Bob Woodward is a distinguished American investigative journalist and author known for his fearless journalism. He is also known for his reporting on the Watergate scandal, September 11 terrorist attacks, and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Presently he is working as Associate Editor of “The Washington Post”.
Bob Woodward started his reporting career in the 1970s. He has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize twice for his work. He is also credited with toppling the government of President Richard Nixon, who was involved in the Watergate scandal.
Apart from being a reporter, Bob Woodward is also a prolific writer. In his 35-year career, he has written more than 20 books on a wide range of issues including American politics and current affairs. 18 books written by him have been national bestsellers and 13 books have been No. 1 national nonfiction bestsellers.
Woodward’s work has had a profound influence on American journalism and politics. He has helped expose corruption and wrongdoing and his books provide a good overview of American politics.
Physical Stats
Full name: | Robert Upshur Woodward |
Profession: | American Journalist and Writer |
Best known for: | Reporting on the Watergate Scandal |
Born: | March 26, 1943, Geneva, Illinois, United States |
Age: | 80 Years |
Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
Weight: | 79 Kg or 174 lbs |
Education: | Wheaton Community High School Yale University(BA) |
Military career : | (1965–1970) United States Navy Unit: USS Wright (CVL-49) USS Fox (CG-33) |
Journalist Career: | 1971- Present |
Monthly Income: | $100000 + |
Annual Salary: | $2 million + |
Parents: | Alfred E. Woodward (father) |
Marital Status: | Married |
Spouse: | Kathleen Middlekauff (m. 1966; div. 1969), Frances Kuper (m. 1974; div. 1979), Elsa Walsh (m. 1989-Till now) |
Children: | 2, (Taliesin Woodward and Diana Woodward ) |
Nationality: | American |
Early Life
Bob Woodward is also known as Robert Upshur Woodward. He was born on March 26, 1943 in Geneva, Illinois, United States.
Bob, father’s name was Alfred E. Woodward, who was the Chief Justice of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court, and his mother’s name was Jane Woodward.
Woodward was raised in Wheaton, Illinois, and received his primary education there. His parents got divorced when he was 12 years old. After this he started living with his brother.
Woodward completed his high school education at Wheaton Community High School and graduated from Yale University in 1965 with a degree in History and English.
Career
Bob Woodward started his career as a communications officer in the US Navy in 1965. He was one of two officers who handled the nuclear launch codes. He served in the United States Navy for approximately 5 years. During this period he was involved in major projects of the Navy.
Journalism Career (1971-Present)
After leaving the Navy, Bob Woodward first applied for a reporter’s position at “The Washington Post.” But due to his lack of experience in journalism, he spent a year at the Montgomery Sentinel.
After about a year, he was appointed as a reporter in the media company “Washington Post” in the year 1971. And he soon became famous there as a talented and outspoken journalist.
Then in 1972, working under editor Ben Bradlee, he was assigned to report on the Watergate scandal. He teamed up with fellow journalist Carl Bernstein to expose corruption and other illegal activities of the Nixon administration at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee.
Woodward’s evidence led to criminal charges against members of the Nixon administration and led to the resignation of US President Richard Nixon in 1974.
He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on Watergate. After this he continued working for The Washington Post. He was appointed as editor at “Washington Post” in 1979.
During his long career at The Washington Post, he has written more than 20 books on American politics and current affairs. Internal affairs of the American government are mentioned in his books.
Bob Woodward ‘s Book
Woodward worked as a reporter for the Washington Post for more than fifty years. During this time, he wrote more than 20 nonfiction books related to the Supreme Court, the CIA, the Pentagon and the White House, and American politics, of which 13 topped best-seller lists.
He has also written extensively about other US presidents including Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama.
Bob Woodward’s latest book “The South Channel”
Woodward’s most recent book is “The South Channel”, published on November 16, 2023. This book focuses on American politics since the 2020 US presidential election. Woodward has made many critical revelations about President Joe Biden and his administration in the book.
According to Woodward, the Biden administration faces many challenges, including rising inflation, violent crime and the Russia-Ukraine war. The book also alleges that the Biden administration is struggling to counter China’s growing influence.
Woodward also reveals in the book that there are many differences of opinion within the Biden administration. The book alleges that Biden’s advisers often disagree with each other, which hinders the functioning of the administration.
“The South Channel” is a controversial as well as important book that is important for understanding the current era of American politics.
“The South Channel” has received praise from some critics, who have described it as an important and penetrating book. However, other critics have described the book as biassed and unreliable.
Bob Woodward’s most notable books
- All the President’s Men (1974)
- The Final Days (1976)
- The Brethren (1979)
- Wired (1984)
- The Veil (1987)
- The Commanders (1991)
- Agenda (1994)
- Shadow (1999)
- Bush at War (2002)
- State of Denial (2006)
- The War Within (2008)
- Junoon (2012)
- Fear (2018)
- Anger (2020)
- Danger (2021)
Awards and Achievements
Bob Woodward is an American investigative journalist and accomplished author. He has received numerous awards and honors for his accurate and impartial reporting, including:
- Pulitzer Prize for Public Service (1973)
- Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting (2002)
- Heywood Brown Award (1972)
- Worth Bingham Award for Investigative Reporting (1972, 1986)
- Sigma Delta Chi Award (1973)
- George Polk Award (1972)
- William Allen White Medal (2000)
- Gerald R. Ford Award: For Reporting on the Presidency (2002)
- Eliza Parish Lovejoy Award for Courageous Journalism (2012)
Bob Woodward’s Net worth
Bob Woodward’s net worth is estimated to be around $30 million. Apart from being a journalist, he is also a skilled writer. His books have been continuous bestsellers.
As the Associate Editor of “The Washington Post”, his monthly income is around $100000 USD and annual income is around $2Million USD. His main source of income is job and book publishing.
Personal Life
Bob Woodward has been married thrice so far. They have five children: Tally, Lissie, Robert Jr., Sarah, and Jake.
Bob Woodward and Kathleen Middlecoff
Bob Woodward’s first marriage was to high school English professor Kathleen Middlecoff in 1966. But they got divorced after 3 years in 1969.
Bob Woodward and Frances Cooper
Woodward married Frances Cooper for the second time in 1974, with whom he had two children. they got divorced in 1979.
Bob Woodward and Elsa Walsh
Bob Woodward married journalist and author Elsa Walsh in 1989 for his third marriage. Elsa Walsh is a writer for “The New Yorker” and author of Divided Lives: The Public and Private Struggles of Three American Women.
His eldest daughter Tali is also a journalist and directed the graduate program in journalism at Columbia University for six years before becoming editor of “The Trace”.