(1943-)

Who Is Bob Woodward?

Bob Woodward is a journalist and acclaimed non-fiction author who has worked for The Washington Post since 1971. Woodward was working as a reporter for paper when he was tipped to a burglary at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. With fellow journalist Carl Bernstein, Woodward eventually connected the break-in to the highest levels of the Nixon administration. The Washington Post was awarded the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for its coverage—one of two Post Pulitzers won through Woodward’s contributions—and Woodward and Berstein became synonymous with investigative journalism.

Early Life

Woodward was born Robert Upshur Woodward in Geneva, Illinois on March 26, 1943, to Jane and Alfred Woodward. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Yale University in 1965, he enlisted into the U.S. Navy and served a five-year tour of duty. Following his discharge from the Navy, Woodward landed a reporting position at the Montgomery County Sentinel in Maryland. He left the newspaper the following year for a position at The Washington Post. The transition would soon prove to be a wise career move for the young journalist.

Watergate Coverage

Only months into his new position, in 1972, Woodward encountered one of the biggest stories of his career. Tipped to a burglary at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C., he and fellow Post reporter Carl Bernstein were called on to investigate. Woodward eventually connected the break-in to the highest levels of President Richard Nixon’s administration. The Woodward-Bernstein team’s coverage of the scandal amassed several Post stories, which were initially denounced but later confirmed by the White House’s press secretary, Ron Ziegler. “I would apologize to the Post, and I would apologize to Mr. Woodward and Mr. Bernstein,” Ziegler stated in May 1973, adding, “They have vigorously pursued this story and they deserve the credit and are receiving the credit.”

Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein

Woodward and Bernstein soon became synonymous with investigative journalism, receiving wide acclaim for their journalistic work. In addition to breaking the story, their in-depth reporting and powerful writing sparked one of the greatest political upsets in American history: Nationwide news coverage; investigations by the House Judiciary Committee, Senate Watergate Committee and Watergate Special prosecutor; and, ultimately, President Nixon’s resignation and the criminal conviction of many others.

In 1973, The Washington Post received the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for its Watergate coverage. The following year, Woodward and Berstein published a non-fiction book about Watergate, All the President’s Men (1974). They followed with a Nixon-focused piece in 1976, The Final Days.

Later Works

More than four decades since the Watergate scandal erupted, Woodward has never rested his laurels on his early 1970s fame. In 2001, he met with wide acclaim for his in-depth coverage of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City, which was printed in The Washington Post and led to another big win for the paper: the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting.

In addition to continuing his career at The Washington Post, Woodward has published 17 best-selling non-fiction books. He co-authored 1979’s The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court, about Chief Justice Warren E. Burger; a book about the tragic life of comedian John Belushi, Wired: The Short Life and Fast Times of John Belushi; The Secret Wars of the CIA, 1981-1987, about former CIA Director William J. Casey; and Obama’s Wars, an analysis of America’s fight against terrorism under President Barack Obama, among various other works.

More recently, in September 2012, Woodward released The Price of Politics, a non-fiction book on the fiscal policy conflict between President Obama and Republicans in Congress.

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Bob Woodward
• Birth Year: 1943
• Birth date: March 26, 1943
• Birth State: Illinois
• Birth City: Geneva
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Bob Woodward is an American journalist and author who is best known for his reporting on the Watergate scandal for The Washington Post alongside Carl Bernstein.
• Industries
• Journalism and Nonfiction
• Astrological Sign: Aries
• Schools
• Yale University
• Harvard Law School

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CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Bob Woodward Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/bob-woodward
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: March 30, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014