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Woodward said that he had told no one the name of Deep…

“Woodward said that he had told no one the name of Deep Throat. Mrs. Graham paused. 'Tell me,' she said. Woodward froze. He said he would give her the name if she wanted. He was praying she wouldn't press it. Mrs. Graham laughed, touched his arm and said she was only kidding, she didn't really want…” quote by Carl Bernstein
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““Woodward said that he had told no one the name of Deep Throat. Mrs. Graham paused. 'Tell me,' she said. Woodward froze. He said he would give her the name if she wanted. He was praying she wouldn't press it. Mrs. Graham laughed, touched his arm and said she was only kidding, she didn't really want to carry that burden around with her. Woodward took a bite of his eggs, which were cold. -- Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward””

Carl Bernstein

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Woodward kept the secret of Deep Throat, fearing the consequences of revealing it, while Graham’s teasing showed the tension between truth‑seeking and personal risk.

In simple terms: Woodward hid a dangerous secret to protect himself and others.

Key Takeaway

Guard sensitive information carefully.

Themes

secrecy journalism ethics

Mood

tense reflective

Type

cautionary ethical

When to use this quote

  • Investigative reporting
  • whistleblowing
  • political scandals
  • personal safety
  • trust building

Key Concepts

Power dynamics information control

Questions to Reflect On

  • What would you risk to protect a vital secret?
  • How do journalists balance truth with safety?
A Different Perspective

Revealing secrets can endanger lives and careers.

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