Archibald Cox The first special prosecutor in the Watergate affair, Archibald Cox had a long career in law and politics. He served as Solicitor General for President John F. Kennedy in the early 1960s, and then returned to teaching at Harvard Law School. As the Watergate scandal grew in May 1973, Attorney General Elliott Richardson appointed Cox as an independent counsel to investigate. With revelations that President Nixon had taped many phone calls and conversations in the White House, Cox subpoenaed the key tapes. Citing executive privilege, Nixon refused to comply with the subpoenas and, on Oct. 20, 1973, ordered Richardson to fire Cox. Both Richardson and his top deputy, William D. Ruckelshaus resigned their posts rather than carry out the order. Solicitor General Robert H. Bork finally complied with Nixon's wishes. The firing of Cox and the resignations of Richardson and Ruckelshaus became known as "the Saturday Night Massacre." |
