A deceiver and a liar — Nixon and Felt

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jun 6, 2005 | by Lee Benson Deseret Morning News

Now that the identity of Deep Throat had been revealed, the cable TV news show wanted to know what Americans thought about Mark Felt.

Was the Washington Post's leading source in the investigation three decades ago that exposed the Watergate break-in coverup and brought about the fall of, among others, President Richard M. Nixon, a hero? A traitor? Or something in between?

Call the 800 number and vote.

But wait, isn't there another way? Can't we first go to an underground parking garage at 3 in the morning, after changing cabs and walking down long alleys to make sure we haven't been followed, and then, after being assured our identity will not be revealed, make the call?

Such was the moving-target style of the elusive Felt, who parceled out "deep background" and "verification" to Post reporter Bob Woodward Yoda-style while the two of them huddled in the dark of a D.C. garage.

Then, a few hours later, the buttoned-down Felt would arrive at his office at the FBI Building on Pennsylvania Ave., where he was second-in-command of the bureau, a position that gave him, in addition to his daily delivery of the Washington Post, access to the files on the Watergate investigation. Files the No. 2 man at the FBI was under ethical and legal obligation to keep secure.

If clandestinely divulging their contents in the dead of night to an investigative reporter is heroic, then Jose Canseco should be our next president.

At least when Canseco broke ranks and exposed steroid use in baseball, he had the decency to do it out in the open using his own name -- and he only violated an unwritten "code of the road."

The question the cable show ought to be asking is: If you had to pick one, who would you rather buy a used car from? Richard Nixon or Mark Felt?

That's a tough one. Their actions suggest they were more similar than Felt obviously thought they were.

History has duly recorded that Nixon was the kind of guy who didn't like to play a game unless he had a good idea how it was going to turn out. He used underhanded, bullying tactics to manipulate getting what he wanted, including the presidency.

Felt played Watergate the same way, using underhanded tactics to manipulate the investigation until he overthrew the president.

Both had power; both chose to misuse it.

Even after he resigned amid Watergate's pressure, Nixon continued to deny what he had done. It was the same with Felt, who, when his name naturally became a part of the "Who is Deep Throat?" sweepstakes following the dramatic conclusion of Watergate, vehemently denied that it was him, even telling his hometown newspaper in Twin Falls, Idaho, that he would defend himself in court if need be.

His confession last week, at the age of 91, seems to have been a combination of greed -- he sold his story -- and failing mental capacity.

The old Mark Felt would never have been so honest and forthright.

The good news is that the Watergate story might finally be over. The last chapter of "Men Behaving Badly" has been written.

At that, it does all seem to have ended somewhat satisfactorily. Thirty-one years ago, Richard Nixon was exposed as a deceiver and a liar and now so, too, has Mark Felt.

Now, where is that parking garage so I can cast my vote?

Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.