The Saturday Night Massacre: A Prosecutor Is Fired
On October 20, 1973, President Richard Nixon ordered the dismissal of Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox.
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A Dispute Over Evidence
On October 20, 1973, President Richard Nixon ordered the dismissal of Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox. The conflict centered on access to White House recordings.
Officials Refuse
Attorney General Elliot Richardson and William Ruckelshaus refused to carry out the dismissal and left office. Solicitor General Robert Bork then acted on the president’s order.
What the Name Means
The Saturday Night Massacre refers to dismissals and departures within government. It was not a physical massacre, and visual treatments should not imply killings.
An Investigation Continues
Cox’s removal did not end Watergate. The reaction intensified scrutiny of presidential power, and Leon Jaworski later became special prosecutor.
The Institutional Question
The episode exposed a conflict over whether an investigation could obtain evidence from the president directing the executive branch. Official records show the sequence more clearly than a generalized scandal montage.
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