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Research Paper On The Saturday Night Massacre

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The “Saturday Night Massacre” of October 20, 1973 in the Justice Department, refers to Nixon’s attempts that day to order the firing of special prosecutor Archibald Cox, who had been appointed to investigate the president’s role in the Watergate scandal. Along with this attempt includes the resignations of Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus. The Saturday Night Massacre was a controversial episode of the Watergate scandal. This event followed the Watergate Scandal of the June 1972 break in at the Watergate complex, leading to the arresting of five Nixon operatives in the office of the Democratic National Committee. The origin name of this event is not recognized officially, but research says,” …show more content…

Nixon refused to turn over the tapes. Throughout the summer, the president invoked executive privilege until the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled, on Oct. 12, 1973, that Nixon had to comply.” At this point, Nixon wanted Cox fired and was in bad relations with the Justice Department. “The situation had become so tense, former deputy attorney general William Ruckelshaus recounted in an interview this week, that as he was leaving for Michigan to oversee the FBI’s background investigation of new vice-presidential nominee Gerald R. Ford, he told his boss, Attorney General Elliott Richardson.” On October 15, 1973, Nixon tried to negotiate a deal with Richardson, who …show more content…

In result of this event, the House Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment upon Nixon. The articles included formal accusation of wrongdoing while in office and charges of obstruction of justice, contempt of Congress and abuse of power. While the articles are in process, Nixon finally releases the original tapes of the Watergate Scandal. The tapes proved Nixon and his administration’s role in the scandal and their attempts of cover up. Before the House officially votes on impeachment, Nixon resigns as

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