Washington - "Deep Throat," the secret source who helped bring down US president Richard Nixon, has died at 95, The New York Times reported early Friday.

The source, W Mark Felt, was a top FBI official who confirmed the reporting by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein on the Watergate affair.

The scandal involved political dirty tricks to undo Nixon's opponents and resulted in Nixon stepping down from office in 1974 as he faced impeachment and removal by Congress.

Woodward revealed Felt's identity in 2005. (dpa)