Was ‘Deep Throat’ a Hero or a Rat?
Re “Watergate’s ‘Deep Throat’ Is Revealed,†June 1: I am glad that W. Mark Felt, second in command at the FBI in the early 1970s, finally came forward and revealed that he was the enigmatic “Deep Throat,†perhaps the greatest political mystery of our generation.
Although he kept his secret because he thought what he did was somehow dishonorable, in reality he did a brave and courageous thing and should be viewed as a genuine hero.
The Nixon administration was involved in a plethora of unethical, shady, mean-spirited and downright illegal acts. Without Felt’s valuable inside information, Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein would have never been able to bring down this evil and corrupt regime.
Named after an X-rated movie popular around that time, the only thing X-rated about the down-to-earth Felt is that he helped make Richard Nixon an “ex-president.†It is ironic that his name became almost as popular as his actions, making him a modern-day folk hero. Now Felt can be publicly praised, something that has been long overdue.
Kenneth L. Zimmerman
Huntington Beach
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While many may believe that Felt is a hero, I believe he is a traitor who betrayed his position and his country. Regardless of how he may have felt about President Nixon, he should have used official channels to make his position known.
Instead he was sneaking around, watching for moving pots, drawing clocks in Woodward’s newspaper and hiding in the shadows because he knew that what he was doing was wrong and unethical. I know a rat when I see one, and Felt is a rat.
Jim Davis
Beverly Hills
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Nixon administration staff members Pat Buchanan and G. Gordon Liddy have said that what Felt did was dishonorable. Then what is airing the truth? Does loyalty to the president trump the truth? I hope that someone in this administration has the honor to air the truth.
Sonny Klamerus
Northridge
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I was working on Capitol Hill when the first stories about the Watergate break-in were published in 1972. Thanks to Felt, whom we now know has been identified as “Deep Throat,†a disgraced Nixon was forced to resign from office about two years later. Somewhere between the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, a statue of Felt needs to be erected.
In my opinion, his wisdom and courage helped save our nation. Let the fundraising begin.
Denny Freidenrich
Laguna Beach
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If retired FBI agent Felt is indeed “Deep Throat†of Watergate fame, I, along with millions of Americans, want to express a simple thank you.
Patriotism comes in all shapes and forms, even an FBI man telling secrets to save his country.
I wish Felt had revealed this years ago; it would have given me so many more years of thanking him for his patriotism.
Bill Raabe
Fountain Valley
