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Constitutional Law Keyed to Maggs
Nixon v. Fitzgerald
Citation:
457 U.S. 731 (1982)Facts
In January 1970 the respondent A. Ernest Fitzgerald lost his job as a management analyst with the Department of the Air Force. Fitzgerald’s dismissal occurred in the context of a departmental reorganization and reduction in force, in which his job was eliminated. In announcing the reorganization, the Air Force characterized the action as taken to promote economy and efficacy in the Armed Forces. Claiming that he had suffered retaliation for his congressional testimony, Fitzgerald sued former President Richard Nixon and others for damages. President Nixon claimed that he had absolute immunity from liability for any action that he may have taken against Fitzgerald while he was President.
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