Page "Watergate scandal" Paragraph 34

When Cox refused to drop his subpoena, on October 20, 1973, Nixon demanded the resignations of Attorney General Richardson and his deputy William Ruckelshaus for refusing to fire the special prosecutor.

Nixon's search for someone in the Justice Department willing to fire Cox ended with the Solicitor General Robert Bork.

Though Bork claims to believe Nixon's order to be valid and appropriate, he considered resigning to avoid being " perceived as a man who did the President's bidding to save my job.

" To prevent further damage to the Justice Department, Richardson and Ruckelshaus persuaded him not to resign.

As the new acting department head, Bork carried out the presidential order and dismissed the special prosecutor.