Bob Woodward Legendary Pulitzer Prize-Winning Investigative Journalist, Associate Editor, The Washington Post , Author, 22 Bestsellers

About the Author

Bob Woodward gained international attention when he and Carl Bernstein uncovered the Watergate scandal in 1973. Woodward has written about the last nine U.S. presidents and chronicled how the power of the presidency has evolved. He is the bestselling author of twenty two books – fourteen went to #1 – more than any contemporary nonfiction writer. Fear: Trump in the White House, is the deepest dive into the first months of any American president. His 20th book, Rage, went behind the scenes of the Trump presidency. His 21st book looks at the final days of the Trump presidency and the early days of Biden’s presidency. Fear sold more than 1.1 million copies in its first week and broke the 94-year first-week sales record of its publisher.

Woodward has a way of getting insiders to open up to reveal an intimate and sweeping portrayal of Washington. His work is meticulous and draws on internal memos, classified documents, meeting notes, and hundreds of hours of recorded interviews with key players. Woodward is associate editor for The Washington Post where he’s worked since 1971. He has won nearly every American journalism award, and the Post won the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for his work with Carl Bernstein on the Watergate scandal. Woodward was the main reporter for the Post’s articles on the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks that won the National Affairs Pulitzer Prize in 2002.

Woodward has co-authored or authored fourteen #1 bestselling non-fiction books, including: All the President’s Men and The Final Days both co-authored with Bernstein, The Brethren co-authored with Scott Armstrong, Wired, Veil, The Commanders, The Agenda, Shadow, Bush at War, Plan of Attack, State of Denial, Obama’s Wars, Fear, and Rage. Woodward’s other national bestselling books include: The Secret Man, The Choice, Maestro, The War Within, The Price of Politics, and The Last of the President’s Men.

As a speaker, Woodward pulls the curtain back on Washington and its leaders. Woodward speaks concisely to help people understand what’s going on in the halls of power in an age of 24-hour news, social media, and snarky politics.

Woodward was born on March 26, 1943 in Illinois. He graduated from Yale University in 1965 and served five years as a communications officer in the U.S. Navy before beginning his journalism career at the Montgomery County Sentinel (Maryland), where he was a reporter for one year before joining the Post.

Suggested Topics

HOW WE GOT HERE – LESSONS FROM TEN PRESIDENTS

Now reporting on his tenth American president, Bob Woodward’s remarkable perspective is unmatched in journalism. The two time Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter takes audiences on a journey as only he can. From Nixon to the present, Woodward provides firsthand insights from having penetrated the White House, the Supreme Court, the CIA, the Pentagon, the Congress. He analyzes the successes and messes of the presidents he’s covered and offers important lessons – about governing, about presidential leadership during economic, military, and national crises, about the expanding powers of the presidency, and about the role of the media. Woodward’s content is tailored to the interests of the audience and is an in-depth, non-partisan, fact-driven analysis of America’s current state through the lens of history. In the time since he uncovered the Watergate scandal with Carl Bernstein in 1973, Woodward has worked to shine a light on the inner-workings of secret government. In all, he has written 20 nonfiction bestsellers – 14 of which went on to become #1; more than any modern-day author. Woodward is currently at work on his 21st book about the final days of the Trump presidency and the handoff to Joe Biden.

The State of The American Presidency

Everywhere legendary journalist Bob Woodward goes, he says people ask to know what’s really going on in Washington. Their questions fall into four categories: 1) The presidency: How is President Trump doing and surviving? How does Trump compare with the other eight presidents – Nixon to Obama – that Woodward has reported on for The Washington Post and in his bestselling books? 2) The investigation of special counsel Robert Mueller: Is it like Watergate or will it fade away like Reagan’s Iran-Contra scandal? 3) Conflict: What is the likelihood of a new war? What are the goals with North Korea, in the Middle East, with the Islamic state, and on terrorism? Will there likely be a major escalation in one of the current conflicts? And 4) The economy: Is the American/global economy sound or are we headed for trouble? How is Trump’s America First agenda playing out with our allies and enemies around the globe?

Raves and Reviews

As for Mr. Woodward’s performance, it was simply stellar. He held the sold-out crowd of 1,200 in his hand, hit all his press marks with grace, and handled the post-show meet and greet like a master.”
—Marketing Director, Zeiterion Performing Arts Center

The group loved him. I knew he was an icon but I didn’t realize how enchanted everyone would become with him. It was like Mick Jagger was at our event — or a President.”
—Stable Value Investment Association

Standing ovations are a rarity at our meetings. You were terrific. Keep up the great work!”
—Human Resource Policy Association

He was extremely well-received and had the audience hanging on his every word. We really appreciated his insights.”
—Vice President, Public Affairs, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities

A harrowing portrait of the Trump presidency . . . Again and again, Woodward recounts at length how Trump’s national security team was shaken by his lack of curiosity and knowledge about world affairs and his contempt for the mainstream perspectives of military and intelligence leaders.”
—Phillip Rucker and Robert Costa, The Washington Post

An unprecedented inside-the-room look through the eyes of the President’s inner circle. . . . stunning.”
—CNN

A devastating reported account of the Trump Presidency that will be consulted as a first draft of the grim history it portrays . . . What Woodward has written is not just the story of a deeply flawed President but also, finally, an account of what those surrounding him have chosen to do about it.”
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker

Fear is Woodward at his best, the quintessential investigative reporter with an eye for detail and an uncanny ability to get key players to ensure that their perspective is etched into history. Its timing could not be more critical for a nation exhausted by tweets and spin, and trying to assess the danger to democracy posed by a presidency that shatters its norms and demeans its institutions.”
—John Diaz, San Francisco Chronicle

Woodward’s latest book shows the administration is broken, and yet what comes next could be even worse.”
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic

Woodward… depicts the Trump White House as a byzantine, treacherous, often out-of-control operation… Mr. Woodward’s book has unsettled the administration and the president in part because it is clear that the author has spoken with so many current and former officials.”
—Mark Landler and Maggie Haberman, The New York Times

In the Media

“Bob Woodward Says Donald Trump “Does Not Understand Democracy”; Journalist Joins ‘Anna’ Post-Screening Panel To Talk Press Freedom, 2024 Election”

“Bob Woodward Discusses His Trump Tapes”

“Bob Woodward on His Calls with Trump”

“The Trump Tapes: 20 interviews that show why he is an unparalleled danger”

“Woodward and Bernstein answer your questions about Watergate’s legacy”

“Jan. 6 White House logs given to House show 7-hour gap in Trump calls”

“Bob Woodward calls former President Trump “a threat to democracy””

“Nixon’s America and secret slush funds: the beginnings of a scandal revealed”