Mark Felt Revealed as Watergate's 'Deep Throat' on May 31, 2005
Historical 'On This Day' highlights key US political moments
On May 31, 2005, former FBI Associate Director Mark Felt publicly admitted he was the anonymous source known as 'Deep Throat' who provided crucial information to Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein during their investigation of the 1972 Watergate scandal. Felt's information helped uncover the connection between the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and President Richard Nixon's administration. This revelation ultimately contributed to the only presidential resignation in American history, fundamentally altering the course of US politics.
The article also references several other significant political events in American history. These include President George Washington signing the first US copyright law in 1790, the 1921 Tulsa race massacre that resulted in numerous deaths and displacement of Black residents, and the 2012 acquittal of former presidential candidate John Edwards on campaign finance charges. Each event represents important moments in the development of American governance, racial relations, and political accountability.
KEY POINTS
- •Felt revealed as 'Deep Throat' in 2005
- •Watergate led to Nixon's resignation
- •Article notes key US historical events
More recent political developments mentioned include the 2014 release of US Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl from Taliban captivity in exchange for five Guantanamo detainees, which later resulted in desertion charges against Bergdahl. The article also notes a 2019 mass shooting at a Virginia Beach municipal center that killed 12 people. These events highlight ongoing challenges in military policy and public safety that continue to shape political discourse.
The Watergate scandal, which serves as the article's primary focus, remains one of the most consequential political events in modern American history. The revelation of Felt as 'Deep Throat' came more than three decades after the events themselves, demonstrating the lasting impact and public interest in this pivotal moment of presidential accountability. The scandal fundamentally changed Americans' relationship with government, establishing new expectations for transparency and ethical conduct in the highest offices of political power.