Carl Bernstein
Born 1944 · Age 81
American investigative journalist and author best known for reporting on the Watergate scandal with Bob Woodward; author/co-author of multiple books and long-time TV commentator.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Washington, D.C.
Carl Milton Bernstein born to Sylvia (née Walker) and Alfred Bernstein in Washington, D.C., into a secular Jewish family.
Begins newspaper career as copyboy at The Washington Star
At age 16 Bernstein started as a copyboy for The Washington Star, beginning his career in journalism.
Became a reporter (early reporting work)
Transitioned from copyboy to reporter by age 19, working for The Washington Star and student newspaper work prior.
Reporter for The Diamondback (University of Maryland)
While attending the University of Maryland, College Park, Bernstein reported for the student daily The Diamondback.
Dismissed from University of Maryland
Bernstein was dismissed from the University of Maryland after the fall 1964 semester for poor grades and left school.
Joins Elizabeth Daily Journal (NJ) as full-time reporter
Left The Washington Star to become a full-time reporter for the Elizabeth Daily Journal, New Jersey.
Wins New Jersey Press Association awards
Won first prizes from the New Jersey Press Association for investigative reporting, feature writing and deadline news while at the Elizabeth Daily Journal.
Hired by The Washington Post (metro staff)
Joined The Washington Post's metropolitan staff, covering police, courts and city hall; became known for strong writing.
Married Carol Honsa
Married fellow reporter Carol Honsa (first marriage).
Rise to prominence as a stylistic writer at The Washington Post
By the late 1960s/early 1970s Bernstein had established a reputation as one of the Post's best writing stylists across local news and feature reporting.
George Polk Award for National Reporting (with Woodward)
Bernstein and Woodward received the George Polk Award for National Reporting for their initial Watergate coverage.
First major Watergate reporting breakthroughs
Bernstein helped connect the Watergate burglars to a slush fund and was reportedly first to suspect Nixon's involvement; located a laundered check linking Nixon to the burglary.
Assigned to cover Watergate break-in
On a Saturday (June 17, 1972) Bernstein and Bob Woodward were assigned to cover the break-in at the DNC headquarters in the Watergate complex; their reporting launched the Watergate investigation.
Woodward & Bernstein recognized as standard-setting investigative team
Their Watergate work began to be widely cited as among the greatest reporting efforts in modern journalism.
Pulitzer Prize (Public Service) awarded to The Washington Post
The Washington Post, including the Watergate reporting by Woodward and Bernstein, was awarded the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.
Publishes All the President's Men (with Woodward)
Woodward and Bernstein published All the President's Men, chronicling their Watergate reporting; remained on best-seller lists for months.
Nixon resigns amid Watergate investigations
Investigations stemming from reporting like Bernstein's culminated in President Richard Nixon's resignation on August 9, 1974.
Publishes The Final Days (with Woodward)
Woodward and Bernstein published The Final Days, detailing the end of the Nixon presidency.
All the President's Men film released (Bernstein portrayed)
The film adaptation of All the President's Men was released (Dustin Hoffman portrayed Bernstein; Robert Redford as Woodward).
Leaves The Washington Post
Bernstein left The Washington Post (end of his tenure following his Watergate-era fame) and expanded into broadcast and other media.
Publishes Rolling Stone article on CIA and the media
After researching CIA ties to American media during the Cold War for roughly a year, Bernstein published a long, influential article in Rolling Stone.
All the President's Men movie wins Academy Awards
The film received multiple Oscar wins and nominations (the movie won 4 Academy Awards; nominations included Best Picture).
Birth of son Max (premature) during Ephron pregnancy
During Nora Ephron's pregnancy with their second son Max, she learned of Bernstein's affair; she delivered Max prematurely in 1979.
Publicized extramarital relationship with Margaret Jay
Bernstein had a well-publicized extramarital relationship in 1979 with Margaret Jay, daughter of UK Prime Minister James Callaghan, which affected his marriage to Nora Ephron.
Married Nora Ephron
Bernstein married writer-director Nora Ephron (second marriage).
Hired by ABC News as Washington Bureau Chief
ABC News hired Bernstein (reported 1979) as Washington Bureau Chief; the move to broadcasting was notable though described as a mixed experiment.
Divorced Nora Ephron
Bernstein and Nora Ephron divorced in 1980 after a marriage that began in 1976 and produced two sons.
ABC News: Washington Bureau Chief / Senior Correspondent (1980–1984)
Between 1980 and 1984 Bernstein served as ABC's Washington Bureau Chief and later as senior correspondent.
Divorced Carol Honsa
Bernstein's first marriage to Carol Honsa ended (officially divorced 1972; note timeline: split and divorce finalized earlier).
First 20/20 story and national-security reporting
As an ABC correspondent Bernstein broke stories on clandestine arms flows to Afghan mujahideen and other national-security matters.
Reports on Israeli invasion of Lebanon for Nightline
For ABC's Nightline, Bernstein reported that Ariel Sharon had deceived the Israeli cabinet about the operation's real intent in Lebanon.
Nora Ephron publishes Heartburn (novel inspired by Bernstein affair)
Ephron's 1983 novel Heartburn, inspired by the publicized extramarital affair with Margaret Jay, later became a 1986 film starring Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson.
Leaves ABC News
Bernstein left ABC News in 1984 to pursue other media, writing and commentary roles.
Portrayed (fictionalized) in Heartburn film
The film adaptation of Heartburn (1986) featured a character based on Bernstein (Mark Forman played by Jack Nicholson).
Publishes Loyalties: A Son's Memoir
Published Loyalties, a memoir revealing that Bernstein's parents were members of the Communist Party; the revelation was widely noted.
Becomes a writer for Time magazine; expelled from Iraq
Wrote for Time; after a cover story about Iraqi attitudes toward Saddam Hussein, Bernstein was expelled from Iraq.
Writes Time cover story on Pope John Paul II and Reagan; pens 'The Idiot Culture'
Wrote a Time cover article about the alliance between Pope John Paul II and President Reagan; also wrote 'The Idiot Culture' for The New Republic criticizing modern journalism.
Publishes His Holiness: John Paul II (with Marco Politi)
Co-authored a comprehensive biography of Pope John Paul II arguing his role in the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe.
Joins Voter.com as editor / executive vice president
Became editor and executive vice president of Voter.com, a pioneering political news website; site later received accolades but struggled financially.
Voter.com widely praised (Forbes recognition)
Voter.com was named one of the best political sites on the internet by Forbes while Bernstein served in senior editorial/management roles.
Voter.com goes bankrupt / ceases operations
Voter.com failed financially and ceased major operations around 2001.
Marries Christine Kuehbeck
Bernstein married former model Christine Kuehbeck (third marriage) sometime after 2003.
Writes afterword for Woodward's The Secret Man
Wrote the afterword 'A Reporter's Assessment' for Bob Woodward's book about W. Mark Felt ('Deep Throat').
Book sales reported lower than first printing estimates
CBS News estimated total sales of A Woman in Charge in the range of perhaps 55,000–65,000 copies, categorizing it among publishing 'misses.'
Publishes A Woman in Charge: The Life of Hillary Rodham Clinton
Knopf published Bernstein's biography of Hillary Rodham Clinton; first printing was 275,000 copies and it hit The New York Times Best Seller list for three weeks.
Works as CNN analyst and ongoing TV commentator
Bernstein worked as an on-air political analyst for CNN and provided commentary for various outlets.
Writes Newsweek/The Daily Beast pieces on phone-hacking
Authored articles comparing Rupert Murdoch's News of the World phone-hacking scandal to Watergate.
Speaks at People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran rally
Spoke at a PMOI rally as an advocate for human rights; appearance was publicly noted and controversial to some.
Discusses AI & journalism publicly (media appearances)
Continued public commentary on journalistic practice and emerging technologies; (example: cited in BBC 2023 items with Woodward).
Publishes Chasing History: A Kid in the Newsroom
Released a memoir about his early years in journalism, recounting growing up at a Washington newspaper during the Kennedy era.
Active as TV commentator and contributing editor
Continues to appear frequently on television news programs and historically has been a contributing editor for Vanity Fair for decades (speaker pages note >25 years).
Reports on President Biden's cognitive incidents on CNN
On CNN Bernstein reported sources indicating 15–20 incidents of cognitive decline by President Biden in early 2024; reporting contributed to public discussion.
Key Achievement Ages
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