"The fact of the Watergate cover-up is not nearly as interesting as the step into making the cover-up. And when you understand the step, you understand that Richard Nixon lied. That he was a criminal"

This quote by Bob Woodward is referring to the Watergate scandal of the 1970s. Woodward is recommending that the actual whitewash of the scandal is not as intriguing as the steps required to make the whitewash. He is indicating that when one recognizes the actions required to make the cover-up, it ends up being clear that Richard Nixon existed as well as was a criminal. Woodward is recommending that the cover-up was an intentional attempt by Nixon to hide his criminal activities. This quote is a pointer of the significance of understanding the actions required to make a whitewash in order to understand the fact behind it. It additionally acts as a reminder of the effects of lying as well as criminal activities.