Saturday Night Massacre
Watergate firing spree
The Saturday Night Massacre was a political crisis during the Watergate scandal when President Nixon ordered the firing of the special prosecutor investigating him.
Attorney General Richardson and his deputy resigned rather than carry out the order.
The phrase now refers to any sudden purge of officials, especially one meant to obstruct accountability: Critics compared the FBI director's dismissal to the Saturday Night Massacre.
- constitutional crisisFundamental governmental legal conflict
- fall guyOne blamed for others
- special prosecutorAttorney for high-profile investigations
- firing squadGroup executing by gunshot
- obstruction of justiceInterfering with legal processes
cover up · Bridgegate · Watergate · political scandal · abuse of power · Richard Nixon · Boston Tea Party · Cuban Missile Crisis · American Revolution · French Revolution · Federalism · Great Depression · executive privilege · White House
- Nixon eraNixon, Watergate scandal, resignation, impeachment, coverup
- impeachmentimpeachment, articles of impeachment, impeachment inquiry, high crimes, Senate trial