Archibald Cox
As the first Watergate special prosecutor, his principled stand against presidential power became a defining moment for American rule of law.
1912–2004 (age 92)·American prosecutor·Birthday: May 17·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Archibald Cox was a Harvard law professor through and through, a man who believed deeply in the institutions and orderly processes of democracy. His expertise in labor law led President Kennedy to appoint him Solicitor General, where he argued cases before the Supreme Court with quiet authority. But history called him to a different role in 1973 when, as the first special prosecutor for the Watergate scandal, he subpoenaed President Nixon's secret tapes. When Nixon ordered him fired in the 'Saturday Night Massacre,' Cox's calm refusal to back down—and the subsequent resignations of the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General—galvanized public opinion and Congress. He returned to teaching, but his brief tenure as prosecutor left an indelible mark, embodying the idea that no one, not even the president, is above the law.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Archibald was born in 1912, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Archibald Was Born
The biggest hits of 1912
Archibald's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1912Born
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1917Started school
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1925Became a teenager
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1928Could drive
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1930Could vote
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1933Turned 21
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1942Turned 30
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1952Turned 40
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1962Turned 50
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1972Turned 60
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 70
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 80
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2004Died at 92
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
Key Achievements
- Appointed first Watergate special prosecutor in 1973, issuing a subpoena for President Nixon's secret White House tapes.
- His firing by Nixon in the 'Saturday Night Massacre' triggered a constitutional crisis that accelerated impeachment proceedings.
- Served as U.S. Solicitor General under President Kennedy, arguing key cases before the Supreme Court.
- Was a leading 20th-century scholar of labor law and constitutional law, with exceptionally high academic citation rates.
Did You Know?
He was a direct descendant of signer of the Declaration of Independence Roger Sherman.
He clerked for Judge Learned Hand, one of the most influential American judges never to serve on the Supreme Court.
Despite his pivotal role in Watergate, he never wrote a memoir about the experience.
He taught constitutional law at Harvard Law School for decades, with students including future Chief Justice John Roberts.
“Whether ours shall continue to be a government of laws and not of men is now for Congress and ultimately the American people.”
