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Deep Throat croaks

W. Mark Felt passed away this last week. A few years ago he revealed himself as "Deep Throat," Woodward and Bernstein's anonymous source for their investigative reporting into Watergate. Their reporting gave rise to Congressional investigations into misconduct by President Richard Nixon, who, in response to pending impeachment proceedings, resigned from office.

I won't debate the sins of Richard Nixon, or the swelled heads of Woodward and Bernstein, and I sure as hell won't join the ranks of those who consider Felt some sort of hero. The reason is simple: He's not a hero.

Felt was a deputy director the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He acted as he did out of pure spite. He was resentful that Nixon didn't appoint him as the new FBI director after Hoover died. Snitching on Nixon was not an act of patriotism or courage, it was an act of revenge.

He couldn't have objected to the wiretaps or break-ins. After all, Felt himself authorized lots of illegal wiretaps. You might know of one particularly famous one. It resulted in Bill Ayers, domestic terrorist and high-ranking member of the murderous Weather Underground, being able to walk out of court and crow, "Guilty as sin, free as a bird."

So no, Felt didn't have a problem with dirty tricks, but he did have a problem with Nixon. Woodward and Bernstein gave him a way to "solve" that problem.

Putting all that aside, Felt is no hero because he betrayed the very oath he took upon joining the FBI. And no, I don't mean that he revealed secrets. I mean that he knew Nixon was acting illegally and refused to act in his official capacity.

Imagine a cop sitting in his patrol car, watching a robbery, and doing nothing except reporting it to the local newspaper.

That is what Felt did.

Felt was obligated by his profession and his oath to go after Nixon, but he didn't. Instead, he opted to act in such a way that he could exact revenge on a sitting president, while continuing to receive all the benefits of his position and rank.

He's not a hero, he's contemptible.

May Mr. Felt rest in peace. My prayers and condolences for his family and friends. But he's no hero; not then, not now, not ever.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Well put Bob.
January 28, 2009 at 11:21 PM
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