William Ruckelshaus

American government official

Born: July 24, 1932 · Died: November 27, 2019

William Ruckelshaus — Image via Wikimedia Commons or Wikipedia.

Overview

Known for

American government official (1932–2019)

Major work

William Doyle Ruckelshaus was an American attorney and government official.

Who was William Ruckelshaus?

William Doyle Ruckelshaus (July 24, 1932 – November 27, 2019) was an American attorney and government official. Ruckelshaus served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1966 to 1968, and was the United States Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division from 1969 to 1970. He returned to the position from 1983 to 1985, as the fifth Administrator of the EPA, during the Reagan administration. In 1973, he was also the acting FBI Director. While serving as US Deputy Attorney General in October 1973, in what became known as the "Saturday Night Massacre," Ruckelshaus and US Attorney General Elliot Richardson resigned from their positions rather than obey the order of US President Richard Nixon to fire the independent special prosecutor, Archibald Cox, who was tasked with investigating Nixon's role in the Watergate scandal.

Ruckelshaus in the Princeton University yearbook, 1955

Historical significance

He was also the first Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 1970 to 1973, after being nominated by Richard Nixon.

Related on thisDay

How did Nixon fire Cox after two AGs resigned?

Nixon ordered the firing of special prosecutor Archibald Cox. Attorney General Richardson and Deputy AG Ruckelshaus refused and resigned in protest.

Sources and further reading

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Date article: How did Nixon fire Cox after two AGs resigned?Wikipedia source

Cite this page

MLA

“William Ruckelshaus.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/william-ruckelshaus/. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

APA

William Ruckelshaus. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://thisday.info/people/william-ruckelshaus/

Chicago

“William Ruckelshaus.” thisDay. Accessed October 20, 2026. https://thisday.info/people/william-ruckelshaus/.

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