Saturday Night Massacre

The title Saturday Night Massacre ( German literally Saturday night massacre ) gave some journalists 20 October 1973 because this day was determined by resignations and new appointments of the Office of the Attorney General under Richard Nixon.

As part of the Watergate break-in was on July 13, 1973 announced that it has a tape recording system in the Oval Office was in 1971, President Nixon's were recorded by the all conversations and phone calls. A legal dispute over the publication of the tapes broke, Nixon finally wanted to prevent publication at any price. Several processes were followed.

Nixon lost the processes surrounding the disclosure of records and public pressure on him grew. He suggested a compromise: Democratic Senator John Stennis should be allowed to hear the tapes and then a summary of the chief investigator of the Investigation Committee of the Watergate scandal, Archibald Cox create.

When Cox refused the proposal Nixon, it came on 20 October 1973 so-called Saturday Night Massacre: Nixon wanted to create the relentless investigator Cox out of the way. His Chief of Staff Alexander Haig ordered in Nixon's name to the Justice Minister Elliot L. Richardson to dismiss Cox. However, Richardson refused and resigned immediately. Then Haig put the Deputy Minister of Justice William Ruckelshaus as well under pressure. But Ruckelshaus refused and also resigned. He was referring to the fact that he had done his oath to the Constitution, not the president.

It was the successor to Robert Bork, before the government representatives in the Supreme Court and in the third rank of the Justice Department, carried out the order and Cox was dismissed. New chief investigator was on November 1, 1973 Leon Jaworski.

The Saturday Night Massacre is considered one of the biggest mistakes Nixon. He took out the right to be above the Constitution and actually enjoy immunity. This came even in the ultra-conservative circles with strong opposition.