W. Mark Felt
W. Mark Felt, also known as 'Deep Throat,' was the anonymous informant who played a crucial role in exposing the Watergate scandal and bringing down President Nixon.
Political Figure
August 17, 1913
Leo
December 18, 2008
95
Twin Falls, Idaho
W. Mark Felt, an American FBI agent, gained international fame as the anonymous informant “Deep Throat” in the Watergate scandal. He provided vital information to journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein during their investigation into the Nixon administration’s involvement in the scandal. Felt’s identity as “Deep Throat” was revealed in 2005, solidifying his status as the most famous anonymous person in U.S. history. As the associate director of the FBI in the early 1970s, Felt played a significant role in bringing down President Nixon.
In addition to his role in the Watergate scandal, Felt served as a Special Agent in charge of the FBI’s San Francisco office and was involved in espionage cases during the Cold War era. His 1992 memoir, “The FBI Pyramid,” initially denied his identity as “Deep Throat” and criticized Woodward for not revealing the true identity. However, in 2005, Felt, who was suffering from dementia, admitted to being the key source in the Watergate scandal after his family convinced him to come forward.
