ELLSWORTH – His trademark crew cut was white with age, but Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox still towered over nearly all of the Common Cause supporters who honored him Saturday on his 90th birthday.

Cox gained international fame and praise as the man who led the investigation into one of the greatest political scandals in American history, named for the hotel in Washington, D.C., where the most well-known crime of the Nixon administration was carried out.

But the closest Cox came to talking about Watergate was to express support for the Maine Clean Election Act, which provides public financing to state candidates, and to predict that the McCain-Feingold national campaign finance law enacted this year still doesn’t go far enough.

“It doesn’t end the fight” for campaign finance reform, said Cox, whose Watergate investigation uncovered the Nixon administration’s illegal campaign financing among other crimes that led to the president’s resignation in 1974. “Unfortunately, legislators will still find ways to exchange their votes for gifts and money, but it’s a great step forward.”

Maine Common Cause, during its “Celebrating Advocacy” luncheon at the White Birches, honored Cox and his wife, Phyllis, for their service to the nation and to each other. The Coxes are longtime members of Common Cause and Archibald Cox serves as president emeritus of the national group.

In addition to marking Cox’s 90th birthday, the couple celebrated their wedding anniversary with a large cake frosted with red, white and blue icing, presented by Common Cause.

Phyllis Cox also made brief remarks, first thanking “Archie” for being her husband for 65 years, then praising Common Cause members for their dedication and vigilance in fighting for social and governmental reforms.

“I think you are one of the friendliest groups I’ve known,” she said. “You just can’t be beat that way.”

After the two-hour luncheon, Cox autographed copies of “Archibald Cox: Conscience of a Nation,” by Ken Gormley. The proceeds benefited Maine Common Cause.

The Coxes are longtime Maine residents. They live in Brooksville.