Bradlee had been recruited with the idea that the New York Times need nod exercise absolute preeminence in American journalism. That vision had suffered a setback in 1971 when the Times published the Pentagon Papers. Though the Post was the second news organization to obtain a copy of the secret study of the Vietnam war, Bradlee noted that 'there was blood on every word' of the Times' initial stories. Bradlee could convey his opinions with a single disgusted glance at an indolent reporter or editor. -- Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward

Because he had dropped out of college and did not intend to finish Bernstein left in 1965 to become a full-time reporter for the Elizabeth Daily Journal in New Jersey. Bernstein and his second wife Nora Ephron already had an infant son Jacob and Carl Bernstein was pregnant with their second son Max in 1979 when Carl Bernstein learned of her husband's affair with Jay. In 1966 Bernstein left New Jersey and began reporting for the Washington Post where he covered every aspect of local news and became known as one of the paper's best writing stylists.

These scandals led to numerous government investigations and the eventual resignation of President Richard Nixon. Carl Bernstein (pron. For his role in breaking the scandal Bernstein received many awards and his work helped earn the Post a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 1973.