Deep Throat in the Watergate scandal was W. Mark Felt , the former Associate Director of the FBI, who served as the key anonymous source for Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.

His clandestine meetings with Woodward in an Arlington parking garage provided critical guidance that helped expose the Nixon administration's abuses of power, ultimately contributing to President Richard Nixon's resignation on August 9, 1974. Felt's identity remained a closely guarded secret for over 30 years, despite widespread speculation, until he publicly confirmed it in a 2005 Vanity Fair article at age 91, shocking even Woodward and Bernstein who had pledged to protect his anonymity until after his death.

Identity Reveal Timeline

  • June 17, 1972 : Watergate break-in occurs at Democratic National Committee headquarters.
  • 1972-1974 : Felt, as "Deep Throat," feeds Woodward pivotal leads like White House involvement via E. Howard Hunt.
  • May 31, 2005 : Felt reveals himself amid family encouragement for financial support and closure; he passed away in 2008.

Why "Deep Throat"?

The codename originated as an inside joke at The Washington Post. Editor Howard Simons suggested it, blending "deep background" (journalistic term for anonymous high-level sources) with the notorious 1972 pornographic film Deep Throat , a cultural phenomenon at the time. Felt reportedly wasn't even aware of the moniker initially.

Felt's Motivations and Controversy

Felt leaked information partly out of frustration with Nixon's interference in FBI operations after J. Edgar Hoover's death, viewing it as his duty to expose corruption from within. However, viewpoints differ:

  • Hero narrative : Seen as a principled whistleblower who upheld the rule of law.
  • Composite source theory : Some, like historian Max Holland, argue Deep Throat was partly a blend of sources, not solely Felt, based on inconsistencies in Woodward's accounts.
  • Self-interest angle : Critics note Felt's 1980 conviction (later pardoned) for illegal FBI wiretaps, suggesting personal grudges against Nixon appointees.

No recent developments as of January 2026; Felt's story endures as a journalism legend, inspiring films like All the President's Men (1976). TL;DR : W. Mark Felt, FBI #2, was Deep Throat—revealed in 2005 after guiding Watergate coverage that toppled Nixon.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.