Several Congressional leaders reacted last night ot President Nixon's abolition of the special prosecutor's office and the firing of Archibald Cox '34 with calls for Nixon's impeachment.

Rep. Robert F. Drinan (D-Mass.), who has already suggested impeachment of the president, said last night that he will call for the impeachment of President Nixon early next week.

Senator Edmund S. Muskie (D-Maine) last night called the situation so grievious as to require impeachment proceedings, and Republican Senator Edward Brooke of Massachusetts said last night that he will join in the call for impeachment.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy '54 (D-Mass.) called Nixon's firing of Cox "a reckless act of desperation by a president who is afraid of the Supreme Court, who has no respect for the law and no respect for men of conscience."

Brooke said, in a statement, that "this act on the part of the president, under the circumstances, is sufficient evidence which the House of Representatives should consider to begin impeachment proceedings."

Senator John V. Tunney (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called for an immediate meeting of that committee, saying, "The president has committed a monstrous act and is now openly defying all three branches of government."

Rep. John J. McFall of California, the House Democratic whip, reacted to Nixon's move by saying, "I guess we'll have to take a look at impeachment."

The president's action was defended last night by vice president-designate Gerald R. Ford (R-Mich). Ford said Nixon had no choice in the matter.

Many members of Congress, including Senator Charles McC. Mathias (R-Md.), said that the president's action yesterday will cause Congress to delay confirmation of Ford.