A sixteen-year-old Carl Bernstein began his journalism career in Washington, D.C., as a copyboy for The Washington Star. This early professional exposure in his hometown served as a foundation for a career defined by the rigorous investigation of political power, leading to his role in uncovering the Watergate scandal and documenting the inner workings of American influence.
Early Career and Education
Born in 1944, Bernstein attended Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he managed circulation for the school newspaper, Silver Chips. He later enrolled at the University of Maryland and reported for the campus publication, The Diamondback, before leaving in 1964. By 1965, he relocated to New Jersey to work for the Elizabeth Daily Journal, where he received state-level recognition for his investigative reporting and feature writing.
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In 1966, Bernstein joined The Washington Post. He gained national prominence in June 1972 when he and Bob Woodward were assigned to investigate a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate office complex. Bernstein connected the burglars to a financial slush fund and linked President Richard Nixon to the operation via a $25,000 check. These discoveries precipitated Congressional investigations, culminating in the resignation of Nixon on August 9, 1974.
Transition to Books and Broadcast
Following his tenure at The Washington Post, which ended in 1977, Bernstein transitioned into broadcast journalism and literature. He held positions at ABC, where he served as Washington Bureau Chief, and contributed to CNN and CBS. His literary output includes six books, notably the collaborative Watergate accounts All the President's Men and The Final Days, a memoir of his childhood titled Loyalties: A Son's Memoir, and a 2007 biography of Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Focus on Global Power
Bernstein expanded his investigative scope beyond domestic politics to explore international geopolitical themes. He analyzed the Cold War collaboration between the CIA and media organizations in a lengthy article for Rolling Stone. In 1996, he co-authored a papal biography, His Holiness: John Paul II and the History of Our Time, which examined the role of Pope John Paul II in the dissolution of European communism.
Fast facts
- Born: 1944, Washington, D.C.
- Education: Montgomery Blair High School; University of Maryland
- Key Recognition: Pulitzer Prize for Public Service (1973)
- Notable Works: All the President's Men (1974); The Final Days (1976)
- Professional Affiliations: The Washington Post; ABC; Vanity Fair; CNN
- Awards: George Polk Award (1972); Worth Bingham Prize (1972); The Hillman Prize (1973)
Questions readers ask
What was Bernstein's specific contribution to the Watergate reporting?
He was the first to suspect President Nixon's personal involvement and identified a $25,000 laundered check connecting the President to the Watergate burglars.
Which topics has Bernstein covered since leaving The Washington Post?
His later work has focused on political analysis for television, the relationship between the Vatican and global politics, the history of media, and political biographies.
Achievements
- Pulitzer Prize for Public Service — 1973
- Affiliated with Vanity Fair and The Washington Post
- Educated at University of Maryland and Montgomery Blair High School
- Worked as journalist, writer and biographer
