All the President's Men

Part 1: The Burglary and the Initial Investigation (June - October 1972)

• June 17, 1972: The Break-in

  • Five men are arrested attempting to burglarize the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate complex.

  • One of the burglars, James McCord, is the security coordinator for the Committee to Re-elect the President (CREEP/CRP).

  • Bob Woodward, a young Washington Post metro reporter, is assigned to cover the arraignment.

  • He notes that the burglars are wearing business suits and have expensive equipment, suggesting they are not typical criminals.

  • One of the men, Bernard Barker, has address books containing the name "Hunt" and the initials "W.H."

  • Initial White House and CREEP statements dismiss the incident as a "third-rate burglary" with no connection to the administration.

  • Woodward learns that E. Howard Hunt, a former CIA agent, worked for the White House as a consultant.

  • He also discovers Hunt's name on a list of White House consultants.

  • The Post begins to connect the dots, facing pressure from the White House and other media who largely accept the official narrative.

• June 18 - Early July 1972: Following the Money and the Men

  • Woodward and Bernstein begin working together, often in the late hours after others have gone home.

  • They start tracing the money found on the burglars and discover it originated from a Mexican bank account.

  • They link the money to CREEP and its finance chairman, Maurice Stans.

  • The reporters face significant stonewalling from official sources and are often dismissed or lied to.

  • They develop their sourcing techniques: cultivating anonymous sources, cross-referencing information, and making countless phone calls.

  • The role of "Deep Throat" emerges. Woodward meets a high-level source, initially unnamed in the book, who provides crucial guidance and confirmation of information, often through cryptic clues. Deep Throat emphasizes following the money and avoiding official channels.

  • They discover that some of the burglars had connections to the CIA.

• July - August 1972: Expanding the Web

  • Woodward and Bernstein continue to uncover layers of connections, linking the burglars to various figures within CREEP and the White House.

  • They report on significant amounts of cash being channeled through various accounts linked to CREEP, some of which were used for "dirty tricks."

  • They face skepticism from many in the media and the public, who believe the story is overblown or politically motivated.

  • The Post management, particularly Ben Bradlee (executive editor), provides essential support and encouragement but also demands rigorous verification.

• September - October 1972: Nixon's Campaign and the Emerging Scandal

  • Despite the Post's reporting, Richard Nixon is re-elected in a landslide. Many media outlets downplay the Watergate story, and the public seems largely unconcerned.

  • Woodward and Bernstein continue to push forward, sensing there is much more to uncover.

  • They report on the extensive efforts by the White House to cover up its involvement, including destruction of documents and payments to silence the burglars.

  • They identify key figures involved in the scandal, including G. Gordon Liddy and Howard Hunt, and begin to connect them to higher-ups.

Part 2: Deepening the Investigation and Facing Resistance (November 1972 - May 1973)

• November - December 1972: Uncovering More Details

  • The reporters continue to connect the dots between the Watergate burglars, the White House, and CREEP.

  • They report on the grand jury investigation and the efforts by the administration to obstruct it.

  • Deep Throat continues to provide guidance, emphasizing the need for multiple corroborations for any piece of information.

  • They uncover more details about the "dirty tricks" campaign orchestrated by Nixon's re-election committee, including sabotage of Democratic campaigns.

  • The Post faces increasing pressure and criticism from the White House, which labels their reporting as biased and inaccurate.

• January - February 1973: The Trial and Senate Committee

  • The Watergate burglars are tried. Judge John Sirica expresses skepticism about the completeness of the investigation, suggesting higher-level involvement.

  • James McCord sends a letter to Judge Sirica, alleging political pressure and perjury during the trial, cracking open the cover-up.

  • This development vindicates much of the Post's earlier reporting and sparks renewed interest in the story.

  • The Senate establishes a select committee, chaired by Senator Sam Ervin, to investigate Watergate, leading to televised hearings.

• March - April 1973: The Dam Breaks

  • As the Senate committee begins its work, more administration officials begin to cooperate, fearing the consequences of continued silence.

  • John Dean, the White House counsel, becomes a key figure, privately informing prosecutors about the full extent of the cover-up.

  • Woodward and Bernstein report on the growing number of resignations and indictments within the administration.

  • They detail the elaborate system of payoffs to the burglars to keep them silent.

  • High-ranking officials, including H.R. Haldeman (Chief of Staff) and John Ehrlichman (Domestic Affairs Advisor), are increasingly implicated.

• May 1973: The Cover-up Unravels

  • The Senate Watergate hearings begin to reveal the full scope of the scandal to the American public.

  • Witnesses testify about the White House's involvement in the break-in, the cover-up, and various abuses of power.

  • Woodward and Bernstein's earlier, seemingly outlandish reports are now being confirmed by sworn testimony.

  • The pressure mounts on President Nixon, as more and more evidence points to his knowledge and involvement in the cover-up.

  • The book ends with the immediate aftermath of the initial unraveling of the cover-up, leaving the reader with a sense of the immense scale of the scandal and the crucial role of investigative journalism.

Key Themes and Elements:

• Investigative Journalism: The book provides a detailed, inside look at the demanding and often frustrating process of investigative reporting: cultivating sources, verifying information, facing skepticism, and persevering against powerful opposition.

• The Power of the Press: It highlights the essential role of a free and independent press in holding power accountable, even when facing immense pressure from the highest levels of government.

• Corruption and Abuse of Power: The narrative meticulously exposes the systemic corruption within the Nixon administration, detailing a wide array of illegal activities, including burglary, illegal wiretaps, political sabotage, and obstruction of justice.

• The "Deep Throat" Mystery: The unnamed source (later revealed to be Mark Felt) plays a pivotal role, offering crucial guidance and confirmation, demonstrating the importance of anonymous sources in exposing high-level wrongdoing.

• Stonewalling and Cover-up: The book vividly portrays the White House's initial attempts to dismiss and cover up the scandal, illustrating the challenges faced by reporters trying to uncover the truth.

• Verification and Rigor: The authors emphasize the painstaking efforts required to verify every piece of information, highlighting the Washington Post's commitment to journalistic integrity in the face of intense criticism.

• Teamwork and Collaboration: The book showcases the effective collaboration between Woodward and Bernstein, despite their differing styles, and the crucial support from their editors.