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The Congressional hearings revealed Nixon had tape recorded conversations and telephone calls in his office. The president, citing [[Executive Privilege]], refused to turn the tapes over to the committee.  In Oct. 1973 Nixon ordered [[Elliot Richardson]], the attorney general, to fire [[Archibald Cox]], the special prosecutor who had subpoenaed the tapes, but Richardson resign in protest. Richardson's assistant, William Ruckelshaus, also refused to fire Cox and was  fired by Nixon. Finally, Solicitor General Robert Bork fired Cox.  The incident, which was trumped in the press as the "[[Saturday Night Massacre]]," although nobody had been killed, led to widespread calls for Nixon's [[impeach|impeachment]].

The Congressional hearings revealed Nixon had tape recorded conversations and telephone calls in his office. The president, citing [[Executive Privilege]], refused to turn the tapes over to the committee.  In Oct. 1973 Nixon ordered [[Elliot Richardson]], the attorney general, to fire [[Archibald Cox]], the special prosecutor who had subpoenaed the tapes, but Richardson resign in protest. Richardson's assistant, William Ruckelshaus, also refused to fire Cox and was  fired by Nixon. Finally, Solicitor General Robert Bork fired Cox.  The incident, which was trumped in the press as the "[[Saturday Night Massacre]]," although nobody had been killed, led to widespread calls for Nixon's [[impeach|impeachment]].

The White House released edited transcripts of the tapes in April 1974, and eventually the tapes themselves, after the Supreme Court rejected Nixon's claim to executive privilege.  The House Judiciary Committee issued three articles of impeachment on July 30, 1974. The document also indicted Nixon for illegal wiretapping, misuse of the CIA, perjury, bribery, obstruction of justice, and other abuses of executive power. {{fact}}

The White House released edited transcripts of the tapes in April 1974, and eventually the tapes themselves, after the Supreme Court rejected Nixon's claim to executive privilege.  The House Judiciary Committee issued three articles of impeachment on July 30, 1974. The document also indicted Nixon for illegal wiretapping, misuse of the CIA, perjury, bribery, obstruction of justice, and other abuses of executive power.  

"In all of this," the articles of impeachment summarize, "Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States." After conferring with Republican Senators Nixon resigned on [[Aug. 9, 1974]].  Nixon was succeeded in office the same day by [[Vice President]] [[Gerald R. Ford]], who a month later issued a full pardon to Nixon, in order to heal the great national rift he perceived might occur if the issue remained open.  [[User:RobS|RobS]] 12:58, 25 April 2007 (EDT)

"In all of this," the articles of impeachment summarize, "Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States." After conferring with Republican Senators Nixon resigned on [[Aug. 9, 1974]].  Nixon was succeeded in office the same day by [[Vice President]] [[Gerald R. Ford]], who a month later issued a full pardon to Nixon, in order to heal the great national rift he perceived might occur if the issue remained open.  [[User:RobS|RobS]] 12:58, 25 April 2007 (EDT)