EOTO #3- Reaction Post

Woodward and Bernstein: Trailblazers who expose

Ever since watching a movie about the Watergate scandal last year in one of my classes, my ears always perk up every time I hear this shocking event mentioned. 

The same happened in class as an EOTO #3 was being presented about Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, who were the young journalists behind the unveiling of Nixon's involvement in the Watergate scandal. What I found to be most interesting about this presentation was all that these journalists did after they broke the Watergate story because in the movie I had watched, there was nothing told about the lasting impressions that Woodward and Bernstein would make on journalism and the fear they would ignite into politicians and party members who were afraid of being exposed.

First, they exposed former President Richard Nixon in their book "All the President's Men," where they covered all of the truth that the people involved in the Watergate scandal tried to hide. The reports that they used to create this book won Woodward and Bernstein a Pulitzer Prize, which would not be the only one that Woodward won. As Marissa explained in her presentation, Woodward has written over a dozen books, which discuss Watergate and other topics regarding U.S. presidents. Woodward has been extremely successful after having 10 of his articles receive Pulitzer Prizes for National Reporting.

Bernstein has also had immense success since they broke open the Watergate scandal in the early 70s. Woodward and Bernstein have co-authored books with one another and carry out their friendship in the form of editing one another's books. Bernstein proves that he is not concerned about protecting people's feelings and only cares about revealing the truth when he wrote "Loyalties: A Son's Memoir." This book revealed the shocking information that his parents worked so hard to hide: their affiliation with the Communist Party of America. John Edgar Hoover, an American law-enforcement administrator who would become the first director of the FBI, couldn't find solid evidence to pin his parents down as party members.

Both Bernstein and Woodward have proven to society that they are the best of the best when it comes to getting to the bottom of scandals and situations. They stuck it to the man and essentially forced a U.S. president to resign because he couldn't hide from the evidence that they brought to light. As I mentioned, Bernstein exposed his parents and showed that his loyalties are for the greater good of the public. Even though they were his parents, their secrets and lies had to be exposed because ethically he had to dismiss his relationship with them and report on them as if they were strangers. He couldn't show bias or a hidden agenda when providing these facts and he is a great role model for future journalists. 

Now, I more fully understand the importance of giving the public the facts, even when it can damage at home life or other relationships. Bernstein impresses me even more as a journalist because he wasn't afraid of the consequences and simply prioritized his job values, which were providing the truth no matter what. If he didn't put himself out there in this manner and publish what he knew was true, his reputation could be very different, if news broke that he had held on to this information solely to protect his parents.

Aside from Bernstein providing me with the lesson that you must put your personal opinions and connections aside when reporting, Woodward taught me that you must be fearless when exposing people in power. After the Watergate scandal, Woodward came at former President Bill Clinton and exposed his administration for their failed economic investments. Clinton admitted that he was extremely intimidated by Woodward and said that his book called "The Agenda" tore his guts out. 

Woodward continues to expose presidents for their wrongdoings and the risks they put on the American people, with his most recent book "Fear," covering former President Donald Trump's time in the White House and his takes on foreign affairs. Woodward has targeted these presidents and has exposed them for misleading the country when our country has been in the highest climaxes of turmoil. 

This takes a superior level of confidence, hard work and a drive to give the public the truth. Many people have tried to knock Woodward down and find inconsistencies within his work, but he prides himself on journalistic truth and prioritizes the people's right to know. I have been inspired to expose the wrongdoings in the sports world and work towards being the best of the best at doing so because Woodward has taught me that you are pretty much untouchable and do society a great service when you provide the truth for all to see.

Woodward and Bernstein were true trailblazers in the journalism industry, and without them many of us would still be left in the dark and would be unsure of who to blame or punish for numerous issues in this country. Without them as inspiration to journalists, our world would look a lot different and people in power would be fearless and think that they could get away with anything.