# What did deep throat do **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 31, 2005, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289 "2005-05-31T23:42:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2005, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/1 "2005-05-31T23:42:41Z")
Now that his identity is public record, what did he do to bring down the Nixon white house? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/2 "2005-05-31T23:45:07Z")
And i’m referring to the deep throat who gave info to the washington post, not the oral sex lady. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/3 "2005-05-31T23:52:25Z")
Rent the movie “All The President’s Men.” It is a fantastic film IMHO and will give you a good overview of the election of 1972 and the dirty tricks both sides played on each other. Deep Throat kept the two reporters on track. When they became stalled in their investigation they’d hang out a rag on the balcony. It was a signal for Deep Throat to meet with Woodward (usually in a parking garage after hours). DT never gave direct information. He’d ask where they were and what trouble they were encountering. Then he’d steer them in a more productive direction. It was up to them to discover what they could discover. Once the only thing they got from him was “Follow the money.” ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/4 "2005-06-01T00:02:39Z")
> [@Doug Bowe](#): > > Rent the movie “All The President’s Men.” It is a fantastic film IMHO But not near as mythic as the 1999 blockbuster [Dick](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144168/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxsbT01MDB8dHQ9MXxmYj11fHBuPTB8c291cmNlaWQ9bW96aWxsYS1zZWFyY2h8cT1kaWNrfGh0bWw9MXxubT0x;fc=2;ft=15;fm=1). ---
**Author:** ![adirondack\_mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@adirondack\_mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adirondack_mike)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/5 "2005-06-01T00:07:21Z")
Better yet read the [book.](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0671894412/qid=1117584523/sr=8-2/ref=pd_csp_2/102-5817805-9693764?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) Relying on movies for historical or accurate data is a somewhat dicey adventure. He was an important source that verified some of Woodward and Bernsteins information - the ultimate anonymous source. Meanwhile check out CNN or the other online networks for a quick and more complete summary then my addled memory is willing to supply at this moment. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/6 "2005-06-01T00:19:37Z")
Deep throat was a hint giver. But he didn’t break the case open. A letter from McCord to Judge Sirica naming names is what opened the floodgates. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/7 "2005-06-01T00:21:50Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > Now that his identity is public record, what did he do to bring down the Nixon white house? He was the key to the lock of the floodgates, that broke the dam that was Nixon. Tripler He had names. That’s all that matters. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/8 "2005-06-01T00:26:10Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > He was the key to the lock of the floodgates, that broke the dam that was Nixon. > > Tripler > He had names. That’s all that matters. He never named names. He gave hints. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/9 "2005-06-01T00:51:03Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > And i’m referring to the deep throat who gave info to the washington post, not the oral sex lady. Hope you don’t mind me tagging on here **Wesley** , but I’d like to know how the heck he got that nickname. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/10 "2005-06-01T00:52:43Z")
> [@Eleusis](#): > > Hope you don’t mind me tagging on here **Wesley** , but I’d like to know how the heck he got that nickname. From the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/11 "2005-06-01T01:15:03Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > From the movie. Well yeah, but why? Where’s the connection? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/12 "2005-06-01T01:19:36Z")
he gave info “on deep background.” Deep Throat being popular at the time, “deep background” soon yielded to the other version. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/13 "2005-06-01T01:21:16Z")
> [@pseudotriton ruber ruber](#): > > he gave info “on deep background.” Deep Throat being popular at the time, “deep background” soon yielded to the other version. I mean, of course, the movie “Deep Throat” was popular at the time. I don’t think the act itself has ever been truly popular, taking as it does a unique skill to perform. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/14 "2005-06-01T01:57:37Z")
What I don’t understand is… in what context would you be willing to give hints, but not give out actual clear info? I mean, this is not a case where he’s a kindergarten teacher and needs his students to blossom by learning to think for themselves… ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/15 "2005-06-01T01:58:28Z")
> [@Doug Bowe](#): > > Deep Throat kept the two reporters on track. When they became stalled in their investigation they’d hang out a rag on the balcony. I thought Bernstein moved a plant from one side of the balcony to the other. Anyway, yeah, he didn’t name names; he just steered them in the right direction. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/16 "2005-06-01T02:03:49Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > What I don’t understand is… in what context would you be willing to give hints, but not give out actual clear info? I mean, this is not a case where he’s a kindergarten teacher and needs his students to blossom by learning to think for themselves… he was obviously conflicted in his willingness to disclose actual information. This little dance he did helped him justify not being the traitior to the Nixon administration he was obviously, on some level, being by cooperating with Woodward and bernstein. It was Woodward’s balcony, I believe. He lived in the Dupont circle area, near where I had a balcony, and I used to walk past his building (years later) to check it out. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/17 "2005-06-01T02:07:49Z")
:smack: I meant Woodward. And DeeH^H^H^H^H^Felt probably wanted to have deniablity in case the FBI or anyone in the Nixon administration found out he was talking to Woodstein. Not so much being conflicted, although he may have been, as not wanting to get blown up in his car. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/18 "2005-06-01T02:08:49Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > What I don’t understand is… in what context would you be willing to give hints, but not give out actual clear info? I mean, this is not a case where he’s a kindergarten teacher and needs his students to blossom by learning to think for themselves… The less specific he was, the less likely that someone in the White House could trace the leak back to him. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/19 "2005-06-01T03:04:01Z")
I myself find it amazing that two, TWO jounrilist could keep this secrect for so long! Bet you couldn’t find two today that would take a matter as big as this to there (near) graves. ;j ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289/20 "2005-06-01T03:11:37Z")
Bob Novak and Maureen Dowd have been pretty close-mouthed about who outed Valerie Plame. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-deep-throat-do/306289.md?page=2)