shumway was a native of Blanding, Utah...
The Burglars
- Bernard L. Barker
- Virgilio R. Gonzalez
- Eugenio R. Martinez
- James W. McCord, Jr.James W. McCord, Jr.James Walter McCord, Jr. is a former CIA agent, later involved, as an electronics expert, in the Watergate burglaries .-Career:...
- Frank A. SturgisFrank SturgisFrank Anthony Sturgis , born Frank Angelo Fiorini, was one of the Watergate burglars.-Early Life and Military Service:...
The Prosecutors
- Henry E. PetersenHenry E. PetersenHenry E. Petersen was a United States Assistant Attorney General during the Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford administrations. Petersen conducted many of the Watergate questionings and was perhaps the only one conducting research into allegations of modern time US voting fraud as early as the 1970s.The...
, United States Assistant Attorney General - Earl J. SilbertEarl J. SilbertEarl J. Silbert is a prominent American lawyer who served as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1974 to 1979, and served, along with two other U.S. Attorneys, as the first prosecutor in the infamous Watergate scandal. Silbert graduated, with honors, from Harvard Law...
, United States Attorney for the District of ColumbiaUnited States Attorney for the District of ColumbiaThe United States Attorney for the District of Columbia is the United States Attorney responsible for representing the federal government in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.Because unlike typical municipalities, Washington, D.C... - Donald E. Campbell, assistant U.S. Attorney
- Seymour GlanzerSeymour GlanzerSeymour Glanzer, LL.B., B.S., is an American lawyer who served as one of the Watergate prosecutors from 1972–1973.Raised in New York City, Glanzer graduated from Juilliard with a B.S. degree in 1955. He received his LL.B. from New York Law School in 1960 after attending New York University...
, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of ColumbiaUnited States Attorney for the District of ColumbiaThe United States Attorney for the District of Columbia is the United States Attorney responsible for representing the federal government in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.Because unlike typical municipalities, Washington, D.C...
The Judge
- John J. Sirica, District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of ColumbiaUnited States District Court for the District of ColumbiaThe United States District Court for the District of Columbia is a federal district court. Appeals from the District are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit The United States District Court for the District of Columbia (in case citations, D.D.C.) is a...
The Washington Post
- Carl BernsteinCarl BernsteinCarl Bernstein is an American investigative journalist who, at The Washington Post, teamed up with Bob Woodward; the two did the majority of the most important news reporting on the Watergate scandal. These scandals led to numerous government investigations, the indictment of a vast number of...
, Reporter - Bob WoodwardBob WoodwardRobert Upshur Woodward is an American investigative journalist and non-fiction author. He has worked for The Washington Post since 1971 as a reporter, and is currently an associate editor of the Post....
, Reporter - Benjamin C. BradleeBenjamin C. BradleeBenjamin Crowninshield Bradlee is a vice president at-large of The Washington Post. As executive editor of the Post from 1968 to 1991, he became a national figure during the presidency of Richard Nixon, when he challenged the federal government over the right to publish the Pentagon Papers and...
, Executive Editor - Katharine GrahamKatharine GrahamKatharine Meyer Graham was an American publisher. She led her family's newspaper, The Washington Post, for more than two decades, overseeing its most famous period, the Watergate coverage that eventually led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon...
, Publisher - Harry M. RosenfeldHarry M. RosenfeldHarry M. Rosenfeld is an American newspaper editor who was the editor in charge of local news at The Washington Post during the Watergate scandal. He oversaw the newspaper's coverage of Watergate and resisted efforts by the paper's national reporters to take over the story. Though Post...
, Metropolitan Editor - Howard SimonsHoward SimonsHoward Simons was the managing editor of the Washington Post at the time of the Watergate scandal, and later curator of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University....
, Managing Editor - Barry SussmanBarry SussmanBarry Sussman is an American editor, author, and public opinion analyst who deals primarily with public policy issues.He was city news editor at The Washington Post at the time of the Watergate break-in and was detached to direct the coverage that led to the Post’s being awarded the Pulitzer prize...
, City Desk Editor - Brett Gurganious, Local News Reporter
External links
- The Woodward and Bernstein Watergate Papers, an exhibition at the University of Texas at AustinUniversity of Texas at AustinThe University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...