Fitzgerald,
who worked for the Air Force, testified before a Congress about
inefficiencies and cost overruns in the production of the C-5A transport
plane.
One
year later, Fitzgerald was fired.
President
Nixon took personal responsibility for firing Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald
then sued Nixon for damages after the Civil Service Commission concluded
that his dismissal was unjust. (He claimed he was a whistleblower).
The
US Supreme Court held that the President is entitled to absolute immunity
from damages liability for his official acts.
The Court found that this sweeping immunity was a function of the
"President's unique office, rooted in the constitutional tradition
of separation of powers and supported by our history."
In
the companion case, Harlow v. Fitzgerald (457 U.S. 800 (1982)), it was held that this Presidential immunity did not extend to
the President's aides.
