Richard Nixon photo

Letter Accepting the Resignation of Elliot L. Richardson as Attorney General.

October 20, 1973

Dear Elliot:

It is with the deepest regret and with an understanding of the circumstances which brought you to your decision that I accept your resignation.

Sincerely,

RICHARD NIXON

[Honorable Elliot L. Richardson, The Attorney General, Justice Department, Washington, D.C.]

Note: The text of Attorney General Richardson's letter of resignation, dated October 20, 1973, and released with the President's letter, read as follows:

Dear Mr. President:

It is with deep regret that I have been obliged to conclude that circumstances leave me no alternative to the submission of my resignation as Attorney General of the United States.

At the time you appointed me, you gave me the authority to name a special prosecutor if I should consider it appropriate. A few days before my confirmation hearing began, I announced that I would, if confirmed, "appoint a special prosecutor and give him all the independence, authority, and staff support needed to carry out the tasks entrusted to him." I added, "Although he will be in the Department of Justice and report to me--and only to me--he will be aware that his ultimate accountability is to the American people."

At many points throughout the nomination hearings, I reaffirmed my intention to assure the independence of the special prosecutor, and in my statement of his duties and responsibilities, I specified that he would have "full authority" for "determining whether or not to contest the assertion of 'Executive Privilege' or any other testimonial privilege." And while the special prosecutor can be removed from Office for "extraordinary improprieties," I also pledged that "The Attorney General will not countermand or interfere with the Special Prosecutor's decisions or actions."

While I fully respect the reasons that have led you to conclude that the Special Prosecutor must be discharged, I trust that you understand that I could not in the light of these firm and repeated commitments carry out your direction that this be done. In the circumstances, therefore, I feel that I have no choice but to resign.

In leaving your Administration, I take with me lasting gratitude for the opportunities you have given me to serve under your leadership in a number of important posts. It has been a privilege to share in your efforts to make the structure of world peace more stable and the structure of our own government more responsive. I believe profoundly in the rightness and importance of those efforts, and I trust that they will meet with increasing success in the remaining years of your Presidency.
Respectfully,
ELLIOT L. RICHARDSON

[The President, The White House]

On the same day, the White House released the transcript of remarks by Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler announcing the discharge of the Special Prosecutor, abolition of the Office of Watergate Special Prosecution Force, and the resignations of Mr. Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William D. Ruckelshaus. The remarks are printed in the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents (vol. 9, P. 1271).

On October 23, 1973, the White House released the transcript of a news briefing containing information on the events of October 20 by Charles Alan Wright, consultant to the Cotansel to the President, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Assistant to the President. The news briefing is printed in the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents (vol. 9, P. 1275).

Richard Nixon, Letter Accepting the Resignation of Elliot L. Richardson as Attorney General. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/255451

Filed Under

Categories

Attributes

Simple Search of Our Archives