Director Fbi Quote by Carl Bernstein
““The story was solid. Howard Simons ordered the front page remade for the second edition. Bernstein was more shaken by all this than by anything since June 17. It was the language and the context of Ehrlichman’s remark to Dean that troubled him. Just as if they were a couple of Mafiosi talking to each other in a restaurant, the President’s number-two assistant had said to the President’s consigliere: Hey, Joe, we gotta dump this stuff in the river before the boss gets hurt. Howard Simons slouched in a chair, drawing deeply on a cigarette, the color gone from his face. “A director of the FBI destroying evidence? I never thought it could happen,” he said quietly.””
About This Quote
Source Book: All the President's Men by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, 1974
The quote illustrates the shock and moral outrage when a high‑ranking official appears to facilitate illegal activity, likening it to mobsters disposing of evidence.
In simple terms: Officials acting corruptly feels like organized crime.
Key Takeaway
Beware and challenge authority when ethics are compromised.
Themes
corruption
ethics
power
journalism
politics
Mood
cautious
critical
concerned
Type
historical
journalistic
cautionary
When to use this quote
- government investigations
- media reporting
- legal proceedings
- public accountability
Key Concepts
whistleblowing
institutional decay
moral panic
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you respond when you suspect abuse of power?
- What safeguards can prevent evidence tampering?
A Different Perspective
The anecdote may exaggerate for dramatic effect, and not all officials are complicit.
![“The reality is that the media are probably the most powerful of all our institutions today and they, or rather we [journalists], too often are squandering our power and ignoring our obligations. The consequence of our abdication of responsibility is the ugly spectacle of idiot culture!” quote by Carl Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/86a/carl-bernstein-10988_abdication_the-reality-is-that-the-media-are-probab_59464.jpg)
