Alternate explanation: The letter is fake. A complete fabrication published in the hope of precipitating a Saturday Night Massacre type situation.
I agree and yesterday someone posted his/her idea that is probably Bob Woodward. I laughed, but now it’s not so funny.
I think a lot of us figured that out as soon as we saw the New York Slimes falling all over itself "explaining" how unusual it was to publish an anonymous op-ed in their esteemed newspaper. Unfortunately, it served its purpose to get the "sophisticated" chattering class tongues clucking and fingers wagging. Of course, these are the idiots who actually believe the New York Slimes, the Washington Putz and the San Francisco Comical are still great newspapers.