Object Details
- Artist
- James Hill, 1930 - 2004
- Sitter
- Elliot Lee Richardson, 20 Jul 1920 - 31 Dec 1999
- Exhibition Label
- Elliot Richardson was appointed attorney general in May 1973, at the height of the Department of Justice’s investigation of the Watergate scandal. Since the crimes involved people at high levels of the executive branch of the government, a special prosecutor was needed to ensure an unbiased investigation. Richardson, therefore, accepted the nomination with a promise to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the scandal on behalf of his agency.
- In October, President Nixon’s refusal to hand over tape recordings to the special prosecutor, Archibald Cox, instigated the “Saturday Night Massacre.” On Saturday, October 20, 1973, Nixon ordered Richardson to fire Cox and to close the special prosecutor’s investigation. Richardson refused to comply with Nixon’s orders. Upon receiving Richardson’s resignation, Nixon declared, “Let it be on your head. I’m sorry you can’t put the nation’s interests above your own concerns.” Richardson responded, “I’d like to feel that what I’m doing is in the national interest.”
- Elliot Richardson fue nombrado procurador general en mayo de 1973, en el punto más álgido de la investigación del escándalo de Watergate por parte del Departamento de Justicia. Dado que los delitos involucraban a personas de los más altos niveles del ejecutivo del gobierno, se necesitaba un fiscal especial que asegurara la imparcialidad de la investigación. Por lo tanto, Richardson aceptó la nominación con la promesa de nombrar un fiscal especial para investigar el escándalo en nombre de su agencia.
- En octubre, la negativa del presidente Nixon de entregar las grabaciones al fiscal especial, Archibald Cox, instigó la “Masacre de Sábado por la Noche.” El sábado, 20 de octubre de 1973, Nixon ordenó a Richardson que despidiera a Cox y que pusiera fin a la investigación del fiscal especial. Richardson se negó a cumplir las órdenes de Nixon. Al recibir la dimisión de Richardson, Nixon declaró: “Que quede en tu conciencia. Siento que no puedas poner los intereses de la nación sobre tus propias preocupaciones”. A lo que Richardson respondió: “Me gustaría creer que lo que estoy haciendo es por el bien de la nación”.
- Collection Description
- In 1978, Time magazine donated approximately eight hundred works of original cover art to the National Portrait Gallery. The museum is dedicated to telling the stories of individuals who have shaped the United States, and the Time Collection—featuring prominent international figures and events—enriches our understanding of the United States in a global context.
- En 1978, la revista Time donó a la National Portrait Gallery cerca de 800 obras de arte originales creadas para sus portadas. Nuestro museo se dedica a narrar la historia de figuras que han contribuido a forjar el desarrollo de Estados Unidos, y es así que la Colección Time, que incluye retratos de importantes personalidades internacionales, nos ayuda a comprender mejor a nuestra nación en un contexto global.
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Time magazine
- c. 1971
- Object number
- NPG.88.TC168
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Painting
- Medium
- Acrylic on board
- Dimensions
- Image: 65.7cm x 50.9cm (25 7/8" x 20 1/16")
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Location
- Currently not on view
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Costume\Dress Accessory\Eyeglasses
- Costume\Dress Accessory\Neckwear\Tie\Necktie
- Elliot Lee Richardson: Arts and Culture\Visual Arts\Artist
- Elliot Lee Richardson: Male
- Elliot Lee Richardson: Law and Crime\Lawyer
- Elliot Lee Richardson: Politics and Government\Government official\Cabinet member\US Attorney General
- Elliot Lee Richardson: Arts and Culture\Literature\Writer
- Elliot Lee Richardson: Politics and Government\Diplomat\Ambassador
- Elliot Lee Richardson: Politics and Government\Government official\Cabinet member\Secretary of Commerce
- Elliot Lee Richardson: Politics and Government\Government official\Lieutenant Governor\Massachusetts
- Elliot Lee Richardson: Politics and Government\Government official\Cabinet member\Secretary of Defense
- Elliot Lee Richardson: Politics and Government\Government official\Under Secretary of State
- Elliot Lee Richardson: Politics and Government\Government official\Cabinet member\Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare
- Elliot Lee Richardson: Politics and Government\Government official\State Attorney General\Massachusetts
- Elliot Lee Richardson: Civilian awards\Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_NPG.88.TC168
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4fa5b4d3e-60cd-4e2e-902f-c0fca06298b0
