The Identity of Deep Throat

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The Identity of Deep Throat

        Watergate is perhaps one of the biggest political scandals in American History.  Even more, the identification of Watergate’s deep throat has remained a mystery for over 25 years.  There are only three people besides Deep Throat himself that know his identity:  Bob Woodward (Post reporter), Carl Bernstein (Post Reporter), and Ben Bradlee (Former Executive editor of the Washington Post).  However, upon Deep Throat’s death Bob Woodward will reveal his identity after decades of speculation.  It is my belief that Deep Throat is none other than L. Patrick Gray III.  Not only did Gray fit the physical portrait of Deep Throat but other clues such as reason, knowledge, location, and timing pointed in his direction.  To understand all that is Watergate and uncovering Deep Throat’s identity I must first offer general background information about the Watergate scandal and Gray’s unique entry into the mystery.  

        Almost immediately after J. Edgar Hoover’s strange death, Attorney General Richard Kleindienst called Assistant to the Director John Mohr and informed him to secure Hoover’s private office.  However, what should have concerned Kleindienst at the time was not Hoover’s office but Helen Gandy’s office.  Her office contained Hoover’s controversial files.  Clyde Tolson and Helen Gandy were already preparing to destroy certain files including the “D list” files.  According to Marilyn Bardsley, the “D list” files contained films, audio, tapes, and certain files that were to be destroyed upon Hoover’s death.  Soon after, L. Patrick Gray came to John Mohr wanting to know where the secret files were being kept.  Mohr denied that any such thing existed and refused giving him any information about the files.  In the ensuing hours Gray was appointed acting director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations by the now President Nixon.  Gray became director of the FBI with no prior experience in law enforcement and managing such a large agency.  Before Gray’s appointment he had several positions in Nixon’s administration including Nixon’s military advisor because of his prior military experience (submarine commander).  

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At this time, the newly sworn President Richard Nixon became frustrated by constant leaks to the press, which were detrimental to his image as well as the administration.  In response Nixon formed a group called the “plumbers” in order to extinguish potential leaks.  The “plumbers” were led by E. Howard hunt, a former FBI agent.  Chief of staff H.R. Halderman and Domestic advisor John Ehrlichman ordered the plumbers to break in the Democratic National Committee’s office in the Watergate complex.  On June 17, 1972 at 2:30am, five men were arrested planting bugs in the Democratic National Committee office.  And on ...

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