Funny that Rehnquist wasn't listed as a likely candidate in 2002, nor was he
ruled out . . .
This is from a CNN article in 2002 covering Dean's then new book:
Just who is Deep Throat?
SUMMARY:
It's one of the great mysteries of recent American history: Thirty years
after the Watergate break-in, the anonymous source whose crucial clues
contributed to President Nixon's downfall has yet to be publicly identified.
Bob Woodward, who with Carl Bernstein helped unearth the White House's
misdeeds for the Washington Post, has vowed not to tell all until the
so-called "Deep Throat" dies or gives him the green light.
According to interviews Woodward and Bernstein have granted over the years,
Deep Throat -- named after a '70s porn film -- is a man, is still alive,
held a highly sensitive post within the executive branch, and was fond of
Scotch and cigarettes.
As Woodward describes him, "He was, incongruously, an incurable gossip,
careful to label rumor for what it was, but fascinated by it."
Although Woodward, Bernstein, former Post editor Ben Bradlee and Deep Throat
himself are the only ones in the know, that hasn't stopped any number of
former insiders and would-be experts from offering their theories.
The latest comes from former Nixon aide John Dean, whose new book,
"Unmasking Deep Throat," seeks to further winnow the list of suspects.
CANDIDATES:
Here's a look at several Deep Throat suspects put forth over the years:
MARK FELT: The former FBI official is considered a leading candidate. White
House tapes from 1972 recorded Nixon aide H.R. Haldeman telling the
president that most of the leaks were coming from Felt. Also, the Hartford
Courant newspaper reported that a 19-year-old it interviewed in 1999 said
Bernstein's son Jacob had told him that Felt was Deep Throat. Bernstein and
his ex-wife, Nora Ephron, deny he ever told his son.
CHARLES BATES: The former assistant director of the FBI's General
Investigative Division is considered another top candidate, according to
journalist James Mann, who also listed Mark Felt. Bates had supervisory
authority over the break-in.
L. PATRICK GRAY: The former acting FBI director fits Woodward and
Bernstein's description, lived close to Woodward, and was the only one of
the suspects who could have met with Woodward on the pertinent dates,
according to a CBS documentary.
ROBERT KUNKEL: The former special agent was in charge of the FBI's
Washington field office.
HENRY KISSINGER: The former national security adviser and secretary of state
is often cited as a candidate, if only for his proximity to Nixon, but
there's little evidence that he's the guy.
DAVID GERGEN: The Nixon adviser, who also served in the Ford, Reagan and
Clinton administrations, threatened legal actions against Esquire magazine
when the publication in 1976 named him as its top candidate. Former NBC
correspondent Jim Miklaszewski has said he thinks Gergen is Deep Throat.
PAT BUCHANAN: University of Illinois students working on a Watergate project
unanimously fingered Buchanan in a recent study. Buchanan, was a
speechwriter and special assistant in the Nixon administration. He later
became a TV commentator and presidential candidate.
RON ZIEGLER: Former White House press secretary
LEONARD GARMENT: Former White House counsel and Nixon friend
NAMES BERNSTEIN OR WOODWARD RULED OUT: Nixon chief of staff Al Haig, Watergate prosecutor Earl Silbert, Republican operative John Sears, CIA director William Colby (deceased), White House aide (now ABC anchor) Diane Sawyer, CIA official Cord Meyer (deceased).
