Event

Saturday Night Massacre

The dismissal of Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox on 20 October 1973, and the departures of the two officials who would not do it.

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Dates
20 Oct 1973
Place
Washington, D.C.

Connections 1

part of

Timeline 1 date
  1. 20 Oct 1973 Saturday Night Massacre
Proof 1 source
  1. Watergate Special Prosecution Force Report, U.S. Government Printing Office (Superintendent of Documents). Primary record
    President Nixon ordered Attorney General Richardson to dismiss Cox for his refusal to accept the White House proposal; Richardson resigned rather than carry out the order
    Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus was fired for his refusal to obey; finally, Solicitor General Robert Bork, next in seniority at the Justice Department, dismissed Cox as Special Prosecutor.
    For approximately 16 hours, from 9:05 p.m., on October 20, 1973, to 12:47 p.m. on October 21, 1973 — agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation occupied the offices of WSPF.
    Public reaction played a substantial part in the President’s later decision to comply in full with the court order and to abandon the Stennis plan.
Page history 1 change
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