papers too much.
You know, one thing l'm just
still not completely clear about?
When you handed out the money,
how did that work, exactly?
Badly.
l think what Bob means is,
ordinarily, what was the procedure?
Routine. l'd call John Mitchell
over at the Justice Department.
He'd say, ''Go ahead, give out the money.''
This was done verbally?
Yes.
We know there were five men
who controlled the slush fund.
Mitchell, Stans and Magruder.
Those three we've got.
All three have been named by two sources.
What about the other two?
We're pretty sure of Kalmbach.
Maybe we better wait until
we get all five, huh?
Certain on Mitchell?
We know he approved payments
to Liddy while he was Attorney General.
You've got more than one source?
-Who are they?
-Sloan.
Sloan and who else?
Another guy at Justice who won't confirm
the other two, but we're working on it.
-What about Deep Throat?
-He's not a source on this.
But, do any of them have an ax?
Personal, political, sexual.
-ls there anything at all on Mitchell?
-No.
-Then can we use their names?
-No.
Goddamn it! When is somebody
gonna go on the record in this story?
You're about to write a story that says...
...the former Attorney General,
the highest ranking...
...law enforcement officer
in this country, is a crook!
Just be sure you're right!
Essex House, may I help you?
John Mitchell.
Sir, this is Carl Bernstein
of the Washington Post.
And l'm sorry to disturb you at this hour.
Tomorrow we're running
a story in the paper, and...
...we think you should have
a chance to comment on it.
What does it say?
''John M. Mitchell, while serving...
''...as United States Attorney General...
''...personally controlled
a secret cash fund...
''...used to gather information
about the Democrats, according to...
''...the sources involved
in the Watergate investigation.
''Beginning in the spring of 1971 ...
''...almost a year before he left
the Justice Department...
''...to become President Nixon's
campaign manager.
''On March 1, Mitchell personally
approved withdrawals from the fund.''
All that crap!
You're putting it in the paper?
It's all been denied!
You tell your publisher, tell Katie Graham...
...she's going to get her tit caught in
a big ringer if that's published.
Christ, that's the most
sickening thing I've ever heard!
l was just wondering if l could
ask you some questions?
What time is it?
lt's 1 1 :30, sir.
1 1:30? Is it morning or night?
lt's 1 1 :30 at night, sir.
Sir, the Committee to Re-Elect
has issued a statement to our story...
...but there's a couple of questions--
Did the Committee tell you
to go ahead and publish the story?
You fellows have a great ball game going.
As soon as you're done...
...we're going to do a story on all of you!
Sir, there's a couple of questions--
Call my law office in the morning.
There's no question
you properly identified yourself?
He said it right off the top.
Did Mitchell know he was talking
to a reporter?
Yeah, but l think l woke him up.
Do you have good notes?
Verbatim.
He really said that about Mrs. Graham?
-Well, cut the words ''her tit'' and print it.
-Why?
This is a family newspaper.Once when l was reporting,
Lyndon Johnson's top guy...
...gave me the word...
...they were looking for a successor
for J. Edgar Hoover.
l wrote it, and the day it appeared...
...Johnson held a press conference...
...and appointed Hoover
head of the FBl for life!
When he was done, he turned
to his top guy and the President said:
''Call Ben Bradlee and tell him 'fuck you.'''
Then everybody said,
''You did it, Ben. You screwed up.
''You stuck us with Hoover forever! ''
l screwed up...
...but l wasn't wrong.
How much can you tell me
about Deep Throat?
How much do you need to know?
Do you trust him?
Yeah.
l can't do the reporting for my reporters...
...which means l have to trust them.
And l hate trusting anybody.
Run that baby.
The Washington Post reported