Investigative journalists, and their sources.

Different types of journalists, as identified by Larry Sabato, include lapdog journalists, watch dog journalists, and attack journalists.  In “All the President’s Men,” main characters and journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein are portrayed as watchdog journalists seeking out information from their sources to scoop a great cover-up story that should be known by every American – The Watergate Scandal.  Based on a true story and adapted from a book, this film takes into account the struggles of confirming journalist tips and verifying them with credible sources that can be cited and used in articles.  Woodward and Bernstein spend half the movie trying to find evidence to support the seemingly impossible conspiracy of illegal activity deriving directly from the White house and the President at the time, Richard Nixon.  Many rumors surfaced about Watergate, but much of it was disregarded at first however none of it could be referenced thoroughly based off a single tip.  Woodward and Bernstein used unnamed sources that would be referred to as “Deep Throat” for thirty years.  The risk of using unnamed sources when seeking information on a subject and finding credible references to support the unsupported claims can be a tricky and almost impossible task at some points, as Woodward and Bernstein experienced first hand when uncovering the mystery surrounding Watergate.

In the first part of the film we see Woodward meeting Deep Throat to discuss Watergate for the first time.  Deep throat is particularly vague in his details but outlines a direction for Woodward to take in knowing where to start in the investigation.  The difficulty in confirming Deep throat’s claims of espionage within the government is rather strenuous as well as dangerous to sometimes confirm, especially when sensitive national security officials are involved.  National officials have many barriers to protect them from being contacted by the press.  Such an example occurs when Woodward calls and argues with secretary after secretary of officials in an attempt to confirm specific information for a story to gain enough credibility to be published.

Another difficulty in confirming unnamed sources information is gaining an on-the-record source that will divulge evidence for a story and give testimonials on the topic in full detail.  Such was almost the case when Woodward and Bernstein nearly found their man, Hugh Sloan, a retired government official who Deep throat indicated would know everything about the issue and who also may be willing to go on record when being used as a source.  Had Woodward and Bernstein been able to use Sloan as a source, their credibility would greatly improve as respected journalists.  Sloan was an important witness in a federal trial and gave a statement in his testimony that did not divulge crucial information Woodward and Bernstein needed to further their investigation.  Woodward and Bernstein now needed to find another way to get the confirmation they needed on who was involved in a money scandal concerning the criminals who caused Watergate.

Another barrier Woodward and Bernstein encountered were the unbreakable barriers between them and the government officials who had information on the scandal.  In the film Bernstein travels to Florida to follow a lead about an official who had information on who paid the Watergate burglars to do the job.  Bernstein is abruptly halted at the secretary’s desk and told that the official, who confirmed to him an appointment over the phone, was suddenly too busy to see Bernstein.  No matter how long Bernstein waited for a meeting, there was no way he would see anyone.  Therefore he tricked the secretary to leave her post in order to dash to the official’s office and confront him face to face on the issue of not being able to see him as well as asking questions about the money exchanges involved in Watergate.  Bernstein eventually gains a few leads on the money trail and reports back to Woodward who has also uncovered important evidence in the case.

A final barrier Woodward and Bernstein encounter when uncovering evidence and gathering sources is the reality of a threat against their lives when Deep throat informs Woodward their lives may be in danger and explains to Woodward that whoever is interested in them has been spying on them and concludes with a dark note telling Woodward to expose their story quickly before anyone exterminates either Woodward, Bernstein, or both.  Woodward is so disturbed by this realization he goes directly to Bernstein’s home to tell him by each of them typing out their dialogue on a typewriter.  The film concludes with a typewriter telling the audience what happened following Woodward and Bernstein’s breakthrough journalism and investigation in the government cover up.  This medium adds a sense of satisfaction to show that Woodward and Bernstein’s hard work on a typewriter did not go to waste and instead exposed to the entire nation the vast conspiracy and espionage activity in the government.  The identity of Deep Throat, the driving force behind Woodward, was not discovered until recently when Woodward and Bernstein told the public he was ill and close to death.  Perhaps unnamed sources are beneficial in a grander scheme, however, at the time, Woodward and Bernstein spent most of their time fact checking to confirm suspicions and write a credible article.  Had Deep throat been wrong about the details or Woodward and Bernstein not discovered the details of the scandal, it is possible that this story would have remained a story driven by unnamed sources and constant suspicion.