Friends in High Places

When examining the story of reporting Watergate, 2 names come immediately to mind: Woodward and Bernstein. But, of course, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein weren't the only newspaper people involved in the process.

During his conversation at The Newseum tonight about Watergate, Woodward said much of the credit for The Washington Post's stories, which played such a a key role in the resignation of President Richard Nixon, should go to Executive Editor Ben Bradlee and Publisher Katherine Graham.

Ben Bradlee

The fiery Bradlee set the tone for the newsroom that allowed and encouraged 2 relatively young, inexperienced reporters to tackle what turned out to be one of the biggest stories of the 20th Century.

"It was a great environment. The Post was the place to be," Woodward said. "Bradlee said go out and get the story. We don't know what is really going on."

Graham, who could have lost her entire media empire if Woodward and Bernstein's stories turned out to be erroneous, also stuck by the newsroom despite veiled and not-so-veiled threats from the Nixon Administration. Graham was the subject of one of the best-known threats in American journalistic history. Nixon's Attorney General John Mitchell warned reporter Bernstein about a forthcoming Watergate article. "Katie Graham's gonna get her tit caught in a big fat wringer if that's published."

Catherine Graham

Woodward praised Graham for being a "mind on, hands off" boss. He recalled when he was summoned for tea to Graham's office. Graham demonstrated an impressive knowledge of the Watergate affair and asked Woodward when the full story would be revealed. Woodward, with the Watergate investigation still underway, said he feared the complete story might never be made public.

"Never.  Don't tell me never," Woodward said Graham told him, vowing to let the newsroom use all the resources at its disposal to continue to go after the story.

Woodward said he and Bernstein have discussed a fitting memorial for their late publisher. "We're going to put a plaque in the Post which says 'Never. Don't tell me never - Katherine Graham,'" he said.

Tales, Tidbits, and Tips

The Watergate stories actually had 3 lives. The 1st, of course, was in The Washington Post. Then there were the 2 best selling books by Woodward and Bernstein All The President's Men and The Final Days. Finally, there was the award winning movie made from All The President's Men. Newseum moderator Shelby Coffey III, who at the time of Watergate was a Post editor, asked Woodward about seeing himself and his story displayed on the big screen.  In the film, Woodward was portrayed by Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman portrayed Bernstein. At Redford's urging, Jason Robards was selected to play Bradlee. Initially, Robards was reluctant to take on the role. "All he does is go around and say 'Where the fuck's the story,'" Robards said. The movie makers laughed and said that Robards was right. "All you have to do is figure out about 15 different ways to say 'Where the fuck's the story,'" they said. Coffey asked Woodward what it was like having Redford depict him on screen. "You have no idea how many women I've disappointed," Woodward said, provoking hearty laughs from the sold-out crowd.

Woodward and Bernstein in their Watergate reporting days

Their screen counterparts Hoffman and Redford