Nixon White House tapes

=== Saturday Night Massacre ===
{{Main|Saturday Night Massacre}}
Nixon initially refused to release the tapes, putting two reasons forward: first, that the Constitutional principle of [[executive privilege]] extends to the tapes and citing the [[separation of powers]] and [[checks and balances]] within the Constitution, and second, claiming they were vital to national security.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/articles/072473-1.htm|title=President Refuses to Turn Over Tapes; Ervin Committee, Cox Issue Subpoenas|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=December 30, 2016|archive-date=January 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113163112/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/articles/072473-1.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> On October 19, 1973, he offered a [[Stennis Compromise|compromise]]; Nixon proposed that Democratic U.S. Senator [[John C. Stennis]] review and summarize the tapes for accuracy and report his findings to the special prosecutor's office.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/watergate-constitution/chronology.html|title=Watergate and the Constitution|date=August 15, 2016|newspaper=National Archives|access-date=December 30, 2016|archive-date=December 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231080217/https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/watergate-constitution/chronology.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Cox refused the compromise and on Saturday, October 20, 1973, Nixon ordered Attorney General [[Elliot Richardson]] to fire Cox.<ref name=":3" /> Richardson refused and resigned instead, then Deputy Attorney General [[William Ruckelshaus]] was asked to fire Cox but also refused and resigned. Solicitor General and acting head of the Justice Department [[Robert Bork]] fired Cox.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/articles/102173-2.htm|title=WashingtonPost.com: Nixon Forces Firing of Cox; Richardson, Ruckelshaus Quit|website=www.washingtonpost.com|access-date=December 30, 2016|archive-date=September 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903022254/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/articles/102173-2.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Nixon appointed [[Leon Jaworski]] special counsel on November 1, 1973.<ref name=":3" />