Re: your June 1 article, “‘Deep Throat’ reveals himself”:

In 1972, the White House was occupied by a group of organized criminals, an arm of the Republican Party called the Committee to Re-Elect the President, better and more appropriately known as “CREEP.”

President Nixon and his cronies were at the center of a conspiracy to commit burglaries and other criminal acts in order to guarantee re-election and marginalize, if not eliminate any organized opposition. The target of their criminal activity was to steal democracy and democratic institutions from all Americans.

Nixon and his gang of burglars had been using the FBI and, where possible, the coercive power of government to impede any investigation into their activities. Two tenacious reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of the Washington Post, investigated and followed leads at every turn. Without confirmation, the story might have been buried and the crime completed without being uncovered. Conservative Republicans persist to this day in vilifying those who seek the truth.

Fortunately, the FBI was not then, and hopefully is not now, populated by blind “yes” men who “only follow orders.” Some were appalled by the lawless attitude of those closest to the highest office in the land. A high-ranking member of that august organization is now confirmed as the source then identified as only “Deep Throat.” He did not provide new information but did confirm the accuracy of what Woodward and Bernstein had learned independently. His identity secret for more than 30 years, “Deep Throat” has now emerged from the darkness and revealed his identity.

W. Mark Felt, by his actions, saved American democracy — but not forever, as it is now again under attack from the descendants of CREEP. I thank you, Felt, and God help us if there are no more like him left.

— Ira Cohen, Thousand Oaks