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University of Illinois Department of Journalism |
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This portion of the University of Illinois' Department of Journalism Web site archives the preliminary findings of an investigative report conducted by Knight Chair Professor Bill Gaines and students from his investigative journalism classes.
The investigation's findings were later finalized and presented at the following link:
All information on these Web pages are for archival purposes and are no longer current.
Identifying Hunt
Checking the clues
Details and timing of tip about Hunt's involvement raises questions whether Deep Throat was with the FBI
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The student investigators examined the clues one at a time. It was stated in the book that Throat knew early on that Hunt had been involved in the Watergate burglary even though Sussman said Woodward did not tell him of that earlier contact with Throat. The burglars were arrested Saturday morning, Hunt's name and phone number at the White House were found on the burglars. The Post got that information from their police reporter. Many people knew Hunt's name was found on the burglars, but few knew he was definitely involved in Watergate.
Woodward had all day Monday to call Throat and others and put together his story about Hunt.
Details of the Watergate arrests spread from the District of Columbia police, who made the arrests, to the FBI, CIA, Justice Department, campaign committee, and White House officials, including Colson. Colson hired Hunt, and Hunt worked in his office although he was on the campaign committee payroll. Top officials in the White House and the campaign committee knew of Hunt's involvement with the team of burglars. FBI reports show no indication that the FBI, CIA or Justice Department knew for sure at that time.
The first Post stories named him Howard E. Hunt, not E. Howard Hunt, Jr., his correct name. It appears that Throat and others to whom Woodward spoke that day knew Hunt only by the name he was commonly called. So Throat did not know everything and seemed to be getting his information from the spoken word rather than FBI files, which is consistent with his other information.
The students also concluded that because Woodward initiated the calls to Throat, Woodward knew he would be likely have the information and not that he incidentally happened to know or had to go and find out.
The New York Times reported June 21 that Hunt had refused to talk to the FBI. The Post did not have that information. The FBI knew Hunt would not talk to them when they contacted him twice on June 17, before Woodward talked to Throat. High-level FBI officials such as W. Mark Felt, No. 2 man in the bureau, would have known. The New York Times apparently had FBI sources. Woodward and Bernstein appear to have had none.