Archibald Cox Biography

Takes charge of the independent Watergate prosecution with authority to investigate offenses connected to the burglary, cover-up and related campaign activities.

The Senate Watergate committee begins its nationally televised hearings. Attorney General-designate Elliot Richardson taps former solicitor general Archibald Cox as the Justice Department’s special prosecutor for Watergate

Archibald Cox is appointed Special Prosecutor to oversee the investigation into possible presidential impropriety

Secures a subpoena for specified White House recordings after Nixon rejects requests for Watergate tapes sought by the special prosecutor.

Argues in federal court that the special prosecutor is entitled to subpoenaed White House recordings needed for the Watergate criminal investigation.

Wins an appellate ruling requiring Nixon to provide subpoenaed recordings to Judge Sirica while the court encourages an out-of-court accommodation.

Rejects the administration's third-party tape proposal because it would leave Nixon controlling which evidence reached the special prosecutor.

Cox refused the compromise

Nixon, looking toward a solution to the tape dispute, offered what later came to known as the Stennis Compromise. U.S. Senator John C. Stennis (D-MS) would independently review the tapes and summarize them for the special prosecutor's office.

Is dismissed as Watergate special prosecutor by Acting Attorney General Robert Bork after refusing Nixon's proposed compromise over the White House tapes.

Nixon contacted the Solicitor General, Robert Bork, and ordered him, as acting head of the Justice Department in the wake of the previous resignations, to fire Cox. Bork reluctantly complied.

The firing of Special Prosecutor Cox, and the flurry of high-profile Justice Department resignations over the weekend caused the press to dub this event, the "Saturday Night Massacre."