Woody and Bernstein

We understand he doesn’t even remotely resemble Dustin Hoffman, the actor who played him in “All the President’s Men,” but some people still recognized Carl Bernstein when he was in Fayetteville recently.

Bernstein, of course, is half of the Washington Post reporting team of (Bob) Woodward and Bernstein who first broke the Watergate story more than 25 years ago. He’s currently working on a book about Hillary Rodham Clinton, which is why he was in Arkansas.

We hear Bernstein talked to several Clinton friends during his brief November visit. Fayetteville lawyer and longtime FOB Woody Bassett was one who agreed to talk with Bernstein.

Bassett says he’s gotten calls from would-be authors throughout the last eight years since the Clintons came into the national scene, but he’s declined most interview requests. Bernstein’s request was different from most.

“I was familiar with his reputation and knew he was an honorable journalist,” Bassett says. “I felt comfortable talking to him. I don’t think he has an agenda.”

Asked about Gail Sheehy, Bassett says, “She represents the worst in journalism.” Sheehy, of course, is the author of “Hillary’s Choice,” an unflattering account of the First Lady.