WASHINGTON -- A story on The Washington Post Web site says that Watergate reporter Bob Woodward has confirmed that W. Mark Felt was "Deep Throat."

Felt, a former FBI official, claims he was the long-anonymous source who leaked secrets about President Nixon's Watergate coverup to The Washington Post, his family said Tuesday. In it's article, the Post quotes Woodward as saying Felt helped with the Watergate story at a time when relations were tense between the FBI and the Nixon White House.

And family members said he should be viewed as a "great American hero."

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Video: Family Members Call 'Deep Throat' Hero
Interactive: Who Was Deep Throat?

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A grandson, Nick Jones, read a statement to reporters saying that Felt is pleased that he's being honored for his role in helping reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncover the scandal. Their reporting helped bring about the resignation of Richard Nixon in 1974.

Jones said Felt went "well above and beyond the call of duty at much risk to himself" -- in order to save the country from a "horrible injustice."

Felt is now 91 years old. According to Vanity Fair magazine, which first revealed his identity, he didn't even tell his family he was "Deep Throat" until three years ago.

The magazine quoted Felt as saying, "I'm the guy they used to call Deep Throat."

Woodward and Bernstein had vowed never to reveal the identity of their source until after his death. Bernstein confirmed that promise again Tuesday.