Sore Throat

The scrupulously objective national press are going to great lengths to present both sides of the story of, what I will call, the 'Felt Tipper' (otherwise known as Deep Throat).

You are forgiven if you have difficulty in perceiving another side to this story: afterall, time has given us more than ample evidence of the psychological flaws, and criminal intent, of former President Richard M. Nixon.

But in this era journalistic objectivity often has little to do with the facts, and everything to do with presenting two political perspectives.

So most of the news programs covered the revelation that former FBI assistant director Mark Felt was the famous anonymous source Deep Throat by asking for a discussion of whether Felt was a hero, or something else.

On one side are -for the most part, those who saw Watergate unfold from outside the White House, and who believe that without sources like Felt and others, no real investigation would have taken place. The President was at the heart of the conspiracy to cover-up and obstruct investigations, and at his command were the Attorney General, the White House Chief of Staff, the head of the FBI and many other people in power who were willing and able to lie to the American people. Felt had no choice but to go outside the normal chain of command.

One the other other side are the White House insiders - many of whom are now convicted felons, who are calling Felt everything from a traitor to a snake, and suggesting that he should have either resigned, 'gone through channels', or just kept his mouth shut.

Former Congressman Robert Dorn (one of the few condemning Felt who was not a former Nixon staffer) went so far as to blame Felt for the loss of the Vietnam War.

There is no arguing that the fall of Nixon was a momentous event in the history of the United States. There are those who would argue, however, that America would have been better off had the conspiracy never been revealed. Somehow loyalty, even loyalty to corrupt individuals or destructive ideology, is the virtue of virtues.

I simply believe that nothing founded on lies will stand the test of time.