the Saturday Night Massacre

The Saturday Night Massacre refers to a series of events in October 1973 during the Watergate scandal when U.S. President Richard Nixon ordered the firing of special prosecutor Archibald Cox, who was investigating the President's administration. When Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus refused to dismiss Cox, Nixon replaced them with individuals who would comply, ultimately leading to Cox's removal. This series of actions sparked public outrage and increased scrutiny of Nixon, highlighting concerns about presidential abuse of power and transparency. The incident contributed to the erosion of public trust and intensified calls for accountability in government.