[[Image:{{Infobox person| name = Robert H. Bork| image = RobertBork.jpg|thumbbirth_date = March 1, 1927|rightbirth_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania| death_date = December 19, 2012| death_place = Arlington, Virginia| nationality = American| spouse = Claire Davidson (1952-1980), Mary Ellen Pohl (m. 1982-2012)|300px]]religion = }}
'''Robert Heron Bork''' (March 1, 1927 – December 19, 2012) served as Solicitor General, acting [[Attorney General]], and circuit judge for the [[United States Court of Appeals]]. In 1987, he was nominated to the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] by President [[Ronald Reagan]], but was "borked" (defeated by the [[Democrat]]-controlled [[U.S. Senate]]) because he was not [[liberal]] enough for them.<ref>See [[Essay:Best New Conservative Words]].</ref> Bork went on to become a leading [[conservative]] commentator against [[judicial activism]], and was renowned as an expert in antitrust law.
Judge '''==Early life==Robert H. Bork''' (1927-2012) served as Solicitor General, acting [[Attorney General]], and circuit judge for [[United States Court of Appeals]]. He was nominated to the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] by President [[Ronald Reagan]] born in 1987Pittsburgh, but his father was "borked" (defeated by the [[Democrat]]-controlled [[UHarry Philip Bork Jr.S. Senate]] because he was not [[liberal]] enough for them).<ref>See [[Essay:Best New Conservative Words]].</ref> Bork went on to become a leading [[conservative]] commentator against [[judicial activism]], and his mother was renowned as an expert in antitrust lawElisabeth.
== Cox firing ==
On Saturday October 20, 1973, independent special Watergate prosecutor [[Archibald Cox]] issued a subpoena asking for tapes of the Oval Office conversations secretly recorded by President [[Richard Nixon]], and the President ordered Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire Cox. Richardson resigned instead, and the President ordered Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus to fire Cox, but Ruckelshaus also resigned. Finally Nixon convinced Solicitor General Robert Bork, as acting head of the [[Justice Department]], to fire Cox, and Bork complied. This had an impact upon the Congress's bills of impeachment against Nixon.
In order to poison public opinion about what had taken place, the media took a negative tone and termed the event as the "''Saturday Night Massacre''".
== Supreme Court Nomination ==
In 1987, President [[Ronald Reagan]] nominated Robert Bork to the [[Supreme Court]], but his confirmation did not pass Senate vote when a coalition led by [[Ted Kennedy]] led a misinformation campaign against him. 52 out of 54 Democrats voted against him<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/24/us/senate-s-roll-call-on-the-bork-vote.html</ref> after a highly partisan confirmation hearing that was such a farce that it inspired a new verb, "borked", to mean an orchestrated campaign of distortions and vilification to defeat someone for political motivation.
In 1987, President [[Ronald Reagan]] nominated Robert Bork to the [[Supreme Court]], but his confirmation did not pass Senate vote when a coalition led by [[Ted Kennedy]] lined up to oppose him. Currently, Bork is was best known as a legal expert who has advocated a judicial philosophy called originalism. Bork has With originalism in mind, after being voted down for confirmation he authored many his best-selling books, and served on book<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/us/robert-h-bork-conservative-jurist-dies-at-85.html A Conservative Whose Supreme Court Bid Set the advisory board Senate Afire], [[New York Times]]</ref> ''The Tempting of America'', in which he argues that the [[American Civil Rights UnionIncorporation doctrine]]is a large part of modern judicial activism.
== References ==Bork has authored many best-selling books, and served on the advisory board of the [[American Civil Rights Union]].
==Legacy==Robert Bork died on December 19, 2012, from heart complications.<referencesref>[http://www.capitalgazette.com/cg2-arc-adaddd64-d345-5d7b-98c0-5b22cd5adbd4-20121220-story.html Bork, whose failed nomination made history, dies]</ref> He was hailed for his strong constitutional beliefs and unwavering support of conservative causes. [[Ed Meese]] said that he was "one of the great defenders of the Constitution and constitutional fidelity", and [[Antonin Scalia]] said that he will be remembered as "one of the most influential legal scholars of the last 50 years".<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2012/12/19/robert-bork-judge-dies-supreme-court/1779473/ Former Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork dies]</ref> The Federalist Society noted its close working relationship with Bork, citing his understanding of the Founding Fathers and sound constitutional jurisprudence. The Society said of Bork: (he was) "a legal giant, and a man of unsurpassed integrity, intellect, courage, and kindness."<ref>[https://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2012/dec/19/scalia-legal-community-remember-bork/ Scalia, legal community remember Bork]</ref> ==Works==* Bork, Robert H. ''The Tempting of America: The Political Seduction of the Law'' (1990) [https://www.amazon.com/TEMPTING-AMERICA-Robert-H-Bork/dp/0684843374/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250059034&sr=1-5 excerpt and text search]* Bork, Robert H. ''Slouching Towards Gomorrah: Modern Liberalism and American Decline'' (2003) [https://www.amazon.com/Slouching-Towards-Gomorrah-Liberalism-American/dp/0060573112/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250059034&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]* Bork, Robert H. ''A Time to Speak: Selected Writings and Arguments'' (2008)
==See also==
* [[Right to Privacy]]
== External Links ==
== References ==
{{reflist|1}}
== External links ==
* http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Robert_Bork
==Further reading==
* Bork, Robert H. ''The Tempting of America: The Political Seduction of the Law'' (1990) [http://www.amazon.com/TEMPTING-AMERICA-Robert-H-Bork/dp/0684843374/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250059034&sr=1-5 excerpt and text search]
* Bork, Robert H. ''Slouching Towards Gomorrah: Modern Liberalism and American Decline'' (2003) [http://www.amazon.com/Slouching-Towards-Gomorrah-Liberalism-American/dp/0060573112/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250059034&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Bork, Robert H. ''A Time to Speak: Selected Writings and Arguments'' (2008)
{{DEFAULTSORT: Bork, Robert}}{{Greatest Thinkers}}
[[Category:United States Judges]]
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Former Liberals]]