Woodward's Debt to Deep Throat (Sydney H. Schanberg of "The Killing Fields" tells Woodward: pay up)

The Village Voice ^ | June 21st, 2005 | Sydney H. Schanberg

[summer]

That news led Felt and his family to seek a separate book contract. They reportedly received $75,000 from PublicAffairs, an independent publisher.

I'm surprised $75K is all that Felt was offered in his own book deal in this matter. (Didn't the Runaway Bride just get half a million?)

Also, Woodward's conduct in not wanting to collaborate with Felt, at this point, strikes me as somewhat odd. It's like Woodward-the-Author just can't stand to share that spotlight with anyone, even the main character of his book. It makes me much less interested in reading whatever he may write. I'd rather read a good book by an unknown author -- and briefly surf the talk shows for Woodward's book summary.

[summer]

FYI.

[durasell]

Woodward would have risen to the top of the heap even if Watergate never happened.

[Howlin]

No way. He's had to "redact" several of his books for "inaccuracies."

[snarks_when_bored]

If the Felt's want any of Bob Woodward's money, they're going to have to pry it from his cold, dead hands.

Otherwise, they'll have to wait until he dies.

[joesnuffy]

Sidney has a lot of chutzbah...
His real photographer in Cambodia was beaten up pretty badly
for threatening to tell the real story of Sidney's
so called herosim....the week before the movie was released.

[summer]

There is something about his celebrity that is just a turn-off to me. Or maybe it's the way he handles it.

[summer]

He says they are "brothers:"

I have shared rewards equally with Dith Pran, my partner in Cambodia in the 1970s—including the money from the film The Killing Fields. We call ourselves "brothers."

[summer]

Or is there some other partner you meant?

[summer]

LOL...

[RedRover]

I can understand that collaborating with Felt wouldn't interest Woodward.
This piece seems a little odd to me. Why would "The Killing Fields" guy give a hoot about Mark Felt? Why should Felt's hippie daughter get more money out of this?

[gusopol3]

Neopolotano on Fox made the point that, if Felt accepts money from Woodward, it is the consummation of a bribe. He made the point that Felt, as a government official, engaged in an illegal act. Of course, it is well beyond any statute of limitations. But,when money is paid, that is the second part of the bribe, and the crime is current, dating from the time of the payment. I hope the money exchanges hands ( though of course, unfortuneatly, no legal action will ever follow)--at least, it can be called a bribe.

[durasell]

Because he's a journalist -- he shouldn't have celebrity. If Woodward and Bernstein can be blamed for anything, it's for creating the idea of the "celebrity journalist."

[what's up]

It would turn my stomach to see Felt, an FBI agent, a so-called public servent, get millions for ratting on the White House.

It already makes me nauseous to see Woodward get rich off this garbage.

[summer]

No, I think he is raising what he genuinely believes to be a very valid question and a timely issue for journalists - if your big career break comes as a result of an association with Person X, does Person X deserve to share in your mega-millions resulting from that story? Woodward obviously doesn't think so, but Felt's grandchildren -- who want to pay their college bills would disagree with Woodward.

[summer]

Although taking that one step further - since the Runaway Bride's story would not have existed without the input and work of various law enforcement and public servants, should she hand over some of her half million to that city? I know she paid some restitution, but now she seems to have hit the jackpot. What if the response of the city had been, instead, so what, she ran away, and we're not looking for her. Maybe that's a stretch here, but maybe not. I feel the city workers and others who looked for her are more deserving of that money.

[Dog Gone]

Woodward always planned to release the blockbuster book after Felt's death naming him and making himself a bazillionaire.

The release of Felt's name prior to his death greatly diminished the value of Woodward's book.

As to whether whatever profits should be shared with the source in such a case, I have no feeling because I have no sympathy for either party.

Felt violated his oath to release information to Woodward. He had other options if he wanted to get the truth out. And it has nothing to do with him getting or enjoying any wealth from his new notoriety. It's all about his heirs trying to get a bunch of money into his estate before he dies in the near future.

[summer]

Dog, what do you mean here? He had other options if he wanted to get the truth out

[GOP_Proud]

< I'm surprised $75K is all that Felt was offered in his own book deal in this matter. >

I think it's because they suspect it will be a flop. This story is sooo over.

[Petronski]

I have shared rewards equally with Dith Pran, my partner in Cambodia in the 1970s—including the money from the film The Killing Fields. We call ourselves "brothers."

You should have given Pran ALL the proceeds, as if it could ever be enough for selfishly getting him stranded in the Killing Fields to begin with, you sanctimonious bastard.