Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House

(ON RADIO) You got a cloudy Monday ahead today

here in the nation's capital.

Chance of rain showers and a likely chance of some drizzle that continues...

With President Nixon facing an uncertain re-election,

candidates for the Democratic Party are accusing him

of failing to end American involvement in Vietnam.

Members of the Committee to re-elect the President

were in Jacksonville today on their campaign trip through Florida.

And for a report on that, here's Georgia Wilson.

Wife of the Attorney General, Mrs. Richard Kleindienst.

(ON RADIO) This is the final weekend

of our month-long extravaganza sale.

All sizes all on sale!

In Washington, yet another public demonstration

by some citizens opposed to the Vietnam War.

Reporter Alan Witten.

It was festive as the crowd turned to Capitol Hill.

In an hour's time, several thousand people had joined hands

to form a complete circle of war protest around the US Capitol.

(ON RADIO) Clean and Shine to the rescue! Cleans up stains,

only the shine remains. No rubbing. No trimming, no foul smells.

A sharp recession has shaken economic confidence.

As a result, a large field of Democratic challengers has emerged

and would beat Nixon if the election were held today.

(ON RADIO) Five different flavors! - WOMAN (ON RADIO): Five different meals!

One happy family!

One, two, three, four! We don't want your fucking war!

One, two, three, four! We don't want your fucking war!

- (INTERCOM BUZZES) (OVER INTERCOM) Mark Felt.

Gentlemen. Mr. Dean.

Goddamn Russian revolution out there.

Why aren't we arresting anybody?

Because that isn't a crime.

Right now the president needs your advice.

Yeah, Hoover's run the FBI, what, 40 years?

- Fifty. - Fifty goddamn years.

You know, Johnson and Kennedy wanted to fire him, don't you?

But they didn't have the balls.

If the president were to ask Mr. Hoover to step aside,

how would you suggest he do it?

We know you to be a friend to this administration.

We like to see our friends get what they deserve.

- You're next in line. - There is no line, Mr. Mitchell.

The president is asking.

Mr. Hoover would want to keep his bullet-proof car.

You're a real politician, Felt.

Then thanks for popping by.

If I may.

There is one thing Mr. Hoover knows that's been on all your minds.

Whenever the FBI hears a piece of gossip or information,

such as "I saw so-and-so out with another woman, not his wife,"

or a man, not his wife,

we're supposed to write everything down, and we do.

We write it all down in memos.

These memos come to me,

and I decide what information Mr. Hoover needs to know,

and send that up to Mr. Hoover.

And Mr. Hoover puts it all away in his private files,

to be kept safe,

out of the hands of people without discretion,

people who could do harm should that information be leaked, for instance,

and put before the court of public opinion.

And then sometimes Mr. Hoover will go, for instance,

to the president's closest aides and say,

Mr. Ehrlichman or Mr. Mitchell,

"I want you to know that we received that report

"about you and that other woman,

"and I want to tell you that there is absolutely no reason

"for us to take any further action.

"There is no violation.

"You're safe.

"We, the FBI...

"All your secrets are safe with us."

How long have you been in the FBI, Felt?

Thirty years.

Thirty years.

That's a lot of information, a lot of files.

Thank you, Mr. Felt.

Thank you, gentlemen. Mr. Dean.

- (LAUGHING) - Choke on your Manhattan.

Have a little something.

Hello, darling. Hey, sweetie.

I give you the chief dragon slayer and guardian of the American dream.

Oh, come on, Mark. Crack a smile, at least!

Eddie, let me go.

Eddie, leave her alone. She's the best. Come here, you.

Did you hear that? - I need a drink.

- I am the best. - I heard that.

Hi, hon. Hi, sweetie.

- Look what I've done. - Look what you're doing.

What were you doing?

Yes, sir.

Keep the hips down.

Look at your feet.

Come on, attitude.

Eddie, they're elegant!

Good morning. - Good morning.

- Is the director in? - Not yet.

Here's that Weather Underground file.

- How many bombings now? - Couple dozen.

Precise numbers, Mr. Miller.

Twenty-nine.

Nails and ball bearings.

These kids aren't messing around.

They're embarrassing the FBI.

Get the New York office.

He's dead.

Who?

Mr. Hoover's dead.

His housekeeper found him on the floor.

He wasn't breathing.

It looks like a stroke.

Put everything into motion.

No mistakes, gentlemen. Not one.

Good morning, Felt.

The assistant Attorney General.

Pat Gray.

Complicated morning for all of us.

Indeed. Mr. Miller, here, will be handling the funeral arrangements.

I have the Attorney General's instructions on seating and protocol.

The funeral will be handled by the FBI.

The Attorney General will sit beside the vice president.

Handled by the FBI in its own way, Mr. Gray.

I also have instructions on Mr. Hoover's files.

I am to take possession of them and bring them to the White House.

What files?

Mr. Hoover's secret files. The Personal and Confidentials.

Official and Confidentials.

There are no secret files.

We thank thee this day with arms open for J. Edgar Hoover,

for his lifelong trust in thee,

his steadfast devotion to the nation,

his elevated patriotism,

his commitment to justice and peace in the nation.

We ask that we may be as strong,

- brave as he was brave... - Excuse me.

Loyal as he was loyal... - Pardon me.

Serve as he served,

love the nation as he loved it.

Felt!

Jesus. Bill Sullivan.

I'd like a word with you.

Bill Sullivan and Mark Felt, together again.

Who would have thought it?

I think I was the one who recommended you to the old man

for your first big promotion.

You know you were. - That's right. Mark Felt never forgets.

That's why everyone likes you.

Hell, I even like you.

And I don't like anybody.

What do you want?

I had 30 years in the bureau.

Same as you.

- You were the director's bag man. - Oh, yeah?

You taped Martin Luther King with other women

and sent the pictures to his wife.

Do you need me to actually say it?

Those days were gone. You had to go.

You could be you, Mark, only because I was who I was.

You and I were an ecosystem.

That's how nature works.

Keeps everything in a balance.

Now, the king is dead.

Long live the king.

- Are you the new king? - You tell me.

You're the president's new best friend.

Mark Felt.

Integrity, bravery, fidelity.

Ladies and gentlemen, the G-man's G-man.

You want to know what everybody really thinks of you? Do you?

Competent, reliable, loyal.

- What's wrong with that? - Nothing.

If you're a golden retriever.

Hoover's gone.

You're alone now,

holding the end of your own leash.

(OVER INTERCOM) Attorney General, line one.

Dick.

Yes.

Well, I have enjoyed every day of it.

The FBI has been home to me and my family for 30 years and...

Yes.

"A new day."

Yes, a fresh start.

It's what I would do.

Who do you have in mind?

I'm sorry. Could you repeat that? Who?

- Welcome to the FBI. - A friendly face.

Gentlemen.

Now, Mr. Gray.

I know the bureau has its closets and skeletons.

You can count on me to keep those doors shut.

I'll be candid with you.

I was a submarine commander in the navy.

I was father, confessor and friend to 18-year-olds.

Did you know that?

I'm not a suspicious man by nature.

That probably makes me a strange choice to run the FBI.

In fact, when the president called my wife

she begged me to turn him down, but...