When you think of the legendary duo that cracked the Watergate scandal wide open, you probably think of Woodward and Bernstein. It’s a name pairing that has lived in the American psyche for over fifty years. Because they are so inextricably linked—and because Carl Bernstein is famously Jewish—a lot of people just assume Bob Woodward is too.
He isn't.
It is one of those common misconceptions that has followed the reporter for his entire career. Honestly, it’s easy to see why the confusion happens. In the 1970s, the Washington Post newsroom was a melting pot of backgrounds, and the "Woodstein" phenomenon blurred the lines between the two very different men. But while they shared a desk and a Pulitzer, their heritages couldn't be more different.
The Mid-Western Roots of Robert Upshur Woodward
Bob Woodward was born in Geneva, Illinois, back in 1943. He grew up in Wheaton, which, if you know anything about the Chicago suburbs, is about as "Middle America" as it gets. His upbringing was deeply rooted in the WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) traditions of the era.
His father, Alfred Eno Woodward, wasn't just some guy; he was a heavy hitter. A prominent attorney who eventually became the chief judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court. You’ve gotta imagine that kind of household—disciplined, focused on the law, and very much part of the Midwestern establishment. His mother, Jane Upshur, also came from a background that was far removed from the Jewish immigrant experience of the East Coast.
Woodward’s early life followed a very specific, traditional path:
- Attended Wheaton Community High School.
- Enrolled at Yale University on a Naval ROTC scholarship.
- Served five years in the U.S. Navy.
There wasn't a Bar Mitzvah or a Seder in sight. In fact, Woodward has often been described by biographers and colleagues as the "straight-arrow" from the Midwest, a contrast to Bernstein’s more bohemian, secular Jewish upbringing in D.C.
The "Woodstein" Dynamic: Bernstein vs. Woodward
To understand why the question "is Bob Woodward Jewish?" keeps popping up, you have to look at his partner. Carl Bernstein is the son of civil rights activists and grew up in a secular Jewish household.
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The two were a total "odd couple." Bernstein was the long-haired, rebellious writer who had a bit of a reputation as a loose cannon. Woodward was the buttoned-up, Navy-vetted, Yale-educated "digging machine."
In the book All the President's Men, and especially in the movie starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, this contrast is played up for dramatic effect. Hoffman (who is Jewish) played Bernstein, while Redford (the quintessential WASP) played Woodward. Even the casting reflected the reality of their backgrounds.
That One Eric Trump Incident
You might remember a weird moment in 2018 that thrust this topic back into the news. During a Fox News interview, Eric Trump used the word "shekels" when discussing the money Woodward was making from his book Fear.
It caused a massive stir. Many critics pointed out that using the term "shekels" (the currency of Israel) to describe a journalist's earnings is a classic anti-Semitic trope. The irony, of course, was that Bob Woodward isn't Jewish. It was a bizarre moment where a political figure seemingly projected a stereotype onto a man based on a misunderstanding of his heritage—or perhaps simply because of his association with the Jewish community through his work and partner.
What Woodward Actually Believes
If he isn't Jewish, what is he? Woodward has generally kept his personal religious beliefs close to the vest. He isn't the type to preach from a pulpit or make his faith a centerpiece of his public persona.
However, his background is Episcopalian/Protestant. This fit perfectly with the "establishment" world he came from in Illinois and the Ivy League circles he ran in at Yale. While he might not be a regular in the pews these days—he's a bit busy interviewing presidents, after all—his moral compass and "just the facts" approach to reporting are often linked by biographers to his disciplined, Midwestern Protestant roots.
Why People Keep Asking
The persistence of the question boils down to a few things:
- The Name: "Woodward" sounds English (it is—it means "forest guard"), but in the world of media, many prominent 20th-century figures were Jewish, leading to a "guilt by association" of sorts.
- The Partnership: Being half of the most famous reporting duo in history, where the other half is Jewish, creates a mental shorthand for the public.
- The Context: Much of Woodward's work involves high-level politics, law, and academia—fields where the Jewish community has a significant and storied presence.
Basically, if you've spent fifty years being called "Woodward and Bernstein," people are going to start thinking of you as a single unit. But if you're looking for the truth, the two men are as different as Geneva, Illinois, and Washington D.C.
A Quick Reality Check
- Is Bob Woodward Jewish? No.
- What is his heritage? English/WASP.
- Where did he grow up? Wheaton, Illinois.
- What was his father's profession? Judge.
If you are digging into the history of investigative journalism, it is worth noting that Woodward's "outsider" status as a Midwesterner actually helped him in the early days of Watergate. He didn't have the same local D.C. baggage that others did. He just wanted the story.
If you want to understand the man better, don't look at religious texts; look at his Navy service and his time at Yale. That's where the "Woodward" we know today was actually built. You can see this discipline in every book he writes—the methodical checking of sources, the obsession with "the best obtainable version of the truth," and that famous persistence that has outlasted ten presidencies.
To get a real sense of his style, pick up a copy of The Final Days or his more recent work like War. You'll see a writer who isn't defined by his religion, but by a relentless, almost clinical pursuit of what's happening behind closed doors.