, Nixon instructed Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox , who had been appointed by Congress to look into his illegal activities during the Watergate scandal . When Richardson resigned his post in protest at the President ’s attempt to interfere in judicial proceedings in such a blatant manner , Nixon instructed Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus to do his bidding . When he , too , resigned in protest , Nixon turned to Solicitor General Robert Bork — who duly complied .