United States v. Nixon (1974): List 4

Following the Watergate break-in scandal (1972-1974), a subpoena was issued for tapes and papers related to meetings held by Richard Nixon in the Oval Office. The president claimed "executive privilege" to withhold the evidence, but the Supreme Court rejected his immunity claiming that no person is beyond the law. This decision reinforced the impeachment process and led to Nixon's resignation. The unanimous opinion was written by Justice Warren Burger. Read the full text here.

The vocabulary on this list is from paragraphs 54-59 of the opinion.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. compliance
    the act of submitting, usually surrendering power to another
    If a President concludes that compliance with a subpoena would be injurious to the public interest he may properly, as was done here, invoke a claim of privilege on the return of the subpoena.
  2. invoke
    request earnestly; ask for aid or protection
    If a President concludes that compliance with a subpoena would be injurious to the public interest he may properly, as was done here, invoke a claim of privilege on the return of the subpoena.
  3. rebut
    overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
    Here the District Court treated the material as presumptively privileged, proceeded to find that the Special Prosecutor had made a sufficient showing to rebut the presumption, and ordered an in camera examination of the subpoenaed material.
  4. compulsion
    using force to cause something to occur
    We now turn to the important question of the District Court's responsibilities in conducting the in camera examination of Presidential materials or communications delivered under the compulsion of the subpoena duces tecum.
  5. stay
    stop a judicial process
    Enforcement of the subpoena duces tecum was stayed pending this Court's resolution of the issues raised by the petitions for certiorari.
  6. pending
    awaiting conclusion or confirmation
    Enforcement of the subpoena duces tecum was stayed pending this Court's resolution of the issues raised by the petitions for certiorari.
  7. implementation
    the act of accomplishing some aim or executing some order
    Those issues now having been disposed of, the matter of implementation will rest with the District Court.
  8. vexatious
    causing irritation or annoyance
    The guard, furnished to (the President) to protect him from being harassed by vexatious and unnecessary subpoenas, is to be looked for in the conduct of a (district) court after those subpoenas have issued; not in any circumstance which is to precede their being issued.
  9. excise
    remove by cutting
    Statements that meet the test of admissibility and relevance must be isolated; all other material must be excised.
  10. elementary
    of or being the essential or basic part
    It is elementary that in camera inspection of evidence is always a procedure calling for scrupulous protection against any release or publication of material not found by the court, at that stage, probably admissible in evidence and relevant to the issues of the trial for which it is sought.
  11. in camera
    kept private or confined to those closely concerned
    It is elementary that in camera inspection of evidence is always a procedure calling for scrupulous protection against any release or publication of material not found by the court, at that stage, probably admissible in evidence and relevant to the issues of the trial for which it is sought.
  12. scrupulous
    characterized by extreme care and great effort
    It is elementary that in camera inspection of evidence is always a procedure calling for scrupulous protection against any release or publication of material not found by the court, at that stage, probably admissible in evidence and relevant to the issues of the trial for which it is sought.
  13. forthwith
    without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
    Since this matter came before the Court during the pendency of a criminal prosecution, and on representations that time is of the essence, the mandate shall issue forthwith.
Created on Wed Jun 04 16:24:21 EDT 2025 (updated Wed Jun 04 18:52:22 EDT 2025)

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