Deep Throat You thought I'd help out on specifics? I'll confirm what you get, try to keep you on the right track, but that's all. Are you guys really working? [Woodward nods] How much?
I don't know maybe sixteen, eighteen hours a day--we've got sources at Justice, the FBI, but it's still drying up.
Deep Throat Then there must be something, mustn't there. Look, forget the myths the media's created about the White House--the truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.
If you don't like them, why won't you be more concrete with me?
Deep Throat Because the press stinks too--history on the run, that's all you're interested in. You come up with anything?
John Mitchell resigned as head of CREEP to spend more time with his family. That doesn't exactly have the ring of truth. Howard Hunt's been found--there was talk that his lawyer had 25 thousand in cash in a paper bag.
Deep Throat Follow the money. Always follow the money.
Deep Throat Oh, I can't tell you that.
But you could tell me that.
Deep Throat No, I have to do this my way. You tell me what you know, and I'll confirm. I'll keep you in the right direction if I can, but that's all. Just... follow the money.
This man Gordon Liddy--he's going to be tried along with Hunt and the five burglars--we know he knows a lot, we just don't know what.
Deep Throat You changed cabs? You're sure no one followed you?
I did everything you said, but it all seemed--
Deep Throat Melodramatic? Things are past that--remember, these are men with switchblade mentalities who run the world as if it were Dodge City.
What's the whole thing about--do you know?
Deep Throat What I know, you'll have to find out on your own.
Liddy--you think there's a chance he'll talk?
Deep Throat Talk? Once, at a gathering, he put his hand over a candle. And he kept it there. He kept it right in the flame until his flesh seared. A woman who was watching asked, "What's the trick?" And he replied. "The trick is not minding."
Deep Throat What's the topic for tonight?
Deep Throat In my day, it was simply called the double cross. I believe the CIA refers to it as Mind****. In our context, it simply means infiltration of the Democrats.
I know what it means--Segretti wouldn't go on the record, but if he would, we know he'd implicate Chapin. And that would put us inside the White House.
Deep Throat Yes, the little rat****ers are now running our government.
Who?--be specific. How high up?
Deep Throat You'll have to find that out, won't you.
Deep Throat You were doing so well and then you got stupid, you went too fast--Christ, what a royal screw up.
I know, I know, the pressure's off the White House and it's all back on the Post.
Deep Throat You've done worse than let Haldeman slip away: you've got people feeling sorry for him. I didn't think that was possible. In a conspiracy like this, you build from the outer edges and go step by step. If you shoot too high and miss, everybody feels more secure. You've put the investigation back months.
Yes, we know that. And if we're wrong, we're resigning. Were we wrong?
Deep Throat You'll have to find that out, won't you?
I'm tired of your chickenshit games. I don't want hints, I want what you know!
Deep Throat You thought I'd help out on specifics? I'll confirm what you get, try to keep you on the right track, but that's all. Are you guys really working? [Woodward nods] How much?
I don't know maybe sixteen, eighteen hours a day—we've got sources at Justice, the FBI, but it's still drying up. The story is dry. All we've got are pieces. We can't seem to figure out what the puzzle is supposed to look like. John Mitchell resigns as the head of CREEP, and says that he wants to spend more time with his family. I mean, it sounds like bullshit, we don't exactly believe that...
Deep Throat No, heh, but it's touching. Forget the myths the media's created about the White House. The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.
Hunt's come in from the cold. Supposedly he's got a lawyer with $25,000 in a brown paper bag.
Deep Throat Follow the money. Always follow the money.
Deep Throat Oh, I can't tell you that.
But you could tell me that.
Deep Throat No, I have to do this my way. You tell me what you know, and I'll confirm. I'll keep you in the right direction if I can, but that's all. Just... follow the money.
Who told them not to investigate the break-in?
Deep Throat Don't you understand what you're on to?
Deep Throat Of course Mitchell knew. You think something this size just happens?
Halderman had to know too.
Deep Throat You'll hear nothing from me about Haldeman.
Segretti told me and Bernstein that...
Deep Throat [interrupting]
Don't concentrate on Segretti. You'll miss the overall.
The letter that destroyed the Muskie candidates... did that come from inside the White House?
Deep Throat You're missing the overall.
Deep Throat The people behind all of this were frightened of Muskie and that's what got him destroyed. They wanted to run against McGovern. Look who they're running against. They bugged offices, they followed people, planted false press leaks, passed fake letters... they canceled Democratic campaign rallies, they investigated Democratic private lives, they planted spies, they stole documents... and now don't tell me that all of this was the work of one Donald Segretti.
Do your associates in the FBI and the Justice Department know about this?
[Woodward turns when a lone car passes by, when he turns back, Deep Throat is gone]
Deep Throat What's the topic for tonight?
Deep Throat In my day, it was simply called the double cross. I believe the CIA refers to it as Mind****. In our context, it simply means infiltration of the Democrats.
I know what it means—Segretti wouldn't go on the record, but if he would, we know he'd implicate Chapin.
Deep Throat And that will put you inside the White House.
Be specific. How high up?
Deep Throat You'll have to find that out for yourself. I'm taking great risk meeting you here. I don't like newspapers. I don't care for any inexactitudes or shallowness.
CREEP's slush fund... we've just about got that down nailed town with the rat-****, I don't know how...
Deep Throat [footsteps are heard in the distance]
Did you remember to change cabs before coming here?
Yeah. Does the FBI know what we know? Does the Justice Department? Why haven't they done anything?
Deep Throat If it didn't deal directly with the Watergate break-in, they didn't pursue.
Deep Throat You were doing so well and then you got stupid, you went too fast—Christ, what a royal screw up.
I know, I know, the pressure's off the White House and it's all back on the Post.
Deep Throat [angry tone]
You let Haldeman slip away.
Deep Throat You've done worse than let Haldeman slip away: you've got people feeling sorry for him. I didn't think that was possible. In a conspiracy like this, you build from the outer edges and go step by step. If you shoot too high and miss, everybody feels more secure. You've put the investigation back months.
Yes, we know that. And if we're wrong, we're resigning...Were we wrong?
Deep Throat You'll have to figure that on your own.
Listen, I'm tired of your chickenshit games! I don't want hints. I need to know what you know!
Deep Throat ...It was a Haldeman operation. The whole business was run by Haldeman, the money, everything. It won't be easy getting at him, he was insulated, you'll have to find out how. Mitchell started doing covert stuff before anyone else, the list is longer than anyone can imagine... it involves the entire U.S. Intelligence Community. FBI, CIA, Justice...it's incredible. Cover-up had little to do with Watergate, it was mainly to protect the covert operations. It leads everywhere. Get out your notebook, there's more. Your lives are in danger.
