why did nixon fire u.s attorney general elliot richardson

by Modesta Homenick 8 min read

As U.S. Attorney General, he was a prominent figure in the Watergate Scandal
Watergate Scandal
After this, Gerald Ford, his vice-president, became the President by default. Ford later forgave and pardoned Nixon for all of his crimes. The name "Watergate" comes from the hotel in Washington, D.C. where the first crime took place and is often associated with political scandals.
https://simple.wikipedia.org › wiki › Watergate_scandal
, and resigned rather than obey President Nixon's order to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox.

What did Richard Nixon do to fire Archibald Cox?

On October 20, 1973, Nixon ordered Attorney General Richardson to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox (who was investigating the Watergate scandal). Richardson refused and resigned, as did Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus when confronted with the same order. Who was the Attorney General at the time of the Saturday Night Massacre?

Did Elliot Richardson stand up to Nixon?

Apr 30, 2014 · Richard Nixon. Why did Nixon fire US Attorney General Elliot Richardson? Wiki User. ∙ 2014-04-30 21:15:45. Study now. See Answer. Best Answer. Copy.

Who ordered Cox to be fired by Nixon?

Dec 09, 2021 · As U.S. Attorney General, he was a prominent figure in the Watergate Scandal, and resigned rather than obey President Nixon's order to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox. Is Elliot Richardson

Was the 1973 dismissal of Richard Nixon illegal?

Jul 28, 2017 · Attorney General Elliot Richardson refused to fire what special special prosecutor? Archibald Cox was the special prosecutor that President Nixon asked Richardson to fire.

Why did Nixon accept the resignation of US Attorney General Elliot Richardson quizlet?

Why did Nixon accept the resignation of U.S. Attorney General Elliot Richardson? Richardson refused to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox.

What did Nixon ask Elliot Richardson?

U.S. President Richard Nixon ordered Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox; Richardson refused and resigned effective immediately.

Why did Nixon want to fire Archibald Cox?

When Cox refused a direct order from the White House to seek no further tapes or presidential materials, Nixon fired him in an incident that became known as the Saturday Night Massacre.

Is Elliot Richardson still alive?

Deceased (1920–1999)Elliot Richardson / Living or Deceased

Who was Nixon's attorney general?

John N. MitchellIn office January 21, 1969 – March 1, 1972PresidentRichard NixonPreceded byRamsey ClarkSucceeded byRichard Kleindienst18 more rows

What were the reasons that Nixon gave for refusing to turn over the White House tapes?

President Nixon initially refused to release the tapes, putting two reasons forward: first, that the Constitutional principle of executive privilege extends to the tapes and citing the separation of powers and checks and balances within the Constitution, and second, claiming they were vital to national security.

Who discovered Watergate break?

Frank Wills (February 4, 1948 – September 27, 2000) was a security guard best known for his role in foiling the June 17, 1972, break-in at the Democratic National Committee inside the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. Then 24, Wills called the police after discovering that locks at the complex had been tampered ...

Who became president of the United States after Nixon's resignation?

Gerald Ford's tenure as the 38th president of the United States began on August 9, 1974, upon the resignation of Richard Nixon from office, and ended on January 20, 1977, a period of 895 days.

What happened to Vice president Spiro Agnew?

After months of maintaining his innocence, Agnew pleaded no contest to a single felony charge of tax evasion and resigned from office. Nixon replaced him with House Republican leader Gerald Ford. Agnew spent the remainder of his life quietly, rarely making public appearances.

Did Elliot Richardson have a stroke?

Death. On New Year's Eve, 1999, Richardson died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Boston at the age of 79.

What was the Watergate scandal about quizlet?

Terms in this set (42) The events and scandal surrounding a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972 and the subsequent cover-up of White House involvement, leading to the eventual resignation of President Nixon under the threat of impeachment.

Who succeeded John Mitchell as attorney general?

Richard KleindienstPreceded byJohn MitchellSucceeded byElliot Richardson10th United States Deputy Attorney GeneralIn office January 20, 1969 – June 12, 197221 more rows

Who was Elliot Richardson?

Awards. Bronze Star. Purple Heart. Elliot Lee Richardson (July 20, 1920 – December 31, 1999) was an American lawyer and public servant who was a member of the cabinet of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.

When did Richardson leave the firm?

After returning to the firm, Richardson left permanently in 1964 after he was elected the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts and Attorney General of Massachusetts. As of 2020, he is the last Republican to have served as Attorney General of Massachusetts .

What rank did Richardson get in the war?

After Stephen Ambrose 's book Band of Brothers was published, Richardson wrote to Winters and thanked him. He continued on in the war in Europe with the 4th Infantry Division and received the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster. He was discharged in 1945 with the rank of first lieutenant.

How long did Richardson serve as the Secretary of Defense?

Richardson would serve as Secretary of Defense for 4 months before becoming Nixon's Attorney General, a move that would put him in the Watergate spotlight.

How many Cabinet positions did Richardson hold?

He is one of two persons to hold four separate cabinet positions.

How did Richardson die?

Death. On New Year's Eve, 1999, Richardson died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Boston at the age of 79. Major media outlets, such as CNN, recognized him as the "Watergate martyr" for refusing an order from President Nixon to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox.

What college did Richardson go to?

In 1980, Richardson received an honorary degree from Bates College. In 1983, Richardson was admitted as an honorary member of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati.

Who was Deep Throat in the Watergate?

Deep Throat is the pseudonym given to the secret informant who provided information in 1972 to Bob Woodward, who shared it with Carl Bernstein.

What was the smoking gun in Watergate?

One tape, later known as the "smoking gun" tape, documented the initial stages of the Watergate coverup. On it, Nixon and H. R. Haldeman are heard formulating a plan to block investigations by having the CIA falsely claim to the FBI that national security was involved.

What is Saturday Night Massacre?

The popular name Saturday Night Massacre refers to a series of events that took place in the United States on the evening of Saturday, October 20, 1973, during the Watergate scandal. The impeachment process against Richard Nixon began 10 days later, on October 30, 1973.

Who appointed Mueller special prosecutor?

On May 17, 2017, Mueller was appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein as special counsel overseeing an investigation into allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and related matters.

Did the Watergate burglars go to jail?

Members. The original Watergate Seven and their legal dispositions were: G. Gordon Liddy — former FBI agent and general counsel for the Committee to Re-elect the President; convicted of burglary, conspiracy, and wiretapping; sentenced to 6 years and 8 months in prison; served 4½ years in prison.

Who investigated Nixon?

May 19, 1973: Independent special prosecutor Archibald Cox appointed to oversee investigation into possible presidential impropriety. June 3, 1973: John Dean tells Watergate investigators that he has discussed the cover-up with Nixon at least 35 times.

Who became president of the United States after Nixon's resignation?

The presidency of Gerald Ford began on August 9, 1974, when Gerald Ford became President of the United States upon the resignation of Richard Nixon from office, and ended on January 20, 1977, a period of 895 days.

Overview

Elliot Lee Richardson (July 20, 1920 – December 31, 1999) was an American lawyer and public servant who was a member of the cabinet of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. As U.S. Attorney General, he was a prominent figure in the Watergate Scandal, and resigned rather than obey President Nixon's order to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox.

Early life and military service

Richardson was born in Boston, the son of Clara Lee (née Shattuck) and Edward Peirson Richardson, a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. He was a Boston Brahmin, descended from the earliest Puritan settlers in New England.
Richardson attended the Park School in Brookline and Milton Academy in Milton, both in Massachusetts. He then obtained his A.B. degree in philosophy from Harvard College, where he r…

Cabinet career

Richardson had the distinction of serving in three high-level Executive Branch posts in a single year—the tumultuous year of 1973—as the Watergate Scandalcame to dominate the attention of official Washington, and the American public at large. He is one of two persons to hold four separate cabinet positions. He served three relatively uneventful years as the Secretary of Health, Education, …

Later life

In 1972, Richardson was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) degree from Whittier College. In 1974 Richardson gave the commencement address at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and received an honorary Doctors of Law. In 1980, Richardson received an honorary degree from Bates College. In 1983, Richardson was admitted as an honorary member of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati. In 1984, he ran for the Republican nomination for the U.…

Death

On New Year's Eve, 1999, Richardson died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Boston at the age of 79. Major media outlets, such as CNN, recognized him as the "Watergate martyr" for refusing an order from President Nixon to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox.

Author

Richardson was the author of two books. The Creative Balance: Government, Politics, and the Individual in America's Third Century was published by Holt, Rinehart and Winston in 1976. Reflections of a Radical Moderate was published by Westview Press in 1996. Reflections expresses his outlook:
I am a moderate – a radical moderate. I believe profoundly in the ultimate value of human dignit…

Popular culture

An image of Richardson taken by photographer Garry Winogrand is featured on the cover art of rock band Interpol's 2018 album Marauder. Singer and guitarist Paul Banks referred to him as a hero, who "refused to be bullied into going against his personal principles".

Notes

1. ^ "Richardson, Edward Peirson, 1881–1944. Papers, 1875–1931: A Finding Aid" Archived January 8, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine. Center for the History of Medicine. Harvard Medical Library and Boston Medical Library, August 19, 2004 (Edward Peirson Richardson was a son of the noted surgeon Maurice Howe Richardson and a brother of the noted author Wyman Richardson, M.D.)