History of Bob Woodward in Timeline
Bob Woodward is a renowned American investigative journalist, famous for his work at The Washington Post since 1971. Though not currently employed by the Post, he holds the title of associate editor. He is best known for his investigative reporting, particularly on the Watergate scandal alongside Carl Bernstein, which significantly contributed to Richard Nixon's resignation. Woodward has authored or co-authored numerous best-selling books, often focusing on American presidents and political events, consistently shaping public understanding of government and power.
March 26, 1943: Robert Woodward Born
On March 26, 1943, Robert Upshur Woodward was born. He would later become an American investigative journalist.
August 25, 1957: Elsa Walsh's birth
August 25, 1957 marks the birth of Elsa Walsh, who later became Bob Woodward's third wife and is a writer for The New Yorker.
1966: First marriage
In 1966, Bob Woodward married Kathleen Middlekauff, marking his first marriage.
1969: Divorce from Kathleen Middlekauff
In 1969, Bob Woodward divorced Kathleen Middlekauff, ending his first marriage.
1970: Nixon's comment on Kent State shooting
In 1970, Richard Nixon made controversial comments, later revealed in a May 4, 2019 speech by Woodward, seemingly praising the shooting of students at Kent State, which sparked outrage and debate.
June 17, 1972: Watergate Burglary
On June 17, 1972, Woodward and Carl Bernstein were assigned to report on the burglary of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel. This assignment would become a pivotal moment in Woodward's career.
1972: Heywood Broun Award and Worth Bingham Prize
In 1972, Woodward received the Heywood Broun Award and the Worth Bingham Prize for Investigative Reporting, recognizing his early achievements in journalism.
November 1973: The Final Days Publication
In November 1973, Woodward and Bernstein began working on their second book on Watergate, entitled The Final Days.
1973: Pulitzer Prize for Public Service
In 1973, Woodward and Bernstein were the lead reporters on Watergate, for which The Washington Post won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. Woodward made significant contributions to this award.
1973: Sigma Delta Chi Award
In 1973, Woodward was honored with the Sigma Delta Chi Award for his outstanding contributions to journalism.
1974: Second marriage
In 1974, Bob Woodward married Frances Kuper, marking his second marriage.
1976: Portrayed in All the President's Men
In 1976, Bob Woodward was portrayed by Robert Redford in "All the President's Men", a film about the Watergate scandal.
1976: The Final Days Publication
In 1976, Woodward and Bernstein published their second book on Watergate, entitled The Final Days, which covered the period from November 1973 until President Nixon resigned in August 1974.
1976: All the President's Men Film Release
In 1976, the film "All the President's Men" was released, starring Robert Redford as Woodward and Dustin Hoffman as Bernstein. The movie's release transformed the reporters into celebrities and sparked a wave of interest in investigative journalism.
1979: Divorce from Frances Kuper
In 1979, Bob Woodward divorced Frances Kuper, ending his second marriage.
September 1980: "Jimmy's World" Story Published
In September 1980, The Washington Post published Janet Cooke's "Jimmy's World" story, a profile of an eight-year-old heroin addict. Woodward, as assistant managing editor, defended the story's veracity.
April 13, 1981: Pulitzer Prize Awarded and Revoked
On April 13, 1981, Janet Cooke was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing for "Jimmy's World". The story was then found to be a fabrication, and the Pulitzer was returned, resulting in significant controversy for The Washington Post and Woodward.
1986: Co-wrote Under Siege
In 1986, Bob Woodward co-wrote the NBC made-for-TV film "Under Siege", which is about a series of terrorist attacks in the United States.
1986: Worth Bingham Prize for Investigative Reporting
In 1986, Woodward was again honored with the Worth Bingham Prize for Investigative Reporting, further recognizing his impactful work.
1989: Third marriage to Elsa Walsh
In 1989, Bob Woodward married Elsa Walsh, a writer for The New Yorker, marking his third marriage.
1989: Portrayed in Wired
In 1989, J. T. Walsh portrayed Bob Woodward in the film "Wired", adding to Woodward's on-screen portrayals.
1995: Golden Plate Award
In 1995, Woodward received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement, recognizing his significant achievements and contributions.
September 6, 1996: Richard Harwood defends Woodward
On September 6, 1996, Richard Harwood of The Post defended Woodward's reporting methods, emphasizing his dedication to verifying facts and gathering evidence.
September 1996: Joan Didion's Criticism
In September 1996, Joan Didion published a comprehensive critique of Woodward's work in The New York Review of Books, questioning his conclusions and analytical depth.
1996: Report on Chinese Campaign Finance Controversy
In 1996, Woodward and Brian Duffy published a story detailing a United States Department of Justice investigation into the 1996 United States campaign finance controversy, alleging Chinese agents sought to direct contributions to the Democratic National Committee.
1999: Portrayed in Dick
In 1999, Will Ferrell portrayed Bob Woodward in the film "Dick", marking another instance of Woodward's character being depicted in popular culture.
2000: William Allen White Medal
In 2000, Woodward received the William Allen White Medal for his distinguished service to journalism.
2001: Robert C. Vance Distinguished Lecture
In 2001, Woodward gave the Robert C. Vance Distinguished Lecture at Central Connecticut State University, showcasing his continued engagement with academic institutions.
2001: Coverage of September 11 Attacks
In 2001, Woodward was the main reporter for The Washington Post's coverage of the September 11 attacks, contributing significantly to their reporting.
2001: Walter Cronkite Award
In 2001, Woodward won the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism, further solidifying his reputation as a leading journalist.
January 2002: Articles on Camp David Events Post-9/11
In January 2002, Woodward and Dan Balz published a series of articles describing the events at Camp David in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
2002: Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting
In 2002, The Washington Post won the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for its coverage of the September 11 attacks, to which Woodward made significant contributions as the main reporter.
2002: Gerald R. Ford Prize
In 2002, Woodward was awarded the Gerald R. Ford Prize for Reporting on the Presidency, recognizing his significant coverage of presidential matters.
June 2003: Apology to Leonard Downie Jr.
In June 2003, Woodward apologized to Leonard Downie Jr., editor of The Washington Post, for not informing him earlier about the conversation where he learned about Valerie Plame's CIA employment.
June 2003: Learned about Valerie Plame's CIA Employment
In June 2003, Woodward learned from a senior administration official that Joe Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, worked for the CIA. He appears to have been the first reporter to learn about her employment from a government source.
2003: Al Hunt's Praise
In 2003, Al Hunt of The Wall Street Journal called Woodward "the most celebrated journalist of our age," highlighting Woodward's significant impact and recognition.
2004: Bob Schieffer's Praise
In 2004, Bob Schieffer of CBS News remarked, "Woodward has established himself as the best reporter of our time. He may be the best reporter of all time," affirming Woodward's exceptional status in journalism.
2004: Plan of Attack Publication
In 2004, Woodward published "Plan of Attack", a detailed account of the Bush presidency, including the response to the September 11 attacks and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
May 2005: Deep Throat Identity Revealed
In May 2005, W. Mark Felt was revealed as Deep Throat. Woodward confirmed the claim and subsequently published a book, titled The Secret Man, that detailed his relationship with Felt.
November 14, 2005: Woodward Gives Deposition
On November 14, 2005, Woodward gave a two-hour deposition to Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald regarding the Valerie Plame affair, revealing he had learned about Plame's CIA employment in June 2003.
November 16, 2005: Deposition Reported in The Washington Post
On November 16, 2005, The Washington Post reported on Woodward's deposition to Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, marking the first time Woodward publicly revealed his special knowledge about the Valerie Plame case.
2006: State of Denial Publication
In 2006, Woodward published "State of Denial", a detailed account of the Bush presidency, including the response to the September 11 attacks and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
2008: Woodward's Speaking Engagements
In 2008, Bob Woodward was giving speeches to industry lobbying groups, earning between $15,000 to $60,000 per engagement which he donated to his personal foundation. This raised questions about Washington Post's policy on speaking engagements.
2008: The War Within Publication
In 2008, Woodward published "The War Within: A Secret White House History (2006–2008)", a detailed account of the Bush presidency, including the response to the September 11 attacks and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
2012: Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award and Honorary Doctorate
In 2012, Colby College presented Woodward with the Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award for courageous journalism and awarded him an honorary doctorate, honoring his contributions to the field.
2012: Obama Administration Statements on Sequester
In 2012, the Obama Administration made statements regarding the sequester, which Woodward later criticized in his February 22, 2013 column.
February 22, 2013: Column Criticizing Obama Administration
On February 22, 2013, The Washington Post published a column by Woodward criticizing the Obama administration's statements about the origin of the budget sequester.
2014: Robert Gates' Comments on Woodward's Abilities
In 2014, Robert Gates said that he wished he'd recruited Woodward into the CIA, praising his ability to extract information from people.
2017: Portrayed in Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House
In 2017, Julian Morris portrayed Bob Woodward in "Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House", showcasing Woodward's continued relevance in stories about American political history.
2018: Fear: Trump in the White House Publication
In 2018, Following the publication of "Fear: Trump in the White House", Woodward spoke to a large audience at Virginia Commonwealth University, reflecting his continued influence and engagement with contemporary political issues.
2018: Portrayed in The Front Runner
In 2018, Spencer Garrett portrayed Bob Woodward in the film "The Front Runner", adding to the list of actors who have depicted Woodward in various contexts.
2018: Participation in Online Class
In 2018, Woodward announced his participation in an online class on investigative journalism, sharing his expertise and experience with aspiring journalists.
May 4, 2019: Speech at Kent State University
On May 4, 2019, Woodward's speech at Kent State University revealed previously unreleased audiotape of Richard Nixon seemingly praising the 1970 shooting of students, creating a significant and controversial moment.
February 2023: Private Dinner with James Comer
In February 2023, Woodward allegedly confided to James Comer at a private dinner "that everyone in DC knew that Joe allowed his family to sell access to him, but as far as he was aware, that was not illegal."
2023: Voice reused in White House Plumbers
In 2023, Robert Redford's voice from "All the President's Men", depicting Woodward's telephone call to Howard Hunt, was reused in episode 4 of the HBO miniseries, "White House Plumbers", showcasing the enduring impact of the Watergate scandal.
January 2025: Comer's Allegation Reported
In January 2025, The Guardian reported that in James Comer's upcoming book, All the President's Money, Comer alleges that Woodward confided in him at a private dinner. Woodward has denied the allegation.
