# Bob Woodward's Secrets Revealed > Bob Woodward shares his sources and childhood trauma behind his Watergate reporting. - Title: Bob Woodward's Secrets Revealed · Slate Magazine | Shortify - Summary: Bob Woodward shares his sources and childhood trauma behind his Watergate reporting. - Keywords: bob woodward, watergate, richard nixon, deep throat, mark felt, colin powell, bob dole, childhood trauma, journalism, white house, secrets, reporting - Source: Slate Magazine — https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/11/bob-woodward-secrets-review.html?via=rss - Author: Fred Kaplan - Published: 2026-11-12T18:10:54.787+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: bob woodward, watergate, richard nixon, deep throat, mark felt, colin powell, bob dole, childhood trauma, journalism, white house, secrets, reporting ## Childhood Trauma Woodward saw his parents kiss at age 11, causing him to become a snoop. > Not just a peck but a deep movie kiss between lovers ## Early Reporting Woodward worked nights as a janitor in his father's law office to snoop on case files. > the hard ugly controversies in people's lives ## Watergate Breakthrough Woodward discovered Nixon's taping system through Alexander Butterfield's memo. > Nixon had a taping system in the White House ## Deep Throat Connection Woodward met Mark Felt, the FBI deputy director who became Deep Throat. > Deep Throat ## Childhood Trauma Impact Woodward's fear of nuclear war and childhood trauma shaped his reporting career. > which still keeps me up at nights ## Harvard Law School Woodward was accepted by Harvard Law School but couldn't afford tuition. > He was accepted by Harvard Law School ## Washington Post Job Woodward got a job at the Washington Post after a two-week trial with Harry Rosenfeld. > He washed out, See, you don't know how to do this ## Source Strategy Woodward uses his fame to persuade sources to share information with him. > Bob thinks in Republican terms so when he approaches a Republican for an interview ## Political Bias Woodward admires Republican figures like Colin Powell and Bob Dole despite their flaws. > the only person I interviewed who I believed had the potential to be a great president ## Watergate Legacy Woodward's reporting led to Nixon's resignation through Watergate tapes. > without which he probably would not have been forced out of office ## Self-Reflection Woodward admits his lack of analysis skills but tries to connect his past and present. > I am just not capable, and this is a grave fault, of taking A, B, C, and D, and saying, 'OK, now 'E.' ## Childhood Trauma Woodward's childhood trauma influenced his fear of nuclear war and reporting style. > which still keeps me up at nights ## Reporting Legacy Woodward is considered one of the most consequential American reporters of the last 60 years. > probably, along with Seymour Hersh, the most consequential American reporter ## Conclusion Woodward remains a reporter to uncover what others hide, despite his flaws. > What are the bastards hiding? ## Key takeaway Bob Woodward reveals his childhood trauma and sources for his Watergate reporting in memoir.