Even now there is no evidence that anyone involved in the Nixon operation was going to threaten us.
Any suggestion that I'm writing about political operatives because I'm interested in political operatives misses the entire point.
Deep Throat's information, and in my view, courage, allowed the newspaper to use what he knew and suspected.
Deep Throat was a very unfortunate name given to the source by the managing editor of The Washington Post.
Certain political figures think when you call them and ask them for a comment; that you are somehow doing something that you shouldn't be doing.
Deep Throat did serve the public interest by providing the guidance and information to us.
I don't think voters give a hoot about the character of their political advisors, except to the extent that character reflects on the candidates.
It would seem that the Watergate story from beginning to end could be used as a primer on the American political system.
Nixon's attempts to order subversion of various departments was bound to come out in some form.
When you hear in the tape recordings Nixon's own voice saying, We have to stonewall, We have to lie to the Grand Jury, We have to pay burglars a million dollars, it's all too clear the horror of what went on.
There may yet be another Watergate book. I have thought a book about the aftermath of Watergate and its impact could be done, perhaps by me or someone else.
Many people have their reputations as reporters and analysts because they are on television, batting around conventional wisdom. A lot of these people have never reported a story.
Clinton feels a profound alienation from the Washington culture here, and I happen to agree with him.
I'm not going to name some of my colleagues who are very well-known for their television presentation, but they wouldn't know new information or how to report a story if it came up and bit them.
I suspect there have been a number of conspiracies that never were described or leaked out. But I suspect none of the magnitude and sweep of Watergate.
The Washington Times wrote a story questioning the authenticity of some of the suggestions made about me in Silent Coup. But as a believer in the First Amendment, I believe they have more than a right to air their views.
I have gone on the air and announced my telephone number at the Washington Post. I go into the night, talking to people, looking for things. The great dreaded thing every reporter lives with is what you don't know. The source you didn't go to. The phone call you didn't return.
Using these unnamed sources, if done properly, carefully and fairly, provides more accountability in government.
I think the problem in the Republican Party is really not money. I think they've got lots of it. I think it is theory of the case - why are we here, what is our message, how to connect to the real world.
We need to police ourselves in the media.
It would be absurd for me or any other editor to review the authenticity or accuracy of stories that are nominated for prizes.
The legislator learns that when you talk a lot, you get in trouble. You have to listen a lot to make deals.
Nixon had some large achievements in foreign affairs. They will be remembered. But a president probably gets remembered for one thing, and Watergate will head the Nixon list, I suspect.
I recently did the David Letterman Show about my book. He was very serious and made no jokes and it caught me off guard a little bit. He was much more serious than some of the joke shows that journalists get on.
I have written things that Republicans and Democrats and all kinds of figures have either hated or felt very uncomfortable about. Because in doing these long projects and books, you get close to the bone. And they're not calling me up and asking me for dinner.
