Death Of An American Hero

Last Thursday, a true American hero died. That hero was 95 year-old W. Mark Felt. Although almost all Americans know what this gentlemen did to save and serve his country in a time of crises, I doubt if most Americans could tell you who W. Mark Felt was. That's because he is much more widely known by a nickname he was given by two young reporters. Mr. Felt was "Deep Throat".

During the Nixon administration, Felt was the second in command at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He was the anonymous source that tipped reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein to the criminal actions of Nixon and his cronies, and guided them in their investigation of that administration.

Felt put his job and his reputation on the line because he felt that no one, including the president, is above the law. To protect Felt, Woodward and Bernstein gave him a nickname and never referred to him by anything except that nickname. They called him "Deep Throat" -- taking the moniker from a popular porno movie of the time.

The anonymous "Deep Throat" became famous after Woodward and Bernstein published their book All The President's Men, and a popular movie was made from the book. But Felt never tried to capitalize on that fame, and did not reveal that he was "Deep Throat" until 2005.

He didn't help the reporters to become famous or make a lot of money. He did it because he loved America and the Constitution she is built on. Our nation could use more men like W. Mark Felt.

This is what Carl Bernstein has to say about Felt:

"Watergate was a constitutional crisis in a criminal presidency. And he had the guts to say, 'Wait. The Constitution is more important in this situation than a president of the United States who breaks the law.' It's an important lesson, I think, for the country and for people in our business, as well."

Our nation could have used a "Deep Throat" from the Bush administration, which has turned out to be even worse than the Nixon administration.