Dinners at the O’Connor family house were boisterous affairs, full of arguments, counterarguments and laughter—all great early training for a legal career. It also gave the author the guts and determination to solve a generation’s greatest mystery.

John O’Connor San Francisco, 2005

Mark Felt Washington, D.C., 1980

The author (in plaid shirt, behind the couch), age 9, How Hoosier common sense unveiled Deep Throat at his grandmother’s house on East 44th Street, 1956 by John O’Connor

( CONTINUED ON PAGE XXX )

170 INDIANAPOLIS MONTHLY O’CONNOR: PHOTO BY JIM BLOCK; FELT: AP PHOTO/SCHWARZ MAY 2006 171 same way, I told Nick. I offered to visit his small talk and friendly chatter. But the partici- raising large families. grandfather, and explain my views to him. pants didn’t come for the politesse; they wanted After graduating from the University of Michigan law school in 1972, I I did not know it at the time, but I was action, excitement, thrills. And they invariably came to San Francisco, planning to get some trial experience before joining about to embark on an intensely interest- got them as the evening progressed. As current my father at the Ruckelshaus firm. As I began trying cases, first with notable ing trip—a journey, I came to realize, for events would be discussed, one person would San Francisco attorney Melvin Belli, and later with the U.S. Attorney’s of- which I had been training all my life. Sure, try to engage another, especially one known to fice, I realized Indianapolis culture had served me well. I knew I had to do my experience working for the govern- have contrary views. Eventually, someone would my homework late at night and on weekends, so that when I made assertions ment had given me insight into the flow be goaded to throw down the gauntlet and make or elicited testimony in court, I could of information in corridors of power. And a forceful statement, to which another took hold my ground, confident that I could my legal work and education provided a strong exception. The game was now on. withstand the most withering attacks framework for sorting out complex and My gentle South Texas mother was shocked from an opponent (which usually paled even mysterious data. But what had led me when she first encountered the conversations at in comparison to those launched in to certainty about the identity of Deep these venues, which seemed to be wild, unregu- O’Connor parlors). And when I realized Throat really came from years of family lated, laughter-filled yelling matches. But what that my case had serious vulnerabilities, dinners in Indianapolis. shocked her even more were the attitudes of the anticipating what a hypothetical relative participants at the end of each evening’s festivi- would do to annihilate me, I settled rea- »»»»My great-grandfather, Michael ties, each of whom seemed genuinely complimen- sonably before battle began. It was a beautiful spring evening O’Connor, was an Irish immigrant who arrived in tary of his opponents, and indeed ecstatic at the Now, three decades into my career, for a lively Sunday dinner party with our daughter, Christy, and seven of her northern Kentucky near Cincinnati at age 11 in great excitement generated. What fun! What a I was confronted with perhaps the high-spirited classmates from nearby Stanford University—a night reminis- 1850. He became a clerk in a wholesale grocery great time this was! Can’t wait ’til we do it again! It strangest case I’d ever seen. I had done cent of the large dinners with family and friends I enjoyed growing up in In- business and married an Alsatian girl, Carolyn didn’t take long, however, for my mother to re- my homework, and felt strongly about dianapolis. There was the same sharp discussion, a bit of collegial argument, Pfau, whose father was an important customer in cover from her shock and catch this same disease. my position—that Felt was a hero, and nourishment for mind and body. We had much fun that night in 2002, as ex- the grocery business. Eventually the young cou- She soon became one of the wittier participants. that having him admit his identity while pected. But quite unexpectedly, I heard some seemingly innocuous words that ple moved downriver to Madison, Indiana, where I learned at an early age how to survive these alive would show that the FBI was in- would alter my course and the courses of many others for years to come. Michael started his own wholesale grocery busi- debates—first as an observer, and then as an occa- LOCAL FLAVOR The author’s corruptibly heroic during Watergate. Since many of Christy’s classmates had just returned from studying abroad ness. Family legend has it that the day after the sional participant: Stake out the most reasonable family’s canning company But I had never taken on a “case” with in South America, I chose the occasion to regale my audience with details of town council voted down Madison as a major rail- position possible, hopefully drawing your oppo- did business in Indianapolis so much history riding on the outcome. my father’s role as an undercover FBI agent in Rio de Janeiro during World road depot (on the theory that river transporta- nent into an extreme case. Appeal to common for more than 75 years. Moreover, Nick told me that his War II. He had become probably the most identifiable secret agent the Ger- tion would remain ascendant), Michael drove his sense, cross-examine for the jugular, bore no one, grandfather had lost his detailed mem- mans had ever encountered, and was “made” by them, records show, shortly horse and buggy to Indianapolis to purchase land. use both reason and humor, and make the other ory from the Watergate period, and I assumed that, at least for the moment, after he first disembarked in Rio. As I was telling the group about my father, Then a small, sleepy town, Indianapolis, Michael side look like the bad guy. Whatever you do, de- Felt would deny his identity when I first spoke with him. But, I wondered, did one of my daughter’s classmates, Nick Jones, volunteered that his grandfather thought, would soon be a busy hub of overland fend to the death that which you have staked out he even know who he really was? And if he admitted his identity, how could had also been an FBI agent in counterintelligence during the war, and perhaps commerce, and he moved there in 1867, estab- to be a sensible, true position. Unless, of course, he prove it if he was unable to corroborate any details, and if he had publicly my father knew him. “His name is Mark Felt,” Nick offered. lishing M. O’Connor & Co. in a cannery and ware- you realize you are in trouble, in which case the and privately denied it? Clearly, this was not a “case” for the faint of heart, but I was stunned by the name because I had believed for more than 25 years house just south of Monument Circle. graceful modification of position is a valuable art. I firmly believed I was right, both about Felt’s identity and also his heroism. that Mark Felt was Deep Throat, the legendary anonymous government offi- As railroad commerce transformed the nation, Of course, although I did not know it at that Plus, it was against my training to give up a principled position without a cial who was Bob Woodward’s secret and crucial source during his reporting the business (and Indianapolis) grew. Early in the time, these family “discussions” helped prepare fight, and I wasn’t about to yield my seat at the dinner table just because of a on the Watergate scandal. Although he was featured in All the President’s Men, 20th century, my grandfather William and grand- me to be a trial lawyer, following the example of few obstacles. the bestselling book by Washington Post reporters Woodward and Carl Bern- mother Eleanor Carr took up residence at 1423 my father and my Uncle Richard (whose son Bill stein that was later made into a movie, and had been the subject of intense North Pennsylvania Street. Their family soon in- is now an experienced litigator with Dann Pecar »»When I went to Santa Rosa to meet Felt, I found a mellow, speculation for almost 30 years, Deep Throat had steadfastly declined to re- cluded eight children, and the rambling house, es- in Indianapolis). Gladiatorial skills, honed in fam- friendly man with a firm handshake who still had a leader’s way of making oth- veal himself. His secrecy, in spite of the millions that might have been his if he pecially on Sundays, was known as the town’s best ily battles, would prove important. ers feel comfortable. It became quite clear, though, that Felt had no memory

had revealed himself, created a mystery that became a favorite parlor game of spot to engage in rollicking debate, hear great sto- So would homework, a lesson that permeated for detail. Then 89, he had suffered a stroke ( CONTINUED ON PAGE 258 ) both political and journalistic mavens. ries and perhaps moisten a parched throat. my life in those days. As my father raced me I had become intensely interested in Watergate as a young lawyer, and my I was born in 1946, and by the time I reached to Cathedral High School, then at 14th and experience as a federal prosecutor in the 1970s had led me to believe that Deep grade school, M. O’Connor canned goods, carry- Meridian streets, in his tiny 1960 Corvair, he I knew I had to do my homework, put Throat must have been employed by the Justice Department, not by the White ing the “Hoosier Poet” logo (James Whitcomb Ri- alternated legal war stories with admon- House as so many observers had concluded. Furthermore, I had concluded ley was an occasional visitor at 1423), were clearly ishments on the importance of hard work. my case together and be able to with- that among the possible “suspects,” Mark Felt alone had the motive, means on their last legs. With my grandfather now de- These stories—generally featuring him and stand furious assaults, just as I would at and opportunity to be Deep Throat. Now I was encountering the grandson of ceased, my grandmother and Aunt Patricia moved his partner, the renowned trial lawyer Jack the man I suspected was this important historical character, and finding that to 137 East 44th Street, which became the new Ruckelshaus—typically had Hoosier regular- 137 East 44th or The Graystone. And the elusive giant resided just 40 miles north of our home. I told Nick not only debate forum. In the summer, the discussions guy common sense prevailing over preten- convincing a publisher to print Felt’s that his grandfather was Deep Throat, but also why I felt that he had so moved to a lake—first to Wawasee, then to Lake tious eggheadism. My parents and their adamantly refused to reveal himself for so many years. As a former Justice De- Maxinkuckee and finally, with better highways, to friends—the Paul Muellers, the Patrick Fish- story might not be nearly as difficult as partment prosecutor, I considered Deep Throat a hero who had kept our jus- Palisades Park, Michigan, at our grandmother’s ers, the John Courtneys and others—kept fighting the media and talking heads. tice system, and the Justice Department, free of political corruption. He was, “Graystone” cottage. current on political and moral issues, doing« therefore, deserving of our applause. Other prosecutors and agents felt the These evenings always began politely with their homework in spite of the demands of So I had better be prepared.

172 INDIANAPOLIS MONTHLY MAY 2006 173 Watergate, Felt quickly turned serious, Joan immediately confronted her father, Digging Deep gripping his chair tightly, sitting up a bit relating her conversation with Yvette, and CONTINUED FROM PAGE 173 and jutting his tightly clamped jaw for- asked her father if he was really Deep several years earlier, and had briefly lived ward. When I began telling him how I, as a Throat. “Well, if that’s the case, then yes, I at a nursing home. His daughter Joan, a former Justice Department prosecutor, be- am,” Felt confessed to his daughter. slim, attractive college Spanish instructor, lieved that Deep Throat was a hero, a pre- In the ensuing days, Felt tried to didn’t think her father was faring well server of an incorruptible justice system, I backpedal, but the secret had been re- there, so she converted her garage into an saw his clear blue eyes melt, as if I were giv- leased. Somewhat consistently, he began to apartment, hired a caregiver, and took in ing him absolution. confide in his family that indeed he was boarders to help out financially. It seemed that he remembered only “the guy they called Deep Throat.” The In spite of his frail condition, Felt had a those key emotions and attitudes that had family began discussing whether and how strong sense of who he was. As a young become hard-wired into his psyche. He he should reveal himself. While Felt was lawyer hailing from Idaho, Felt had joined remembered Bob Woodward, J. Edgar decidedly reluctant at first, Joan appealed the FBI in 1942, when the “G-Man” (short Hoover and the FBI, and he knew and to his patriarchal pride, telling her father for “government man”) was the country’s loved his family. And it was just as clear to how the family would bask with him in his most revered, moral and clean-cut of he- me that he knew he was Deep Throat and limelight. Perhaps the revelation would roes. Movie-star handsome (he resembled that he didn’t want anyone else to know help Nick with law-school admission, or actor Lloyd Bridges), with a full head of that. I could see him fighting to discipline help defray Rob’s college expenses. Soon, sandy hair that turned white with age, Felt Felt became convinced that revealing his was suave, polite and dapper, and with his I could see Mark Felt identity would help rather than harm his cool confidence, he made an ideal agent. family. He would do it, he said, but only on An admirer of the administrative abilities, fighting to discipline the condition that his friend Bob Wood- strong discipline and efficiency of FBI himself not to ward would collaborate with him. Director J. Edgar Hoover, Felt rose rapidly reveal his secret, As a family adviser in these conversa- through the FBI ranks. Eventually he be- while at the same tions, I thought this a fine resolution. came one of Hoover’s top aides and, when Woodward, of course, could identify Felt Hoover died in May 1972, just weeks before time seeming quite without Felt’s corroboration, so Felt’s failed the bizarre burglary of the Democratic Na- pleased with my memory would not be a hindrance. The vi- tional Committee headquarters, Felt was depiction of Deep sion of the two on a heroic victory lap was his heir apparent. exciting. It seemed that, now that Felt was Although Felt was the favorite of the Throat as a hero. consenting, his friend Bob would surely Bureau rank-and-file to succeed Hoover, himself not to reveal his secret, while at the agree to a collaboration. his stiff-backed refusal to whitewash the same time seeming quite pleased with my Unfortunately, in our phone conversa- Nixon Administration during the ITT depiction of Deep Throat as a hero. While tions, Woodward did not share our enthu- bribery scandal (an antitrust case brought Nick, Joan and I were convinced from his siasm. Ever the gentleman, Woodward by the government against ITT was al- reactions that Felt was Deep Throat, he did politely declined to confirm or deny Felt’s legedly dismissed in exchange for a cam- not admit it that day. identity, a reservation with which he be- paign contribution of $400,000) rankled Perhaps 10 days later, by chance, Joan gan all our subsequent conversations. Fur- the White House, who appointed instead L. answered a phone call from Felt’s former thermore, he expressed reservations about Patrick Gray, a malleable political hack girlfriend, a French-born widow, Yvette La- Felt’s ability to release him knowingly and with no law-enforcement experience. Garde, whom Felt had squired about in the voluntarily. Woodward’s relentless refusals In spite of being passed over, Felt stayed late 1980s after his wife Audrey passed even led the family to doubt their patriarch. on as Gray’s top assistant, hoping to teach away. Although Yvette’s memory was also Perhaps Deep Throat was a composite him the complexities of running the world’s dimming, and perhaps because she was source, they thought. most vaunted investigative agency. Just confused, she misread an article entitled After several months of talks between weeks after Gray’s appointment, though, “Deep Throat Exposed” in the Globe tab- Joan and Woodward, when it became clear the FBI faced a burglary investigation loid in 2002. The article’s title had over- that Woodward would definitely not col- that potentially implicated the White promised—there was discussion of Felt, laborate, Felt directed that we could ex- House and/or the CIA. The FBI’s reputa- but no real conclusion—but Yvette got the plore other options. However, now we tion of incorruptibility was at stake, Felt impression that Felt was finally confessing faced a truly odd situation. Felt remem- realized. When the White House limited his role. bered that he had not been out to get indictments to the original seven suspects, “Why is Mark revealing his identity Nixon, that he had known he had to act his worst fears were borne out, and Mark now?” Yvette demanded of Joan. “Reveal- alone (he likened Deep Throat to the Lone Felt became Deep Throat, the mysterious ing what identity?” Joan demanded in re- Ranger) and that he had tried to keep the figure who helped expose a conspiracy of turn. Realizing that Joan did not know the FBI free of political corruption, but there spying and sabotage, ultimately leading to secret, Yvette retreated, finally relenting were few corroborating specifics beyond the conviction of 40 officials. after Joan insisted. Felt had told Yvette that—not a talk, a meeting, a conversation. That Sunday in Santa Rosa, when I years before that he was Deep Throat, but I knew that we would be challenged by the turned to the subject of Deep Throat and that he would never reveal it during his life. media to present more objective “proof” of

258 INDIANAPOLIS MONTHLY his identity. I had to have at the ready an because, as a well-connected Washington wording said loud and clear that at least though lawyers know that such testimony release came out. I watched in shock from I now realized that, even though Felt explanation for every clue arguably point- official, he may have had his own line into one source did not actually hear the tape. is often suspect, while circumstantial evi- the magazine’s headquarters in New York had evolved toward a belief that he would ing elsewhere. White House “scoop” and may have learned Four of the five sources in the Post arti- dence, like fingerprints and strong motive, is as a presidential press conference was in- be perceived as a hero, he still had harbored In short, I had to do my homework, put of it secondhand. Since I felt I could prove cle had described the gaps as harmless more convincing and less disputable. terrupted by ABC’s Charlie Gibson, who an- some uncertainty even as the magazine my case together and be able to withstand Felt’s involvement through many other par- glitches. The other, apparently not a White Ironically, the great Watergate success nounced an impending interview with me. went to publication. The outpouring of en- furious assaults, just as I would at 137 East ticulars, and since this knowledge by Deep House loyalist, used words like “deliberate of The Washington Post and Woodward and A Vanity Fair publicity exec scurried to thusiasm, however, had removed all doubts. 44th or The Graystone. And convincing a Throat did not absolutely disqualify Mark injection of background noise” and “feed- Bernstein can be attributed to their coura- ready our phone connection. This man of honor, who had devoted his life publisher to print Felt’s story might not be Felt, it never shook my conclusion. How- back” to explain that the gap was the result geous embrace of Deep Throat’s use of cir- The following day was a humble Hoosier to his country, was finally being recognized nearly as difficult as fighting the media and ever, I now knew I would have to present a of tampering, as opposed to an innocent cumstantial evidence to connect the dots boy’s dream, as I visited with Katie Couric as a hero. And each of the family members— talking heads. So I had better be prepared. skeptical publisher with something more mistake. This was not the language of poli- and infer a wide-ranging conspiracy of spy- and Diane Sawyer, and chatted by phone his three grandsons, his daughter Joan, and solid than my own thought process, how- tical corridors, I realized, but of forensic ing and sabotage. Yet we found that pub- with Paula Zahn, which in effect either took his caretaker Bola, together with his son, FOR YEARS, MARK FELT had been a fa- ever sound I thought it to be. laboratories. And that likely meant an ex- lisher after publisher was rejecting our use 20 years off my life through excitement, or W. Mark Jr., daughter-in-law Wanda, and vorite candidate of amateur Deep Throat Most observers had assumed that Deep pert from the FBI, which had the finest of these same techniques to prove Deep put 20 years on it by melting coronary grandson W. Mark III in Florida—enjoyed sleuths, but as time went on, the more au- Throat (a) actually listened to the White forensics lab in the country. Bernstein, I Throat’s identity. We needed to find an ag- plaque. Although known by my Indianapo- the moment with a sense of family pride. thoritative voices began pointing to a House tapes or was very close to someone reasoned, had described the sound of the gressive, courageous publisher who would lis friends to stammer in the presence of at- I got some of the same treatment. My White House source and ruling out any who had, and (b) was the first of five sources tape to Woodward, who had shared those look at our evidence with both shrewdness tractive females, I for the most part spoke in immediate family in California and the FBI or Justice Department possibility. to actually tell Woodward or Bernstein of observations with Deep Throat, who then and passion. In essence, we were looking for complete sentences, I am proud to report. bulk of my extended family in Indianapolis White House insiders like John Dean and the gap. I eventually determined that nei- consulted his friends at the FBI forensics someone with a taste for the same kind of were proud of my involvement. Normally, Leonard Garment both wrote books with ther assumption was necessarily so. lab to arrive at his conclusion. So, rather brave statements that were made and de- I FELT CERTAIN THAT Woodward and the O’Connor family does not need Vanity this latter analysis. The University of Illi- The first tip-off came from rereading than disprove Mark Felt as Deep Throat, fended at 137 East 44th and at The Gray- Bernstein would not confirm Felt’s identity Fair or any publication to tout its exploits. nois at Urbana-Champaign journalism All the President’s Men. The book implies this article supported my conclusion. This, stone—one who relished the battle, and upon publication of our piece, while David Rather, it is inherent in its collective psy- program had performed an intensive four- again, was not rocket science, but simply would do the homework necessary to pre- Friend thought the Post could not sit on chology to publicize without external as- year study of all known information, a The great success the drudgery of homework. pare for it. such an earth-shaking revelation. We were sistance every O’Connor victory, real or project involving 70 bright and committed Having disproved this and other pieces Almost in desperation, I realized we both right. The explosive force of the story imagined, from the cutest babies ever born, students. Their culprit, announced to great of Woodward and of “negative” evidence, I also marshaled needed to try for Vanity Fair magazine, ultimately compelled the reporters, under to the best weddings, to the greatest prac- fanfare in 2003, had been Fred Fielding, a Bernstein can be evidence affirmatively pointing to Felt as which clearly was unafraid to publish con- pressure from the paper, to confirm what tical jokes. The fact that this particular White House lawyer with arguable access attributed to their Deep Throat. One key piece of such “posi- troversial, cutting-edge articles. I hit it off we had revealed. As Bernstein said so aptly, O’Connor was publicized in the media to all pertinent information. tive” evidence was Deep Throat’s know- well with David Friend, the personable, they didn’t control the story; the story con- amounted only to an increase in the degree, To be sure, there were tantalizing bits of embrace of Deep ledge of the so-called Kissinger Wiretaps, multitalented editor of creative develop- trolled them. not kind, of pride that our family has always evidence pointing to Mark Felt. For in- Throat’s circumstan- highly sensitive wiretaps put on 16 govern- ment. Friend became more and more inter- With the confirmation, the family now taken in its members. To celebrate, the In- stance, a visit by Bob Woodward to Felt in tial evidence. Yet ment officials and newsmen by the White ested as I presented our case, and finally had at least part of what it wanted: recogni- dianapolis contingent held an impromptu 2000 raised suspicions, although Wood- we found that pub- House in the wake of the May 9, 1969, leak said, in effect, I am convinced, and if you tion that its patriarch was Deep Throat. The party featuring beer and corn dogs. As the ward claimed that he simply had visited to of the controversial Cambodian bombing. can convince our best fact-checker and our family then gathered in its modest Santa tape of my television appearances was write a book on the FBI. The journalism lishers were reject- Because logs of these tapes were not kept legal expert, let’s do it. So I had a jury of Rosa family home to watch television, and played, I was e-mailed numerous comments class found this and other clues unpersua- ing our use of these in the normal FBI files, only eight or nine two: Mary Flynn, the magazine’s deputy to determine whether the rest of the coun- about my pink tie, few complimentary. sive. In any event, while many Internet same techniques. FBI and White House officials would have research editor and ace fact-checker, and try shared their belief that Mark Felt indeed Outside of helping the Felts enjoy the bloggers favored Felt, it appeared that the had knowledge of them, and the only two Robert Walsh, the bright, capable Vanity was a great American hero. moment, the most satisfaction I received more knowledgeable insiders still looked that Deep Throat was the first to tell repor- Deep Throat candidates among these were Fair legal-affairs editor. The results were better than they had from this experience was interacting with for a White House candidate. ters of the gap, by placing his conversation Alexander Haig and Mark Felt. Of this limi- Flynn did the bulk of the digging, and hoped. An early CNN poll showed more my relatives and old friends by e-mail and Over the following months and years, I with Woodward in advance of Bernstein’s ted group, only Felt had no responsibility certainly had the requisite smarts and the than 80 percent in agreement that Felt phone. I contributed to class projects for did my homework, along with my bright conversations with his multiple White for their placement, and Haig could be energy. I was gratified that finally I was talk- was a hero. The media coverage was gen- nieces and nephews, and helped with fund- paralegal, Will Rehling, whenever we could House sources. But the book does not actu- ruled out as Deep Throat on several other ing to an engaged juror searching for the erally favorable, with 400 newspapers raising for A Caring Place, a program for spare the time. Space and interest do not ally say that Woodward’s source preceded grounds. Thus, in my reasoning, Deep truth, not a corporate executive driven by featuring Felt’s picture on the front page. memory-impaired elderly, run in Indy by permit us to detail all the exercises we en- Bernstein’s. Indeed, I concluded the re- Throat’s knowledge of the Kissinger Wire- fear. I had tremendous fun with Flynn, and Letters and packages began flooding into my cousin Sister Susan Dinnin. However, gaged in, but let me share a few examples. verse was likely true, and Woodward was taps was proof positive that Felt was Deep once hooked on the issue, she needed no the Felt home from around the country, sadly, I still wait with bated breath for an Most observers pointing to a White cleverly disguising the temporal relation- Throat. While perhaps this was clear think- prodding from me. After many hours of thanking Felt for the courage to stand up invitation from Bob Walke, Cathedral class House source astutely noted that Deep ship by spatial sequencing. Therefore, the ing, it was certainly not deep thinking. evening and night homework, she became for his beliefs. As the family sat together in of 1964, to speak at the monthly class lunch Throat seemed to know much of what strong possibility existed, in my view, that We became convinced that we had an a true believer. Walsh then did his due dili- Felt’s converted-garage apartment open- in Broad Ripple. went on inside the White House during White House sources first talked to Bern- airtight case that would convince a jury be- gence and was satisfied. ing the mail, Felt said what made him hap- Felt’s flinty moral courage had been in- Watergate. For instance, Deep Throat stein about the gap. This seemed to be just yond a reasonable doubt in any jurisdiction To the credit of editor-in-chief Graydon piest was being able to enjoy this triumph stilled at his boyhood home in Twin Falls, seemingly was the first to tell Woodward plain common sense. in the country. However, I soon learned that Carter, he refused to brook any suggestion with his family. Idaho, by parents with quiet but strong re- or Bernstein in November 1973 about a Secondly, rereading the Washington the jury of journalism is quite different of softening our conclusion to say that Felt I returned to California at the end of the ligious values. I realized as well that my 1 highly suspicious 18 ⁄2-minute gap in a Post article from November 8, 1973, about than the legal jury of 12 citizens. The same might be or probably is Deep Throat. Non- week, and my daughter Christy and I imme- early dinner-table training had given me White House tape, then known only to a the statements attributed to the five nature and quantum of circumstantial evi- sense, he said, we think he is Deep Throat, diately drove to the Felt home. I was met the strength to advocate for what I believed few close White House insiders. This “gap” sources, gave me all the confirmation I dence that would convict Scott Peterson on so let’s say it. The rest, as they say, is history, by a man who was as happy a human being to be true. I also came to appreciate anew occurred on the tape containing the June needed. The article did not say, as many death-penalty murder, for example, would and the piece I penned for Vanity Fair was as I had ever encountered. Felt’s grin was that the legal profession’s emphasis on ar- 20, 1972, Oval Office conversations, shortly had concluded, that five sources had heard not be enough to get our story published. published in the magazine’s July 2005 is- broad, and his eyes were sparkling as he gument could, when practiced well, yield after the burglary arrests. I never felt that the tape, but only that they “confirmed ... Journalists and publishers, it seemed, fa- sue, creating a huge media buzz. shook my hand and complimented me. I not merely rhetorical fool’s gold, but the knowledge of this “gap” disqualified Felt difficulties” with the tape. To me, this vored direct eyewitness testimony, even On May 31, 2005, Vanity Fair’s first press felt like Eisenhower entering Paris. refined and polished gem of truth. G

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