Bob Woodward Quotes

Powerful Bob Woodward for Daily Growth

About Bob Woodward

Robert Upshur Woodward is an acclaimed American investigative journalist and author, best known for his groundbreaking work with Carl Bernstein on the Watergate scandal during the presidency of Richard Nixon. Born on March 26, 1943, in Roswell, New Mexico, Woodward attended Yale University, where he studied political science. Woodward's career began at the Baltimore Sun in 1968. His early work focused on local politics and crime reporting. However, it was his coverage of the Watergate scandal that catapulted him to international fame. In collaboration with Bernstein, Woodward conducted clandestine meetings with key sources, including 'Deep Throat,' who provided them with crucial information that led to the unraveling of the Nixon administration's illegal activities. Their work formed the basis for several articles in The Washington Post and ultimately resulted in the publication of "All the President's Men" (1974), a book that became a best-seller and was later adapted into an Academy Award-winning film. Woodward continued his investigative journalism, publishing numerous books, including "The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court" (1979), "Veil: The Secret Wars of the CIA 1981-1987" (1987), and "Fear: Trump in the White House" (2018). Throughout his career, Woodward has received numerous awards for his journalistic work, including multiple Pulitzer Prizes. His tireless dedication to uncovering the truth and shedding light on significant events has made him a legendary figure in investigative journalism. Woodward continues to write and is considered one of the most influential journalists in America. Some of his famous quotes reflect his commitment to factual reporting: "The press can't be overly intrusive without inviting a backlash, but the public has a right to know." And, "I think there's a real hunger for a deeper understanding of what is really going on and how it is being decided."

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The president of the United States is acting in a fashion that's beyond incorrect and it's not presidential."

This quote suggests that the President's actions are inappropriate for the role, exceeding the limits of what can be considered correct or acceptable behavior for a U.S. president. The term "not presidential" implies that the conduct is inconsistent with the expectations and standards associated with the office, including decorum, leadership, and respect for democratic values.

"To be uninformed, to be ignorant, is to be vulnerable."

Ignorance leaves one susceptible to being easily influenced or manipulated due to lack of essential knowledge or understanding about a particular topic or situation. Being well-informed equips us with the tools needed to make informed decisions and navigate complexities effectively, thus reducing our vulnerability in various aspects of life.

"My view is once you have power, and once you see something, then you owe it to our system to say something."

This quote emphasizes a sense of moral responsibility for those in positions of power or authority. Once they gain knowledge of something, particularly matters that may impact society, they should use their influence to speak up and contribute to the transparent functioning of the system. It's about accountability, transparency, and ethics in leadership.

"The central role of journalism is to produce information that people need to know in order to function as citizens."

This quote emphasizes the fundamental purpose of journalism, which is providing essential information for citizens to make informed decisions about their society. By disseminating accurate, timely, and relevant news, journalists empower individuals with the knowledge necessary to participate effectively in a democracy. In essence, journalism serves as a vital bridge between public interest and government actions, ensuring accountability and transparency within the democratic process.

"In a crisis, you can't over-communicate. You can only under-communicate."

This quote emphasizes the importance of clear and consistent communication during times of crisis or uncertainty. In such situations, information is crucial to maintain trust, manage expectations, and mitigate panic. Failing to provide enough information can lead to misunderstandings, rumors, and a loss of control over the narrative. Thus, over-communication is not redundant, but rather essential for effective crisis management.

Clinton feels a profound alienation from the Washington culture here, and I happen to agree with him.

- Bob Woodward

Profound, Here, Feels, Alienation

The Washington Times wrote a story questioning the authenticity of some of the suggestions made about me in Silent Coup. But as a believer in the First Amendment, I believe they have more than a right to air their views.

- Bob Woodward

Questioning, Some, Amendment, Coup

There are people who take rumors and embellish them in a way that can be devastating. And this pollution has to be eradicated by people in our business as best we can.

- Bob Woodward

Business, Rumors, Them, Devastating

The fact of the Watergate cover-up is not nearly as interesting as the step into making the cover-up. And when you understand the step, you understand that Richard Nixon lied. That he was a criminal.

- Bob Woodward

Fact, Making, Richard, Watergate

We're not going to have another Watergate in our lifetime. I'm sure.

- Bob Woodward

Going, Another, Sure, Watergate

Watergate provides a model case study of the interaction and powers of each of the branches of government. It also is a morality play with a sad and dramatic ending.

- Bob Woodward

Play, Study, Dramatic, Watergate

I deal with first-hand sources. And give the people, even John Sununu, the opportunity to respond to what I've been told by first-hand sources.

- Bob Woodward

Give, Deal, Been, First-Hand

I suspect there have been a number of conspiracies that never were described or leaked out. But I suspect none of the magnitude and sweep of Watergate.

- Bob Woodward

Been, Sweep, Conspiracies, Leaked

When you hear in the tape recordings Nixon's own voice saying, We have to stonewall, We have to lie to the Grand Jury, We have to pay burglars a million dollars, it's all too clear the horror of what went on.

- Bob Woodward

Voice, Own, Nixon, Grand Jury

After Nixon resigned in 1974, he engaged in a very aggressive war with history, attempting to wipe out the Watergate stain and memory. Happily, history won, largely because of Nixon's tapes.

- Bob Woodward

Engaged, Very, Attempting, Aggressive

I gave my word that this source would not be identified unless he changed his mind. He has not.

- Bob Woodward

Mind, Source, His, Identified

The source known as Deep Throat provided a kind of road map through the scandal. His one consistent message was that the Watergate burglary was just the tip of the iceberg.

- Bob Woodward

Deep, Through, Throat, Tip Of The Iceberg

I give lectures for money, but all the money goes to charity. So, I make no money from it.

- Bob Woodward

Money, Charity, Give, Lectures

Watergate is an immensely complicated scandal with a cast of characters as varied as a Tolstoy novel.

- Bob Woodward

Cast, Characters, Scandal, Tolstoy

The failure of the system to deal quickly was attributable to Nixon's lying, stonewalling and refusal to come clean. So it took 26 months for the final truth to be known.

- Bob Woodward

Deal, Took, Nixon, Attributable

I'm not going to name some of my colleagues who are very well-known for their television presentation, but they wouldn't know new information or how to report a story if it came up and bit them.

- Bob Woodward

Some, Very, Bit, Report

Way before Watergate, senior administration officials hid behind anonymity.

- Bob Woodward

Behind, Senior, Hid, Anonymity

Clinton... believes that the Washington Press Corps is so out of touch that it is absolutely inconceivable that reporters would understand the issues that people are really dealing with in their lives.

- Bob Woodward

Inconceivable, Reporters, Corps

Not a season passes without new disclosures showing Nixon's numerous attempts at criminal use of his presidential powers and in fact the scorn he held for the rule of law.

- Bob Woodward

New, Fact, Nixon, Presidential

If information is true, if it can be verified, and if it's really important, the newspaper needs to be willing to take the risk associated with using unidentified sources.

- Bob Woodward

Newspaper, Needs, Using, Verified

The central dilemma in journalism is that you don't know what you don't know.

- Bob Woodward

Know, Dilemma, Central, Journalism

Deep Throat did serve the public interest by providing the guidance and information to us.

- Bob Woodward

Deep, Public, Providing, Public Interest

I think people are smart enough to sort it out. They know when they're watching one of these food fight shows where journalists sit around and yell and scream at each other, versus serious issue reporting.

- Bob Woodward

Scream, Other, I Think, Reporting

When you practice reporting for as long as I have, you keep yourself at a distance from True Believers. Either conservatives or liberals or Democrats or Republicans.

- Bob Woodward

Practice, Distance, Reporting

Nixon had some large achievements in foreign affairs. They will be remembered. But a president probably gets remembered for one thing, and Watergate will head the Nixon list, I suspect.

- Bob Woodward

Some, Achievements, Nixon, Foreign Affairs

Nixon's attempts to order subversion of various departments was bound to come out in some form.

- Bob Woodward

Some, Nixon, Form, Subversion

A reporter's ability to keep the bond of confidentiality often enables him to learn the hidden or secret aspects of government.

- Bob Woodward

Learn, Hidden, Aspects, Confidentiality

I think journalism gets measured by the quality of information it presents, not the drama or the pyrotechnics associated with us.

- Bob Woodward

Think, Measured, I Think, Journalism

When you see how the President makes political or policy decisions, you see who he is. The essence of the Presidency is decision-making.

- Bob Woodward

Political, Essence, Makes, Decision-Making

I recently did the David Letterman Show about my book. He was very serious and made no jokes and it caught me off guard a little bit. He was much more serious than some of the joke shows that journalists get on.

- Bob Woodward

Some, Caught, Very, Jokes

I don't think voters give a hoot about the character of their political advisors, except to the extent that character reflects on the candidates.

- Bob Woodward

Think, Give, Extent, Reflects

Certain political figures think when you call them and ask them for a comment; that you are somehow doing something that you shouldn't be doing.

- Bob Woodward

Doing, Think, Figures, Comment

Many people have their reputations as reporters and analysts because they are on television, batting around conventional wisdom. A lot of these people have never reported a story.

- Bob Woodward

Reputations, Reporters, Analyst

Any suggestion that I'm writing about political operatives because I'm interested in political operatives misses the entire point.

- Bob Woodward

Writing, About, Misses, Suggestion

I have gone on the air and announced my telephone number at the Washington Post. I go into the night, talking to people, looking for things. The great dreaded thing every reporter lives with is what you don't know. The source you didn't go to. The phone call you didn't return.

- Bob Woodward

Air, Telephone Number, Dreaded

I believe Watergate shows that the system did work. Particularly the Judiciary and the Congress, and ultimately an independent prosecutor working in the Executive Branch.

- Bob Woodward

Independent, Particularly, I Believe

I don't think there will ever be a permanent truce, but I believe the media needs to be more careful and be willing to count to 10 before rushing on the air or into print.

- Bob Woodward

Think, Needs, Truce, I Believe

People like to pigeonhole and say, Well, I'm a Washington insider, and you know, that's quite silly. What does that even mean?

- Bob Woodward

Silly, Say, Like, Insider

I believe there's too little patience and context to many of the investigations I read or see on television.

- Bob Woodward

Believe, Television, Read, Context

The legislator learns that when you talk a lot, you get in trouble. You have to listen a lot to make deals.

- Bob Woodward

Get, Lot, Learns, Legislator

The cloud of doubt that surrounds political figures tends to remain and never dissipate or be clarified.

- Bob Woodward

Cloud, Never, Figures, Tends

Nixon's grand mistake was his failure to understand that Americans are forgiving, and if he had admitted error early and apologized to the country, he would have escaped.

- Bob Woodward

Mistake, Country, Admitted, Early

Because of Watergate in part, I am kind of a magnet for calls and information and suggestions.

- Bob Woodward

I Am, Watergate, Calls, Suggestions

Suppose Watergate had not been uncovered? I'd still be on the City Desk.

- Bob Woodward

City, Been, Still, Uncovered

Lawyers didn't seriously get involved in the Watergate stories until quite late, when we realized we were on to something.

- Bob Woodward

Lawyers, Realized, Stories, Watergate

I recently read some of the transcripts of Nixon's Watergate tapes, and they spent hours trying to figure out who was leaking and providing information to Carl and myself.

- Bob Woodward

Some, Hours, Tapes, Watergate

There may yet be another Watergate book. I have thought a book about the aftermath of Watergate and its impact could be done, perhaps by me or someone else.

- Bob Woodward

Thought, May, Could, Watergate

The biggest rap on me is that I don't find a Watergate every couple of years. Well, Watergate was unique. It's not something Carl Bernstein, I, or the Washington Post caused.

- Bob Woodward

Rap, Couple, Caused, Watergate

It would seem that the Watergate story from beginning to end could be used as a primer on the American political system.

- Bob Woodward

Beginning, Political, Could, Watergate

The number of illegal activities were so large that one was bound to come out and lead to the uncovering of the others. Nixon was too willing to use the power of government to settle scores and get even with enemies.

- Bob Woodward

Nixon, Large, Scores, Illegal

There's hostility to lying, and there should be.

- Bob Woodward

Lying, Should, Hostility

I don't think it's useful for somebody to argue with reviews.

- Bob Woodward

Think, Reviews, Argue, Useful

There is a garbage culture out there, where we pour garbage on people. Then the pollsters run around and take a poll and say, do you smell anything?

- Bob Woodward

Garbage, Run, Say, Pour

Using these unnamed sources, if done properly, carefully and fairly, provides more accountability in government.

- Bob Woodward

Carefully, Using, Sources, Accountability

It was accountability that Nixon feared.

- Bob Woodward

Nixon, Feared, Accountability

If you interviewed 1,000 politicians and asked about whether the media's too soft or too hard, about 999 would say too hard.

- Bob Woodward

Say, Politicians, About, Soft

I have written things that Republicans and Democrats and all kinds of figures have either hated or felt very uncomfortable about. Because in doing these long projects and books, you get close to the bone. And they're not calling me up and asking me for dinner.

- Bob Woodward

Doing, Very, Projects, Hated

Some newspapers have a hands-off policy on favored politicians. But it's generally very small newspapers or local TV stations.

- Bob Woodward

Small, Some, Very, Favored

Deep Throat was a very unfortunate name given to the source by the managing editor of The Washington Post.

- Bob Woodward

Very, Editor, Given, Managing

Newspapers that are truly independent, like The Washington Post, can still aggressively investigate anyone or anything with no holds barred.

- Bob Woodward

Independent, Like, Still, Post

Even now there is no evidence that anyone involved in the Nixon operation was going to threaten us.

- Bob Woodward

Evidence, Nixon, Involved, Operation

We need to police ourselves in the media.

- Bob Woodward

Media, Need, Ourselves, Police

I think that everyone is kind of confused about the information they get from the media and rightly so. I'm confused about the information I get from the media.

- Bob Woodward

Think, Everyone, I Think, Rightly

Deep Throat's information, and in my view, courage, allowed the newspaper to use what he knew and suspected.

- Bob Woodward

Deep, View, Newspaper, Throat

I have found people don't want to be told. That they can figure it out.

- Bob Woodward

People, Want, Found, Figure

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