Elliot Richardson
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| Elliot Richardson | |
|---|---|
| Name | Elliot Richardson |
| Caption | Richardson in 1973 |
| Office | 11th United States Secretary of Defense |
| President | Richard Nixon |
| Term start | January 30, 1973 |
| Term end | May 24, 1973 |
| Predecessor | Melvin Laird |
| Successor | James R. Schlesinger |
| Office2 | 69th United States Attorney General |
| President2 | Richard Nixon |
| Term start2 | May 25, 1973 |
| Term end2 | October 20, 1973 |
| Predecessor2 | Richard Kleindienst |
| Successor2 | William B. Saxbe |
| Office3 | 21st United States Secretary of Commerce |
| President3 | Gerald Ford |
| Term start3 | February 2, 1976 |
| Term end3 | January 20, 1977 |
| Predecessor3 | Rogers Morton |
| Successor3 | Juanita M. Kreps |
| Office4 | 11th United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare |
| President4 | Richard Nixon |
| Term start4 | June 24, 1970 |
| Term end4 | January 29, 1973 |
| Predecessor4 | Robert H. Finch |
| Successor4 | Caspar Weinberger |
| Birth date | July 20, 1920 |
| Birth place | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Death date | December 31, 1999 (aged 79) |
| Death place | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | Harvard University (BA, LLB) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Serviceyears | 1942–1945 |
| Rank | First Lieutenant |
| Unit | 4th Infantry Division |
| Battles | World War II, • Normandy landings, • Battle of the Bulge |
| Awards | Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart |
Elliot Richardson was an American lawyer and public servant who held four Cabinet positions under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. He is most famously remembered for his principled resignation as United States Attorney General during the Watergate scandal, an event known as the Saturday Night Massacre. A Republican known for his integrity and competence, Richardson also served as United States Secretary of Defense, United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, and United States Secretary of Commerce.
Early life and education
He was born into a prominent Boston family, the son of Edward Peirson Richardson, a distinguished surgeon, and Clara Lee Shattuck. He attended the prestigious Harvard University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1941 and later a Bachelor of Laws from Harvard Law School in 1947, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. His education was interrupted by service in World War II.
Military service
During the war, he served as a First Lieutenant with the 4th Infantry Division of the United States Army. He landed at Utah Beach during the Normandy landings and later fought in the Battle of the Bulge. For his valor, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart after being wounded in action.
Political career
His political career began in Massachusetts, where he served as the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts and later as the state's Attorney General. He first entered the federal executive branch as Under Secretary of State under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Under President Nixon, he was appointed as the United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, where he oversaw the implementation of major social programs.
Attorney General and the Saturday Night Massacre
Appointed United States Attorney General in 1973, he quickly faced a constitutional crisis. When Nixon ordered him to fire the special Watergate special prosecutor, Archibald Cox, Richardson refused and resigned on principle on October 20, 1973. His deputy, William Ruckelshaus, also resigned, leading to the dismissal of Cox by the Solicitor General, Robert Bork. This series of events, dubbed the Saturday Night Massacre, was a pivotal moment in the Watergate scandal that eroded public support for President Nixon.
Later government service and diplomacy
After Watergate, he returned to public service under President Ford, first as United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom and then as United States Secretary of Commerce. In the Jimmy Carter administration, he served as the ambassador to the Law of the Sea conference. Later, under President Bill Clinton, he was appointed as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, where he focused on issues related to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
Personal life and death
He was married to Anne Francis Hazard, with whom he had three children. Known for his deep sense of civic duty and modesty, he was a lifelong resident of Massachusetts. He died at the age of 79 from a cerebral hemorrhage in Boston and was interred at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His papers are held at the Library of Congress.
Category:1920 births Category:1999 deaths Category:United States Secretaries of Defense Category:United States Attorneys General Category:Harvard University alumni