Rating: 
Summary: Disgraceful Work of Fiction
Review: This is a remarkable book about two reporters who effectively brought down a president and an administration. The movie is a classic and a favorite among journalism students (this one included), but I'd recommend a combination of watching the movie and definitely reading the book. A quick compliment to the authors - the "Cast of Characters" section in the beginning of the book really helps the reader along, since there are so many names to keep straight. This book harkens back to a time when work, time and careful documentation and cultivation of sources were required before printing bombshell accusations against an administration, unlike the scandal-mongering atmosphere from the Clinton administration up through the present. With the advent of the Internet and 24-hour cable news networks, the trend now is to publish or air rumor, innuendo or unfounded stories and do the legwork later, if at all. Woodward and Bernstein didn't do it that way - they uncovered a scandal the old fashioned way - they did legwork to ensure the accuracy of their stories. The result of their hard work and diligence is this book - the biggest, most sensational and shocking political story in the history of our country. Anyone wanting to know the inside story of Richard Nixon's fall from power, start here, and also read Bernstein and Woodward's "The Final Days." This book is a classic that will remain so 100 years from now.
Rating: 
Summary: Everyone should read this.
Review: This now-famous book is one of those rare creatures - a real-life thriller that's actually interesting for the average person to read. Starting with a simple break-in at the Democratic headquarters in the Watergate Hotel, two reporters from the Washington Post followed the trail of money and corruption back to its source. If you haven't been living under a rock, you know exactly how this story turns out, but watching Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward track down the clues is quite interesting. The flurry of different names and places can be intimidating, especially to the reader who does not have a lot of prior knowledge about the Watergate scandal. One will probably find oneself frequently flipping to the convenient Cast Of Characters page at the beginning of the book. Bernstein and Woodworth themselves are left rather faceless and I often found myself getting the two of them confused. Their attempts to humanize themselves fall flat almost every time, but that's to be expected; they are reporters, not pulp fiction writers and this is not a made-up story. This book is recommended for anyone and is quite a page-turner, even for someone with only a passing interest in politics and history. For someone who enjoys mysterious and thrillers, there's nothing better than a good story from real-life. Everyone should read this book, if only for the historical impact that it has had on presidential politics.
Rating: 
Summary: ...Couldn't put Nixon together again
Review: Time has not dulled the impact of "All the President's Men". It's been thirty years, now, since the thwarted break-in at the Watergate. Most of the higher-ups in President Nixon's administration have passed away, and subsequent generations reared on Iran-Contra and Whitewater may not even remember what the fuss was about. But from the very first page of this book, history becomes life and events rush forward to the inevitable conclusion that still seems impossible today. Woodward and Bernstein's reporting is the major thrust of the first half of "President's". We watch both reporters work late into the night, interviewing reluctant and/or anonymous witnesses in an attempt to find out just why the Watergate burglars had connections with the White House, and how far up the political chain of command those men were connected. Along the way, mistakes are made and a reputations are wrongfully derailed. But the story -- the crimes and the subsequent cover-ups may have indeed been directed by the President of the United States himself! -- takes on a life of its own, and Woodward and Bernstein become witness to the defining story of an era. Much of "All the President's Men" has passed into legend, especially the unrevealed identity of Woodward's executive branch contact known only as "Deep Throat". The Watergate players to this day still debate just who Deep Throat was -- John Dean seems to publish a book on the subject every five years. Time has proven most of the accusations correct -- for an interesting exercise, try comparing Woodward's and Bernstein's discoveries with the corresponding daily entries in "The Haldeman Diaries"). The book gives so few clues as to make the exercise nearly impossible, even to those of us who've read all there is to read about Watergate and Nixon. Was it John Dean? Alexander Haig? Perpetual Nixon apologist Bill Safire? The answer will be made known in my lifetime, but I would like to think sooner rather than later. Although 30 years is a short time in American history, in politics it can be a lifetime. The meticulous triple and quadruple-checking of the Washington Post staff has given way to the unfounded accusations that support a half-dozen instant political bestsellers. Certainly no-one uses the passive voice quite as monotonously as do Woodward and Bernstein. These defects, however, are minor: the antics of Colson and Liddy and Haldeman and even the amusing capers of Donald Segretti remain fascinating in print even today. When you're done with "All the President's Men", I recommend "The Final Days" (by Woodward and Bernstein) and "The Haldeman Diaries", and then the rebuttal books put out by Nixon staffers such as Haig and Erlichman.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book, Excellent Reporters
Review: Watergate, among the most infamous scandals in American history, shocked the nation. All the President's Men's investigative style puts the reading in the exciting position of doubt. We know what happens-that is a matter of history books and lectures. The real story, therefore, is how. How did an odd couple of two young reporters, with no experience working together, manage to crack an embarrassing case of executive fraud? The answer comes with the turn of a page, the book's journalistic adventure eliciting great interest.
The book's strength is in showing the sedulous effort of Woodward and Bernstein. Working hours on end, they managed to find reliable sources-including the mysterious Deep Throat. But even with an inside source, the work of getting through a political fortress is daunting. They had to go great distances to investigate and learn trust. Both Woodward and Bernstein started with the feeling that one was going to take off with the credit. They, however, soon realize that both have integrity. This book comes out strong in recognizing that honesty is a valuable policy. It didn't take misinformation to bring Watergate to the forefront of the news. Instead, Bernstein and Woodward went through the labor of verifying facts with other sources.
The book is also admirable in that it provides a model for what we should focus on. Deep Throat is respected by the literature, his identity still a mystery. He wasn't used as tool for the purpose of improving careers; Woodward shows special concern and expresses guilt when he believes that Deep Throat has gotten into danger on his account. We are also reminded that Nixon didn't need to approve and try to cover Watergate. His victory was a certainty. He was more worried about his interests political domination and compromised his integrity.
All the President's Men also brings a message of hope: we are a check and balance to government. Especially in a time of partisan domination of all branches of government, we need to investigate it. Two young reporters were able to challenge an administration that won the vote of the majority. While Nixon made speeches about the importance of law and order and the constitution, Bernstein and Woodward took the spirit of the law in their own hands and made a difference.
All the President's Men isn't just a great historical reference (although much can be gained in that regard); it's also narrative with an important lesson: dishonesty and deceit are defeated by honest hard-work. All the President's Men belongs on the shelf of any reader looking for an interesting, motivating thrill ride through the (in)famous mystery of the 1970's.
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