And now...the rest of the story!

What about the reporter, Robert Smith...

This was his last scoop for the NY times.  He was off to Yale law school. 
See more, NY Times, 2 Ex-Timesmen say they had a tip of Watergate First (May 24, 2009).  

Human frailty at work.  Even years later, after the story became a defining moment in U.S. history: memories are fuzzy...people are puzzled...

Fascinating.