Sour Grapes

Many former Nixon aids are understandably condemning Felt's actions as Deep Throat. And I'm sure the fact that many of them did jail time for breaking the law during Watergate is in no way coloring their opinions.

The funniest comment had to have been G. Gordon Liddy's (who did four and a half years in prison for engineering the break-in), who said Felt "violated the ethics of the law enforcement profession." Liddy accusing anyone of violating ethics is a perfect example of the pot calling the kettle black!

Other former Nixon aids, such as Leonard Garment, Chuck Colson, and Pat Buchanan are saying that Felt should have gone to a grand jury or other law enforcement officials instead of the press.

I'm not entirely sure what that would have accomplished. Remember the Saturday Night Massacre? When Nixon ordered Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William D. Ruckelshaus when they each, in succession, refused to fire the special prosecutor investigating Watergate. Solicitor General Robert H. Bork finally carried Nixon's order, an action which years later would cost him a seat on the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the FBI--at the request of the White House--sealed off the offices of the fired individuals. With the Justice Department under such tight control by Nixon, who exactly would Felt have gone to?

While some of these former Watergate people may have valid points, they also have zero credibility. The facts are that they broke the law, lied about it, disgraced the Constitution, and tried to cover up what they had done. To whine about it now, and to somehow blame someone else for their own illegal actions, is the epitome of absurdity.