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American Morning

Who is 'Deep Throat?'

Aired June 17, 2002 - 09:53   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: John Dean, who was supposed to reveal the identity of Deep Throat last night, announced that while he is very close, he is not quite ready to name any names. In his e-book, "Unmasking Deep Throat," he said that if someone else beats him to it, then c'est la vie. Well, if that's his attitude, than the race is officially on once again.

And this morning Anne McDermott joins that race.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNE MCDERMOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Amelia Earhart -- where is she? Hoffa -- what happened? And deep throat -- deep secret? Or is it? John Dean says he thinks he may know who this secret source on Watergate was, but I've got secret sources of my own and decided to scoop Dean. Plus, I watched "All the President's Men" again, so I should be able to figure this out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT REDFORD, ACTOR: Listen, I'm tired ever your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) games!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCDERMOTT: That's Robert Redford, star and producer of the movie.

So, Bob, who is Deep Throat?

REDFORD: It could range anywhere from there being no Deep Throat, which I think is entirely possible, to there being several deep throats.

MCDERMOTT: Maybe Dustin Hoffman knows.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DUSTIN HOFFMAN, ACTOR: Everything's fine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCDERMOTT: Not really, because Hoffman says he doesn't know who Deep Throat is, and he is not even sure it's important. HOFFMAN: Depends what generation you are. I mean, there's not a need to know for the people that went the first weekend of "Spiderman."

MCDERMOTT: Well, he wouldn't know either. But maybe F. Murray Abraham would. Didn't know he was in "All the President's Men" did you? He was one of the cops.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

F. MURRAY ABRAHAM, ACTOR: Police! Put up your hands!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCDERMOTT: So, F. Murray, who is Deep Throat?

ABRAHAM: I always felt it was Kissinger's trick. I thought, that guy is so Machiavellian. I mean, why not?

Well, Kissinger has denied this in the past. But, hey, Redford never really answered the question, who is Deep Throat?

REDFORD: I really don't know. If I did, I probably would not tell you.

MCDERMOTT: Fine. Time to talk to the man himself, Deep Throat.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you thought I'd help?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCDERMOTT: Well, you helped "Post" reporter Bob Woodward.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get out your notebook. There's more.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCDERMOTT: So I complied, but it turned out actor Hal Holbrook didn't know who Deep Throat was either, and didn't especially care.

HAL HOLBROOK, ACTOR: The point is, this man, in a very difficult, tight spot, made a decision for his country.

MCDERMOTT: And maybe helped save the country. But back to the movie. Stephen Collins, you were in it. Who was deep throat?

STEPHEN COLLINS, ACTOR: I'm beginning to wonder if we are ever going to know.

MCDERMOTT: Boy, doesn't anybody want to know?

REDFORD: You know, I'm kind of curious. MCDERMOTT: Hey, wait a minute. Robert Redford said he wouldn't tell if he knew, so you do know, right?

REDFORD: I don't know who Deep Throat was.

MCDERMOTT: Well, former President Nixon used to hang out with some interesting characters, so there is no telling who could be Deep Throat.

No, no, it wasn't the King.

Anne McDermott, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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