Watergate Figure. A professor at Harvard Law School, he was Solicitor General under President John F. Kennedy. On October 20, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon ordered that Cox be fired as special prosecutor of the Watergate hearings (a congressional investigation into break-ins of the Democratic headquarters in the Watergate Hotel prior to the 1973 presidential election). Both Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy-Attorney General William Ruckelshaus resigned rather than fire Cox. The firing and resignations were dubbed "The Saturday Night Massacre." (Solicitor General Robert Bork carried out the order to fire Cox. He would lose a bid for the Supreme Court years later.) Cox issued a one-sentence statement upon his firing: "Whether ours shall be a government of laws and not of men is now for Congress and ultimately the American people." Cox's firing would ultimately lead to Nixon becoming the first US president to resign from office.
Watergate Figure. A professor at Harvard Law School, he was Solicitor General under President John F. Kennedy. On October 20, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon ordered that Cox be fired as special prosecutor of the Watergate hearings (a congressional investigation into break-ins of the Democratic headquarters in the Watergate Hotel prior to the 1973 presidential election). Both Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy-Attorney General William Ruckelshaus resigned rather than fire Cox. The firing and resignations were dubbed "The Saturday Night Massacre." (Solicitor General Robert Bork carried out the order to fire Cox. He would lose a bid for the Supreme Court years later.) Cox issued a one-sentence statement upon his firing: "Whether ours shall be a government of laws and not of men is now for Congress and ultimately the American people." Cox's firing would ultimately lead to Nixon becoming the first US president to resign from office.
Bio by: Donna Di Giacomo
Family Members
Spouse
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
