I first read All the President's Men shortly after the book came out in the 1970s, and well before the movie came out. To be truthful I found it slow going, at the time, as I'd hoped for some kind of dramatic narrative. But the daily life of journalists rarely has AHA NOW WE KNOW WHO THE MURDERER IS denouements. It's a slow-moving process of looking at one fact at a time, asking the right question of the right person, cajoling someone to go on the record, and noticing what ISN'T said. ...Which, actually, is what made me conclude that I wasn't meant for a writing career.
Ha ha ha. But we digress.
My journalism career went in a different direction, which thankfully did not include talking to unwilling sources. Still, I can and should learn new skills, so I signed up for a masterclass with Bob Woodward. Which, naturally made me decide to read the book again. This time I was enthralled. And that, in part, is because brilliant journalism has once again become relevant.
Should you know of Woodward/Bernstein only in general "Oh weren't they the guys who discovered the Watergate break-in?" terms: In June, 1972, the two young Washington Post newspapermen began by covering an odd attempted robbery of the Democratic National Committee. A few years later, President Nixon resigned.
There were a LOT of dots necessary to connect those two events.
In one sense, this book is a recording of the history of the time: the people, events, cover-ups, and so on. After all, to this day we call any brouhaha a Something-Gate, and most of us think of Deep Throat as the long-unnamed senior administrative source, not of the movie from which title that name sprang.
The book is also obviously an example of journalism at work, which is ultimately a process of _noticing_. When Bernstein was sent to the courthouse where bail was set, he paid attention when McCord said he had been a security consultant for the CIA. If he'd been doodling in his notebook, instead...? What held my attention was the detail of the journalistic process, such as one of the reporters driving to a possible source's home to knock on the door, and what they said to make the individual feel at-ease (enough to share information anyway) -- as well as the relevant excerpt from the story that was published. And, sometimes, for what was left out.
All of this feels more poignant today, as a reminder that people in power -- who have reason to hide their activities -- do their best to obfuscate their behavior and to blame the media. At an October White House briefing, the press secretary Zeigler went on quite a rant: "Well, I think the opposition is clear. You know, since the Watergate case broke, people have been trying to link the case to the White House... and no link has been established... because no link exists." (Question: Why don't you deny the charges?) "I am not going to dignify these types of stories with a comment... It goes without saying that this administration does not condone sabotage or espionage or surveillance of individuals, but it also does not condone innuendo or source stories that make broad sweeping charges about the character of individuals."
In other words, concluded the book's authors, "The White House had decided that the conduct of the press, not the conduct of the President's men, was the issue."
I really enjoyed my re-read of the book. I dare say you will, too.
All the President's Men
4.6 | 2,808 ratings
Price: 19.68
Last update: 01-07-2025
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Esther SchindlerWorth a re-read, just to appreciate journalism done right
eclecticCritiquesDEEP THROAT: mystery man of the 20th century
eclecticCritiques
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2018
DEEP THROAT, mystery man of the 20th century and portrayed as the Smoking Man in the X Files. I kept a list of Deep Throats characteristics and physical traits subtly dropped throughout the book with the intention of researching just who this man could have been. Maybe it was Mark Felt, retired FBI agent, but would he have had access to such intimate information? Maybe Felt also had a deep throat?
All The President's Men is a riveting account of the Nixon administration and corruption dubbed, Watergate. N'ough said. If you missed it you either weren't born or dead.
Lies, cover-ups, perjury, unethical behavior of a president and "all his men" tainted the political reputation of a nation. However, Nixon cannot claim originality to these accolade's. He was neither the first nor the last president to disrespect his office or misrepresent the American people.
The Cast of Characters and Index features helped a lot in keeping events and times straight. I wore out the pages referring back and forth to the pictures putting names and faces together.
The research and investigative reporting by Bernstein & Woodward, for its day, was exceptional. I agree they may be the best in journalistic history.
The style of the non-fiction book is readable. Though an historical account, Bernstein & Woodward keep the information to a readable format. If you had not lived through it, you might think this the grandest of mystery novels. You cannot put the book down.
MasterClass has just offered a investigative journalism course by Woodward and All The President's Man is text book required reading. I might never have picked this book up except for that. So glad I did. It truly is exceptional reading and writing ... and marketing. For now I want to read all their books and there are a few.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND All The President's Men for an accurate and unbiased reporting of the events recorded in this book.
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