Deep Throat, mostly the non-pornographic kind

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Watergate break-in. Accordingly, there's been renewed speculation on the identity of Deep Throat.

That would be the informant, not the porn movie. Coincidentally, however, this week a Brian Grazier-produced documentary on the film premiered. It was a cultural benchmark, after all, when even Jackie O went to see it.

Anyway, back to the speculation. A few years ago, William Gaines, a former reporter who teaches investigative reporting at the University of Illinois, led his class in a project to decipher the riddle. The students assembled a list of candidates, contacted all who were still living (Woodward has said he will release the identity once D.T. dies, per their agreement, so from this we know that D.T is still living), and kept those who did not categorically deny it. They ended up with a list of seven possible candidates.

My favorite on that list was Pat Buchanan. I spent a lot of time with Pat up in New Hampshire in 1996, during the New Hampshire primary campaign (he even offered me a job!). Although we disagreed on absolutely everything, I found him to be a much nicer guy than you'd ever expect, and the idea that he may have brought down Nixon amused me. I also dig the fact that he would not confirm or deny, as Pat's not what you'd usually consider a man of mystery.

Recently, old 41 himself, George Herbert Walker Bush, has been floated as a possibility.

However, the latest word is that Mr. Throat is gravely ill, which means that the guessing game may soon be over. Woodward has alerted Ben Bradlee to this, and Bradlee, the only person aside from Woodstein to know the Throat's true identity, admits that he has already prepared an obituary, which includes the revelation.

Pat's been looking healthy lately, so I guess it's not him after all. Unfortuantely, our former Demon-in-Chief is also still hale and hearty, so no dice there either.

Nixon era White House counsel John Dean, himself a front-runner in many Deep Throat guessing games, and also feeling just fine of late, takes this opportunity to consider the constitutional implications of protecting sources.

Editor and Publisher is taking a more hands-on approach with: Early Returns in 'Deep Throat' Contest: Rehnquist Takes the Lead!

Place your bets soon, the clock is ticking!