Woodward and Bernstein Reflect on Watergate Reporting 50 Years Later Fifty years after their groundbreaking investigative reporting uncovered the Watergate scandal, legendary journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein sat down to reflect on their iconic work. “It was a moment of truth for journalism,” Woodward said. “We had a president who was trying to obstruct justice, and we were determined to get to the bottom of it.” Bernstein recalled the challenges they faced, including threats and attempts to discredit them. “But we had a duty to our readers and to the country,” he said. “We couldn’t let fear stop us.” The Watergate scandal led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon and transformed American politics. Woodward and Bernstein became symbols of independent journalism and their reporting became a textbook example of investigative journalism. “We never expected to uncover what we did,” Bernstein admitted. “The story seemed too big, too unbelievable. But we followed the evidence wherever it led us.” Woodward highlighted the importance of anonymous sources, which allowed them to access sensitive information. “People were willing to talk to us because they knew they could trust us to protect their identity,” he said. Reflecting on the legacy of their reporting, Woodward emphasized the enduring power of journalism. “It’s more important than ever for journalists to hold those in power accountable,” he said. “Watergate showed that even presidents are not above the law.” Bernstein warned against complacency. “The forces that led to Watergate are still with us today: secrecy, power abuse, and the erosion of trust,” he said. “We need to be vigilant in protecting our democracy from those who seek to undermine it.” As the Watergate anniversary approaches, Woodward and Bernstein remain symbols of journalistic integrity and the unwavering pursuit of truth. Their reporting continues to inspire generations of journalists and remind us of the crucial role journalism plays in safeguarding our freedoms.Fifty years after their Pulitzer Prize-winning book “All the President’s Men” exposed the Watergate scandal, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein remain close friends and colleagues.
Fifty years after their Pulitzer Prize-winning book “All the President’s Men” exposed the Watergate scandal, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein remain close friends and colleagues. “We call each other, usually a few times a week,” says Bernstein. “We closely follow the work of others. We talk about what’s happening here in Washington, about what’s happening in the White House.” The two legendary journalists spoke with Jonathan Karl, co-host of ABC’s “This Week,” at the Watergate Hotel to mark the 50th anniversary of their iconic book, which Time called “perhaps the most influential piece of journalism in history.” When asked if they predicted the impact “All the President’s Men” would have on the country, they both laughed. Writing the book was a “necessity,” Woodward said. “We had written these stories that no one believed.” “But more than that, we didn’t think the truth about Watergate would ever come to light,” Bernstein added. Their first approach was to lay out the facts of the Watergate scandal. But it soon became clear that it had to be about the two of them, they said. “I said, ‘Well, the one rule of journalism: Write about what you know best, and you don’t know anything better than what you’ve done, so let’s write about what we’ve done,'” Woodward said. Bernstein was skeptical. “(I thought) it would be an undisguised ego trip and as such we recognized that we just had to stick to the facts of Watergate,” he recalled. “But Woodward said, ‘Look, we have nothing to write about right now but ourselves.'” The two wrote the book at Woodward’s mother’s home in Naples, Florida. “Carl was sitting by the pool wearing the most hideous green shorts you’ve ever seen,” Woodward joked. “I was sitting in the kitchen and we said that to get this done, we each have to do ten pages a day, and then we can go out to dinner. And so that’s what we did.” Although they initially had a difficult relationship, as they describe in the book, they soon came to appreciate each other. “Within a few days of working on this story together, we all saw remarkable things in the other things,” Bernstein said. “To this day, half a century later, we often switch roles that are expected. What is expected of me, he will do, what is expected of him, I will do. Woodward added: “What it shows is the power of collaboration. We learn in our personal lives that you never do anything effectively alone. And the same is true with journalism.” Karl asked their thoughts on why the book, and its 1976 Hollywood adaptation, became such an important work of journalism. “The book itself is like a primer on basic reporting,” Bernstein responded. “Do you see what is the most important decision we make as reporters? To go out at night and visit people’s homes who are working for Richard Nixon and his re-election, knock on their doors, have the doors, as you know, slam in our faces, except for the few who didn’t.” He continued, “You see in the film that the people who spoke to us enabled us to get our foot in the door. And the movie took it to another level, because visually you see what we’re writing, and it has a different kind of power. Woodward emphasized that the success they shared with their Watergate reporting happened partly by accident, recalling how he met Mark Felt years ago when he was in the Navy and was sent to deliver documents to the White House. Felt later became second in charge at the FBI and Woodward’s legendary source whom he called “Deep Throat.” “My first interactions with him were kind of career advice, and then when I was working at the Post I realized that there’s this guy, Felt, and he’s now the No. 1 at the FBI and he’s in charge of the Watergate investigation, Woodward said. “We kept that a secret from 1972 to 2005.” Bernstein recalled his first reaction when he heard Woodward’s source. “I said, ‘How does he contact you?’ And Woodward said, ‘I moved the flowerpot on my balcony.’ And I thought, ‘I’m here with someone who is quite pathological.’ Are you moving the flower pot to your balcony?” Bernstein laughed. Woodward said Felt gave them “guidance and encouragement,” emphasizing that they were only 28 and 29 at the time. “We live in a world where even our colleagues at The Washington Post said, you know, those two young kids are out there somehow,” Woodward said. “In journalism you have to protect the truth and the sources of the truth.” Half a century later, their friendship and the curiosity that first connected them still endure. “There came a moment, I don’t know exactly when it was… (Bernstein) said, you know, we’re bonded for life,” Woodward said. “We’re stuck at the hip,” Bernstein added.
Fifty Years Later, Woodward and Bernstein Relive the Watergate Reporting That Shook the Nation In the shadowy corridors of the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C., two young reporters embarked on a relentless pursuit of the truth that would forever alter the course of American history. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, then in their early 20s, uncovered a trail of deception and abuse of power that reached the highest levels of the White House. Half a century has passed since their groundbreaking reporting brought down President Richard Nixon, but Woodward and Bernstein’s legacy continues to resonate. Recently, they gathered to reflect on the tumultuous events of Watergate and its enduring impact on journalism. “It was a time when trust in government was in tatters,” Woodward recalled. “People didn’t know who to believe or what was true.” Bernstein emphasized the importance of persistent and fearless reporting. “We often had to go against the grain and challenge the conventional wisdom,” he said. “But we knew we had a responsibility to get to the bottom of this.” The Watergate scandal exposed a web of cover-ups, wiretapping, and political sabotage that shattered public trust. Woodward and Bernstein’s reporting laid bare the extent of the wrongdoing, eventually leading to Nixon’s resignation. “It was an epic tale of corruption and abuse of power,” Bernstein said. “But it was also a victory for the free press.” The Watergate investigation transformed journalism, raising the stakes for truth-telling and investigative reporting. It also set a precedent for holding government officials accountable for their actions. “Watergate showed the world that no one is above the law,” Woodward said. “It demonstrated the power of journalism to expose wrongdoing and protect the public interest.” Today, Woodward and Bernstein continue to advocate for independent and aggressive reporting, especially in the face of attempts to undermine the media. They believe that Watergate remains a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of a vigilant press to safeguard democracy. “We stand at a critical juncture in our history,” Bernstein warned. “The erosion of truth and the rise of misinformation threaten the very foundations of our society. Watergate should serve as a constant reminder of the need for a strong and independent press.” As the years pass, the legacy of Woodward and Bernstein’s Watergate reporting continues to inspire and inform generations of journalists. Their unwavering pursuit of the truth has left an indelible mark on American history and serves as a timeless testament to the power and responsibility of journalism.
