1972: Mark Felt appointed Acting Director

Nixon had been caught red handed in his dirty tricks. In order to buy the FBI's cooperation, Mark Felt was appointed acting director. Many Washington insiders surmise that Mark Felt had something really good on the President.

Hoover's secret files were not destroyed.

But the Watergate scandal was covered up.
 
The only this changes is there is no Deep Throat. sSo Woodard and Bernstein do not become household names. wWhen Felt is given the evidence from Hunt's safe he does not destroy it. He stays in the job until he is charged with violating the civil rights of the Weathermen in 1977.
 
I wrote a TL about this awhile back. fFor those of you with memories of Straha. I have got a good story for you. wWhen I posted the TL on the Ark, he said without Deep Throat there is no Watergate. I told him read a history book Straha.
 
Felt would have become director as original assistant director Clyde Tolson resigned due to poor health and age but instead Nixon chose crony L. Patrick Gray, a former Navy submarine commander with zero prior experience in the Bureau.
 
ryackov said:
Mark Felt was appointed acting director...Watergate scandal was covered up.
Given his OTL actions, what makes you think he'd go along with that?:confused: As opposed to, say, arresting Nixon?:rolleyes::eek:
 
Given his OTL actions, what makes you think he'd go along with that?:confused: As opposed to, say, arresting Nixon?:rolleyes::eek:

Because the reason he exposed the problem was because he was passed over. It was sour grapes. From what i understand of the man, it had littleto do with high moral principles. So he might well, indeed, have been part of the coverup if he'd gotten the position he wanted.

Afaik, its precisely in line with his otl behaviour.
 
Because the reason he exposed the problem was because he was passed over. It was sour grapes. From what i understand of the man, it had littleto do with high moral principles. So he might well, indeed, have been part of the coverup if he'd gotten the position he wanted.

Afaik, its precisely in line with his otl behaviour.

That is a serious accusation to make. fFelt had been fighting crime for decades. wWhy would he agree to cover up a crime. i think Nixon and his people would know not ask him to participate.in the cover up. tThink about it. l L Patrick Gray who was a Nixon loyalist and had no experience as a crime fighter, was not asked to participate in the cover up. tThe files he destroyed had nothing to do with Watergate.
 
That is a serious accusation to make. fFelt had been fighting crime for decades. wWhy would he agree to cover up a crime. i think Nixon and his people would know not ask him to participate.in the cover up. tThink about it. l L Patrick Gray who was a Nixon loyalist and had no experience as a crime fighter, was not asked to participate in the cover up. tThe files he destroyed had nothing to do with Watergate.
Hoover 'fought crime all his life' and still broke the law and trampled on civil liberties all over the place. Hoover and Nixon felt the law was what they wanted it to be, i dont know if Felt was any different.
 
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