Donald Alexander (lawyer)

Donald Crichton Alexander (May 22, 1921 – February 2, 2009) was an American tax lawyer and Nixon administration official.^[1]

Donald Alexander
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
In office May 25, 1973 – February 26, 1977
President	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	Johnnie Mac Walters
Succeeded by	Jerome Kurtz
Personal details
Born	Donald Crichton Alexander (1921-05-22)May 22, 1921
Died	February 2, 2009(2009-02-02) (aged 87)
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Yale College Harvard Law School
Occupation	Tax lawyer
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Bronze Star Medal Silver Star

Alexander was appointed Commissioner of Internal Revenue by President Richard Nixon in May 1973, and was replaced in February 1977, early in the Jimmy Carter administration.^[1]

Alexander resisted attempts by Nixon to use the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to investigate Nixon's political enemies, resulting in a string of attempts by Nixon to fire him. Early on in his tenure as Commissioner, he dismantled the IRS Special Service Staff, which had been used to pursue detractors of the administration and its policies in Vietnam.^[1]

Alexander served in the Army in World War II, receiving the Bronze Star and the Silver Star. After graduating Yale College and Harvard Law School, he began his career as a tax lawyer, which included positions at Covington & Burling and Akin Gump, where he worked at the time of his death.^[1]

References

1. Johnston, David Cay (8 February 2009). "Donald C. Alexander, 87, Who Resisted Nixon at I.R.S., Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 February 2009.

Government offices
Preceded by Raymond F. Harless Acting	Commissioner of Internal Revenue May 25, 1973 – February 26, 1977	Succeeded by William E. Williams Acting