Richardson, Elliot Lee

▪ 2000

      American government official who on Oct. 20, 1973, resigned from his newly appointed post (April 30, 1973) as U.S. attorney general during what later became known as the “Saturday Night Massacre” rather than fire special Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox, whom Pres. Richard Nixon wanted Richardson to dismiss. Richardson, who had selected Cox as an impartial independent investigator, was loath to oust his own appointee (Cox was later fired by Robert Bork); Richardson's conduct as a public servant, deemed above reproach, was ceremoniously recognized in 1998 when he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom (b. July 20, 1920, Boston, Mass.—d. Dec. 31, 1999, Boston).

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