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All the President's Men Is Still Teaching Me
Least Important Things
Fifty years after its release, All the President’s Men still feels as relevant as ever. In this essay episode, Luke Ferris explores how a 1970s procedural about two reporters in a newsroom managed to capture the soul of a 13-year-old in 2006—and why it still resonates at age 33.
We’ll dive into:
- The ASMR of the 70s: Why the tactile world of landline phones, typewriters, and match-lit cigarettes creates a timeless "aura noir" tension.
- The Quest for Truth: Reflecting on the "God-like" pursuit of facts and how Woodward and Bernstein’s hunger inspired a lifelong passion for storytelling.
- A Somber Confrontation: Luke reflects on the "crossroads" of his own career—comparing the romanticized dreams of investigative journalism to the reality of recording a podcast in a basement.
- Democratic Accountability: Why the film's themes of unrequited power and the disruption of facts are more profound today than ever before.
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Sources for this episode:
- Royalty-free music and sound effects via Artlist.com
- All The President's Men (1976) Official Trailer - Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman Thriller HD
- All the President's Men (1976) - Ending Scene
- “You haven’t got it.” - All The President’s Men
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