All the President's Men

By Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein

It began with a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington DC, on 17 June 1972. Bob Woodward, a journalist for the Washington Post, was called into the office on a Saturday morning to cover the story. Carl Bernstein, a political reporter on the Post, was also assigned. They soon learned this was no ordinary burglary.

Following lead after lead, Woodward and Bernstein picked up a trail of money, conspiracy and high-level pressure that ultimately led to the doors of the Oval Office. Men very close to the President were implicated, and then Richard Nixon himself. Over a period of months, Woodward met secretly with Deep Throat, for decades the most famous anonymous source in the history of journalism. As he and Bernstein pieced the jigsaw together, they produced a series of explosive stories that would not only win the Post a Pulitzer Prize, they would bring about the President's scandalous downfall.

ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN documents this amazing story. Taut, gripping and fascinating, it is a classic of its kind -- the true story of the events that changed the American presidency.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Dec 11, 2012
• ISBN: 9781471104664

Bob Woodward

Bob Woodward is an associate editor at The Washington Post, where he has worked for more than 50 years. He has shared in two Pulitzer Prizes, one for his Watergate coverage and the other for coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He has authored 21 bestselling books, 15 of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers.

Reviews for All the President's Men

[charlie68_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The style is the clipped version expected from reporters, but still an engrossing read into the Watergate affair. Still relevant after all these years.

[bookworm12_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Even decades later, this is a thrilling account of investigative journalism. It’s also particularly timely considering all of the political investigation is currently happening and the current administration‘s feelings about the press. This book is such a great example of why free press is so important to a democracy.

[ennie_2 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I saw and enjoyed the movie, but had never read the book.It was slow going, reading about painstaking shoe-leather reporting of this now-historic time. I wonder if ferreting out the story would have been easier in the Internet age. Maybe not, since the players would not have broadcast their activities on the Web.I lived through the Watergate era. My mother yelled "Bitch! Bastard! Schmuck!" every night at the TV at the sight of Nixon's face. I was busy being a student and didn't pay close attention to what was going on.I don't know if I'm jaded by subsequent events or just clueless, but what these guys did doesn't seem all that bad. Political espionage, dirty tricks, secret taping, and then covering it up? Don't all politicians do that?What went on does seem worse than lying about sex with an intern.

[thorswitch · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Probably one of the best investigative books I've ever read. This book really pulls back the curtains and shows us the ugly side of politics. This book is clear, well-sourced and entertaining to read - and it shows how a presidential administration that considers itself above the law can result in massive abuses of power - not to mention engaging in clearly unconstitutional activities. It also shows just how much the news media has changed over the last 30 years or so, and sadly, not for the better.

[jbgusa · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

About the only reason I don't give this and similar books a "5" is that this was the era of "piling on." Anything that spread bile about Nixon was taken as true hook, line and sinker. I happen to think Nixon was a thug, but there are limits.

[regularguy5mb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For some time now, I've been wondering when exactly we became distrustful of our government, when they became distrustful. And buddy, this is it.Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein present the pivotal moment when our President, the leader of the free world, became a shifty, scheming thug instead of a statesman with his country's best interest at heart.Told from the perspective of the writers in a third person way, the events that kick off with the Watergate break-in and end with the Executive Branch of the United States government in shambles becomes a thrilling and potent detective story. These two put themselves on the line by searching out the truth, no matter how much the President's men tried to make them look foolish and like full-blown McGovern puppets solely trying to make the President look bad because he was a Republican. There were threats, secrets, cover-ups, and more than a few tricks.This book. This is the one. If you want some solid reporting about political intrigue, read this book.

[5hrdrive · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Watergate break-in occurred forty years ago this week... I remember the break-in, trial, Senate hearings, and Nixon's resignation like they were yesterday. Sadly, I haven't trusted the executive branch much since. This first-hand account of the groundbreaking Washington Post investigation is a must read if you wish to understand the American political climate since the 1970's.

[lycomayflower · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Meh. I've wanted to read this for a long time, so I'm really disappointed that I didn't like it better. The Watergate scandal was over and done with six years before I was born, so I have no memories of it, of course. And I think that's partly why I had such a hard time with this book. Aside from Nixon, Woodward and Bernstein themselves, and a few of the other big names associated with the scandal, I didn't recognize the names of any of the principle players in the story. That, coupled with the writing style (very much "reporting"--no attempts to novelize, to create character, to make things memorable), made it very hard for me to keep track of who was who and to make the connections necessary really to understand all the machinations behind the whole affair. I don't fault the book for this; it is a journalistic account, afterall, not a novelization or a "true crime" sort of thing. But after about a third of the book, it became clear to me that I wasn't getting much out of it, so I speed read the rest, stopping to read more fully any parts that jumped out at me as very interesting.

[denverbook · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Along with "The Final Days", THE defining book of the tradegy of American History called Watergate. It uncovered the shallow dark side of the most devious president the U.S ever had.

[katya0133 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Aside from a few cultural references that I had to look up, this book holds up remarkably well. Readers who are familiar with Watergate will probably do a better job of keeping track of everyone, but there is a list of principal players at the beginning of the book for the rest of us. I only wish this book wasn't so relevant today.

[readingfiend_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fascinating look at what led up to Nixon's resignation. I was in my early teens when this all took place and so it really helped me to understand what went on.

[freddiefreddie_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an excellent account of journalists Woodward and Bernstein and their near-futile attempt to expose the scandal of the Watergate break-in and its cover-up. A little winding, but illuminating nonetheless.

[angelic55blonde · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is an amazing book. It is about the Watergate scandal and the two reporters who had to wade through it all to get to the truth, which brought down a President. It's amazing and the movie is just as good.

[dr_zirk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Still a classic read after more than thirty years, All the President's Men succeeds so wonderfully because it is not afraid to dwell on the small details that make a journalistic investigation successful. As a dramatic story, the book itself is nowhere near as enthralling as the movie that it spawned. And yet the book is every bit as essential as the film, since the full scope of Woodward and Bernstein's Watergate investigation is revealed as the slow, deliberate, and nerve-wracking process that it really was. This is a story of perseverance and determination in pursuit of the truth, and from that angle alone this book constitutes essential reading for any thinking American.

[mramos_710291 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In this book Bob Woodard and Carl Bernstein, two Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporters, chronicle their investigation of the Watergate scandal, which began as a burglary of the Democratic National Committee Headquarters on June 17, 1972. They explain the events that precipitated their first suspicions and led them to ascertain the truth. There is some strong language. A must read for all interested in seeing Watergate from a reporters view.

[sweatyb_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A fascinating study of political and governmental arrogance and the power of a free press to reign it in. Would that our government would show less of the former and our press would exhibit more of the latter these days.

[morena_4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read my mom's old copy at eleven, and fell completely in love with it. One of my all-time favorite stories. That it actually happened only made it better.

[figre · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is somewhat amazing to me that I have not read this book before. I’ve read The Brethren at least three times, as well as Final Days. I’ve seen the movie numerous times and always been enraptured by it. But I only recently purchased the book. Maybe it comes from my Republican upbringing – the one that only in the last ten years allowed me to finally recognize that Nixon was a crook. Or maybe it was that overpowering desire I have had in that same ten years to try and be the hippie revolutionary I didn’t allow myself to be (don’t worry – it isn’t working). Ultimately, it’s a matter of really wanting to read it – and just finally getting to it.And, reading this book will remind you (or, if you are young enough, will let you know for the first time) how pivotal Watergate was to history and the presidency. No one really suspected how far it went. Yet it all came out. This is not as engrossing as good fiction. Nor should it be. If it were, it would be unbelievable. Instead, the straightforward approach, the avoidance of hyperbole, allows the reader to recognize that this is the real world, and this was a real event. And it is done in a balanced way – one that shows the role of each reporter, and the role of other journalists. The handling of this reporting helps you understand why, even today, Woodward gets information that no one else does.Beyond the history, there are a lot of lessons to be learned. First, this is the foundation for someone’s book on leadership. For all his faults, it is evident here that Nixon was great leader (as in, one who was great a leading, not as in one who was great in the way they led.) It is evident that people went beyond where they might, just because of him. Second, this should be required reading for anyone who does fraud investigation (not just investigative journalism.) This provides perfect examples of the investigation approaches – planning the interviews, not ignoring the little things, never go beyond what you know is right (which Woodward and Bernstein did – and paid a price). And, for a better experience, read this with some of the other volumes that came out at that time – for example, The Brethren by Woodward (about the Supreme Court when all this was going on), Final Days by Woodward and Bernstein, and Breach of Faith by T H White.

[brianinbuffalo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Few books shaped my interest in journalism as much as Woodward and Bernstein's classic work. I first read it as a teen-ager, in an era when post-Watergate developments were still nudging their way into headlines. When I read the book decades later, I realized that this was timeless story about how tenacious reporting can change the course of history.

[smiley_13 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The original investigative report that brought a president down. Bush makes Nixon look like a third rate burglar. Thrilling nonfiction read.

[mrminjares · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a truly shocking and rapidly moving narrative of the actions that President Nixon and his Republican supporters in the White House and in the Republican Party took to gain advantage in elections. What begins as an innocuous burglary in the Watergate Hotel turns into an unraveling tale of money laundering, illegal wiretapping, political sabotage, and deceipt. It is truly amazing to read the lengths to which political parties only three decades ago went to gain an upper hand. Nixon was a no-holds-barred type who had tremendous ambition, but unfortunately he was caught and ultimately tainted American politicals with what remains a fundamental distrust with our elected officials. The reporting by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward was amazing, especially considering they were only 28 and 29 years old at the time. And the were successfully in large part because Ben Bradlee and others at the Washington Post were willing to stand up to federal officials and support this work. I strongly recommend this book. It makes me want to learn more about Ben Bradlee, Katherine Graham, Deep Throat, and the others who had a role to play in this story.

[jeroenvandorp · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A book and a movie. About two journalists running and writing and their bosses discussing and deciding. How can that make such exciting, entertaining and intriguing content? The book nor the movie has a hint of violence, car chases and James bond allure, and both don't need to. Each and every time when you re-read the book you'll be engrossed in the story and baffled as it evolves for the umpteenth time.It has a personal story too. When I became interested in Watergate, and read the book for the first time back in the seventies, I believed that Woodward's "My Friend" contained an acronym for Mark Felt, then deputy chief of the FBI. If I'd only put a bet on that, I would have been rich today...Recommended, and never old nor outdated, despite the big phones they need to use and the paper they write on. And in the movie, the ties they wear. But that's a different story.

[nicky_too_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Insightful up to a certain point, but very badly written.I had quite some trouble with this book, because of the style. It's terrible, especially since these men are (were?) reporters!I also find it's practically impossible to read if you do not already know something about Watergate. Thankfully I had read a biography about Nixon before I picked up this book.Now I've finished it I have to say I still am not much wiser. There a truckload of names, a lot of leads (most have to do with a money trail), but real conclusive information? There's not much of that, unfortunately.I find this book a waste of time.

[jbd1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The classic. Still Woodward's best.

[dinadansfriend · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The facts of the Watergate Scandal, well marshalled and readable. Not so much fun as the Hoffman and Trudeau version, but respectable work from professionals.

[untraveller · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Strange that I've not read the book til now and stranger even that as I read the book, very few people had heard of it. The book takes a journalistic approach (naturally) which can make for some choppy reading, but the subject is fascinating. I was in Europe living through these tales of woe as they happened. Goodness, how things have not changed!

[jimrgill · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Of an engaging nonfiction narrative, it’s often said—as a form of praise—that it “reads like a novel.” Presumably because the characters are well developed, the plot is interesting, the themes are relevant or perceptive, and the prose style is compelling or original or captivating in some way. While this book certainly tells the tale of what is perhaps still the most consequential feat of 20th-century journalism, it is not a nonfiction book that reads like a novel. It is, however, worth the read, if only to provide hope given the current chaotic mess that is the US Executive branch of government.The factors that prevent All the President’s Men from achieving the lauded “reads like a novel” status are perhaps beyond the control of Bernstein and Woodward, who prove themselves to be intrepid, reflective reporters who are not above admitting their own shortcomings or lapses in judgment. The story they uncover is such a byzantine quagmire of conflicting loyalties, stealthy connections, cloak-and-dagger schemes, and downright preposterous (yet true) accusations against the most esteemed government office in the US that one forgives them for failing to weave an intelligible plot out of the Gordian knot of intrigue that they discover. Furthermore, Bernstein and Woodward are not necessarily storytellers—they are journalists telling the story of their story.Over 40 years after the Watergate scandal, the paranoia, hypocrisy, and dishonesty that emanated from the office of the President of the United States feel all too palpable in the current era, when we are forced to endure what will undoubtedly be regarded as the most ignorant, embarrassing, arrogant, appalling, and absolutely batsh*t crazy administration of all time. I simply hope that somewhere, working for a newspaper or website like the Washington Post, there are journalists in the mold of Bernstein and Woodward who will someday tell the story of 45’s corruption and reveal him for the criminal that he is.

[foof2you · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In light of events during 2017, a look back was in order. This book shows how a little peeling of the onion on minor story set forth the resignation of a president and shattered whatever trust many had in government.

[heidilove_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This tale of two young journalists making their way through the maze of the Washington Post political beat is as gripping a tale as it is an expose on the political corruption they discovered. Well-written, it joins the likes of In Cold Blood.

[oreillynsf_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was very young when Watergate transpired, and am so pleased that the writers that brought him down were able to tell their story with so much detail. Sadly, I am not sure reporters can investigate like this anymore. Be aware, this is not the story of Nixon, it's the story of the two WaPo reporters. But what a story. I think this book is pictured in the dictionary under "pageturner."