Donald Alexander
- February 2, 2009
- 87 years
- cancer
About Donald Alexander
Donald Alexander, 87, American government official, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (1973–1977), cancer.
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Full Biography
|Donald Crichton Alexander (May 22, 1921 – February 2, 2009) was an American tax lawyer and Nixon administration official.
Education and military career
Alexander served in the Army in World War II, receiving the Bronze Star and the Silver Star. He graduated from Yale College and Harvard Law School.
Political career
Alexander began his career as a tax lawyer, which included positions at Covington & Burling and Akin Gump, where he worked until he died of cancer.
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.
Nixon administration and controversy
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. Alexander ended a special unit of the IRS, the Special Services Staff, which Nixon had created to target activists and political dissidents.
Alexander advocated for stronger tax confidentiality laws.
There exists controversy over how Alexander used his position as IRS Commissioner to attack internal efforts at the IRS at uncovering tax evasion and tax fraud.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Articles & News
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Alexander_(lawyer)
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Donald Alexander's archived record and the sources above.
1.What was the main point of contention regarding Donald Alexander's management of IRS internal efforts?
- A.His public criticism of the Treasury Department
- B.His refusal to hire new agents during his term
- C.His attacks on efforts to uncover tax evasion and fraudcorrect
- D.His decision to increase tax rates on citizens
There is controversy over how Donald Alexander used his position to attack internal efforts at the IRS at uncovering tax evasion and tax fraud.
Source: Nixon administration and controversy section
2.At which of his listed law firms was Donald Alexander employed until he died?
- A.Akin Gumpcorrect
- B.Covington & Burling
- C.Yale Law Firm
- D.IRS Legal Division
Donald Alexander worked at Akin Gump until he died of cancer.
Source: Political career section
3.On what specific date did Donald Alexander pass away?
- A.January 15, 2007
- B.February 2, 2011
- C.February 2, 2009correct
- D.May 22, 2009
Donald Crichton Alexander was born May 22, 1921, and died February 2, 2009.
Source: biographical introduction
4.What motivated Richard Nixon to repeatedly attempt to fire Donald Alexander?
- A.Donald Alexander resisted attempts to use the IRS to investigate political enemiescorrect
- B.Donald Alexander failed to meet tax revenue collection goals
- C.Donald Alexander refused to lower taxes for Nixon's supporters
- D.Donald Alexander publicly leaked confidential cabinet meeting minutes
Donald Alexander resisted attempts by Nixon to use the IRS to investigate political enemies, which led to multiple attempts by Nixon to fire him.
Source: Nixon administration and controversy section
5.What was the full birth name of Donald Alexander?
- A.Donald Crichton Alexandercorrect
- B.Donald James Alexander
- C.Donald Richard Alexander
- D.Donald Arthur Alexander
The biography states that Donald Crichton Alexander was born on May 22, 1921.
Source: biographical introduction
6.Which military honors did Donald Alexander receive for his service during World War II?
- A.The Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Cross
- B.The Medal of Honor and the Bronze Star
- C.The Purple Heart and the Silver Star
- D.The Bronze Star and the Silver Starcorrect
Donald Alexander served in the Army in World War II, receiving the Bronze Star and the Silver Star.
Source: Education and military career section
7.At which law school did Donald Alexander complete his legal education?
- A.Stanford Law School
- B.Columbia Law School
- C.Harvard Law Schoolcorrect
- D.Yale Law School
Donald Alexander graduated from Yale College and Harvard Law School.
Source: Education and military career section
8.Who appointed Donald Alexander to the position of Commissioner of Internal Revenue?
- A.Gerald Ford
- B.Richard Nixoncorrect
- C.Lyndon Johnson
- D.Jimmy Carter
Donald Alexander was appointed Commissioner of Internal Revenue by President Richard Nixon in May 1973.
Source: Political career section
9.What specific IRS unit did Donald Alexander dismantle early in his tenure?
- A.Internal Audit Division
- B.Intelligence Operations Bureau
- C.Political Dissident Task Force
- D.Special Service Staffcorrect
Early on in his tenure as Commissioner, Donald Alexander dismantled the IRS Special Service Staff.
Source: Nixon administration and controversy section
10.What was the official reason for the end of Donald Alexander's tenure at the IRS?
- A.He was fired by Richard Nixon for insubordination
- B.He retired voluntarily due to his age
- C.He was replaced early in the Jimmy Carter administrationcorrect
- D.He resigned to return to private law practice
Donald Alexander was replaced in February 1977, early in the Jimmy Carter administration.
Source: Political career section
11.Which law firms employed Donald Alexander during his career as a tax lawyer?
- A.Sidley Austin and WilmerHale
- B.Skadden Arps and Sullivan & Cromwell
- C.Covington & Burling and Akin Gumpcorrect
- D.Latham & Watkins and Kirkland & Ellis
Donald Alexander's career included positions at Covington & Burling and Akin Gump.
Source: Political career section
12.What type of legal laws did Donald Alexander advocate for strengthening?
- A.Corporate merger laws
- B.International trade laws
- C.Criminal sentencing laws
- D.Tax confidentiality lawscorrect
Donald Alexander advocated for stronger tax confidentiality laws.
Source: Nixon administration and controversy section
13.What was the cause of death for Donald Alexander?
- A.Cancercorrect
- B.Pneumonia
- C.Heart failure
- D.Stroke
Donald Alexander died of cancer at the age of 87.
Source: biographical introduction
14.In what year did Donald Alexander's term as Commissioner of the IRS begin?
- A.1977
- B.1971
- C.1973correct
- D.1975
Donald Alexander served as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service from 1973 to 1977.
Source: biographical introduction
15.What was the primary purpose of the Special Service Staff created by Richard Nixon?
- A.To investigate corporate tax loopholes
- B.To target activists and political dissidentscorrect
- C.To audit government officials
- D.To monitor foreign currency exchange
Donald Alexander ended the Special Services Staff, which Nixon had created to target activists and political dissidents.
Source: Nixon administration and controversy section
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