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Edwin Meese III (born December 2, 1931) is an American attorney, law professor, author and member of the Republican Party who served in Ronald Reagan's gubernatorial administration (1967–1974), the Reagan presidential transition team (1980–81), and the Reagan administration (1981–1985). Following the 1980 presidential election, Reagan considered him for the White House Chief of Staff position, but James Baker was chosen instead.[1] Meese was eventually appointed and confirmed as the 75th United States Attorney General (1985–1988), a position he held until resigning in 1988 amidst the Wedtech scandal.[2]

Key Information

Meese currently serves as a member of the board of trustees for The Heritage Foundation, a Washington, D.C.–based think tank.[3] He was also a distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.[4] He is a member of the national advisory board of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and a member of the board of directors of the Federalist Society.[5] He has served on the board of Cornerstone closed-end funds.

Early life and education

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Meese was born on December 2, 1931, in Oakland, California, the eldest of four sons born to Leone (née Feldman) and Edwin Meese, Jr.[6] He was raised in a practicing Lutheran family, of German descent.[7][8] His father was an Oakland city government official, president of the Zion Lutheran Church, and served 24 years in the non-partisan office of Treasurer of Alameda County.

At age 10, Meese published along with his brothers a mimeographed neighborhood newspaper, the Weekly Herald, and used the proceeds to buy a war bond. The young Meese also rode a bicycle on a paper route and worked in a drugstore. At Oakland High School, Meese was involved in the Junior State of America and led his high school debate team to statewide championships. He was valedictorian of Oakland High School's class of 1949.[9]

Two weeks prior to graduation, Meese was accepted to Yale University and granted a scholarship. At Yale, Meese served as president of the Yale Political Union, chairman of the Conservative Party, chairman of the Yale Debate Association, and a member of the secret society Spade and Grave. Meese made the dean's list, and graduated with a B.A. in political science in 1953.[9]

Military service

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At Yale, Meese was a member of ROTC. Upon graduating in 1953, he obtained a commission in the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant. He spent 24 months at Fort Sill near Lawton, Oklahoma. Meese worked in logistics, conducting installation and operations of the 240 mm howitzer M1. Meese completed active duty in 1956 and continued in the U.S. Army Reserve, specializing in military intelligence. Meese retired from the Army Reserve as a colonel in 1984.[9]

Career

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Meese returned to California, where he obtained a law degree from UC Berkeley School of Law in 1958 and was a state Moot Court champion.

He accepted a position with the district attorney's office of Alameda County, California as a law clerk. While there, he worked under district attorney J. Frank Coakley and future district attorney Delwen Lowell Jensen. Jensen received a LEAA grant to develop DALITE (District Attorney's Automated Legal Information System),[10] a case management software program, like PROMIS (Prosecutor's Management Information System), developed by Inslaw.[11] Meese prosecuted felony cases while maintaining a private practice on nights and weekends, where he focused on civil law. During this service, he first drew the attention of Republican State Senator Donald L. Grunsky, who would later recommend him to governor-elect Ronald Reagan.

In 1959, he married his high school sweetheart Ursula Herrick, daughter of Oakland's postmaster.[9]

California governor's office

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Meese joined Ronald Reagan's gubernatorial staff in 1967 as legal affairs secretary, serving in that role for a year, until 1968. In 1969, he became Governor Reagan's executive assistant and chief of staff, and served in that capacity until 1974. Despite his later well-known reputation of being fond of Reagan, Meese was initially reluctant to accept the appointment. "I was not particularly interested", he later said of the position.[9]

Meese was known for his ability to explain complex ideas to Reagan in a way that often mirrored Reagan's own speaking style and mannerisms, leading Reagan biographer Lou Cannon to describe him as "Reagan's geographer".[12]

After being named Reagan's chief of staff, Meese convinced his predecessor's deputy, Mike Deaver, to stay on with him, beginning a partnership that would last more than two decades.[13][full citation needed] For his role in Reagan's office, Meese earned reluctant praise from across the aisle. Bob Moretti, a Democrat and former Democratic Speaker of the Assembly, said, "Were I in the governor's seat, I would want someone like [Ed Meese] on my side."[14]

Berkeley protests

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Main articles: 1960s Berkeley protests and 1969 People's Park protest

As Reagan's chief of staff, Meese was instrumental in the decision to crack down on student protesters at People's Park in Berkeley, California, on May 15, 1969. Meese was widely criticized for escalating the official response to the People's Park protest, during which law enforcement officers killed one student, on his way to class, who was not a protester and injured hundreds of others, including bystanders. Meese advised Reagan to declare a state of emergency in Berkeley, contrary to the recommendation of the Berkeley City Council. That resulted in a two-week occupation of People's Park by National Guard troops.

The first governor to turn to Meese for advice on riot control was Democrat Edmund (Pat) Brown, who first telephoned Meese seeking advice on how to best handle the situation. "I told him," Meese said, "that the people in that building should be arrested and taken out of there. I told him that if they were allowed to stay, there would be another mob scene, even bigger, the next day." Meese and Deputy District Attorney Lowell Jensen later served as co-counsels in the trial of Berkeley demonstrators. Meese was recognized as one of five "Outstanding Young Men of California" by the California Junior Chamber of Commerce for his role in countering the Berkeley demonstrators.[9] Meese's role in quelling the riots at UC Berkeley has been identified by critics and supporters as an example of a conservative law-enforcement philosophy at work.[15]

Industry and academia

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From January 1975 to May 1976, in Chula Vista, San Diego County, California, Meese served as vice president for administration of Rohr Industries, manufacturer of railcars for the San Francisco Bay Area Bay Area Rapid Transit.[16][17][18][19][20][21] He left Rohr to enter private law practice in San Diego County, California.

After receiving a grant from the Sarah Scaife Foundation, Meese developed what he called "a plan for a law school center for criminal justice policy and management". The plan was accepted by the University of San Diego, a private Catholic school.[9] From the fall of 1977 to January 1981, Meese served as professor of law at the university, where he also directed the Center for Criminal Justice Policy and Management.[22] During the same time, Meese served as vice chairman of California's Organized Crime Control Commission and participated in the California Bar Association's criminal law section.[9]

Reagan presidency

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Presidential campaign and transition

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Following the Iowa caucuses, Meese joined the 1980 Reagan presidential campaign full-time as chief of staff in charge of day-to-day campaign operations and senior issues adviser.[23] After the 1980 election, Meese headed Reagan's transition effort.

At the advice of Meese, Reagan secretly allowed his campaign to establish a transition office to avoid difficulties similar to those faced by the Nixon administration in its transition following the 1969 election. "Ed had an uncanny ability to look down the road," said Pen James, Assistant to the President for Presidential Personnel. Meese's presidential transition team employed more than 1,000 individuals, with 311 being paid in federal funds, 331 working for a "token" $1, and the rest serving as volunteers. When accounting for inflation, the Reagan transition team spent slightly less money than the Carter transition team, $1.75 million versus $1.78 million.[9]

Counselor to the President

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Meese with President Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office in October 1981
"The Troika": Chief of staff James Baker, Counselor to the president Meese, and Deputy chief of staff Michael Deaver at the White House in December 1981

On November 17, 1980, Meese and James Baker held a meeting to divide their list of White House responsibilities, since both saw the potential for future conflict because of their positions being somewhat similar in nature. The one-page memorandum listed Meese's responsibilities as:

  • "Counselor to the President for Policy (with cabinet rank);
  • member Super Cabinet Executive Committee (in absence of the President and V-P preside over meetings);
  • participate as a principal in all meetings of full Cabinet;
  • coordination and supervision of responsibilities of the Secretary to the Cabinet; *coordination and supervision of work of the Domestic Policy Studies and the National Security Council;
  • with Baker coordination and supervision of work of OMB, CEA, CEQ, Trade Rep and S&T; *participation as principal in all policy group meetings;
  • attend any meeting which Pres attends – w/his consent."[24]

Meese became Counselor to the President, who appointed him as a member of both his Cabinet and the National Security Council from 1981 to 1985. On Monday, September 14, 1981, Meese chaired the first White House discussion of what would become Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), the missile defense program.[9]

Meese served as a liaison to the conservative evangelical community, arranging for meetings between social conservative leaders and the president. Meese was lauded by social conservatives for his address to the Congress on the Bible in March 1982, when he said, "Someone has estimated that throughout the course of history man has adopted over four billion laws. It seems to me, with all that effort, we haven't improved one iota on the Ten Commandments."[25]

Near the end of Reagan's presidency, Meese's involvement in the Iran–Contra affair as a counselor and friend to Reagan was scrutinized by the independent counsel for Iran/Contra Matters, which stated in its official report that Meese's knowledge of the 1985 HAWK transaction "raised serious legal questions".[26]

Meese was considered a powerful and influential figure in the White House. Former Reagan advisor and journalist David Gergen said, "He's a tremendously influential and highly valued adviser to the President who advises on issues all across the board. He's one of the men who has known [the President] so long and so well he's become almost an alter ego of Ronald Reagan."[9]

Comments on hunger in America

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Meese created a storm of controversy in December 1983 after his responses to questions about hunger in America. In response to a question about balancing spending cuts against the need to feed hungry children, he said that he had seen no "authoritative" evidence that children in America were going hungry and that some of the allegations "are purely political." When asked about soup kitchens, he said that "some people are going to soup kitchens voluntarily.... I know we've had considerable information that people go to soup kitchens because the food is free and that that's easier than paying for it."

Democratic leaders and social welfare activists called his comments "disgraceful," "an outrage," "unkind," "mean-spirited," and "absolutely ridiculous". Tip O'Neill, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, compared Meese to Ebenezer Scrooge.[27][28]

Shortly after, Meese offered a tongue-in-cheek defense of Scrooge, saying that he "had his faults, but he wasn't unfair to anyone" and that he suffered from "a bad press".[29][30][31]

Attorney General

[edit]

Reagan nominated Meese to be William French Smith's successor as U.S. Attorney General on January 23, 1984.[32] For more than a year, Democrats repeatedly charged Meese with unethical conduct to bar his confirmation as attorney general, including a report by Archibald Cox to the Senate, which alleged that Meese had a "lack of ethical sensitivity" and "blindness to abuse of position".[33]

Meese was finally confirmed by a vote of 63–31, with more opposition than any other Attorney General nominee had received since the 1920s. He began serving as Attorney General in February 1985.[34]

In 1985, Meese received Government Executive magazine's annual award for excellence in management for his service in this role.[35]

Bechtel scandal

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In the mid-1980s, there was a federal investigation into Meese's connections and alleged financial improprieties related to his efforts to help the Bechtel Corporation build a pipeline in Iraq. The pipeline was to extend from Iraq to Jordan and was negotiated by Meese, Shimon Peres, Bruce Rappaport, Robert C. McFarlane, and others. A report by special prosecutor James C. McKay cleared Meese of criminal wrongdoing but criticized him for ethical lapses, especially regarding bribes to Israel not to attack an Iraqi oil pipeline that benefited associates of Meese.[36]

Iran-Contra scandal

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Further information: Iran-Contra affair

In the late-1980s, Meese was investigated for his role in covering up the Iran-Contra affair to limit damage to Reagan.[37] Although evidence supporting this accusation came to light, Meese was ultimately not charged with any obstruction.[38]

Wedtech scandal

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Main article: Wedtech scandal

In February 1987, James C. McKay was named independent counsel in the Wedtech case. The investigation centered on actions Meese took that benefited him and his longtime friend and former lawyer, E. Robert Wallach. McKay looked into Meese's involvement, while Attorney General, in negotiations involving the company Wedtech. (E. Robert Wallach worked as a lobbyist for the company and sought help from Meese on Wedtech contract matters.)[39]

McKay never prosecuted or sought indictment of Meese, but in his official report, which is still confidential, he was highly critical of Meese's ethics and urged further investigation of Meese's role in that scandal and others such as Meese's efforts to help Bechtel Corporation. Meese described it as a "full vindication". While Meese was never convicted of any wrongdoing, he resigned in 1988 when the independent counsel delivered the report on Wedtech.[40]

Prior to his resignation, several top Justice Department officials resigned in protest of what they and others viewed as improper acts by the Attorney General.[41]

Reagan publicly voiced support for Meese in his role as Attorney General, during a press conference: "If Ed Meese is not a good man, there are no good men." That was in response to questions about his actions at the Justice Department.[35]

Meese Report

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Main article: Meese Report

On May 21, 1984, Reagan announced his intention to appoint the Attorney General to study the effect of pornography on society.[42] The Meese Report, convened in the spring of 1985 and published its findings in July 1986. The Meese Report advised that pornography was in varying degrees harmful.[43] Following the release of the report, guidelines of the Meese-led Department of Justice were modified to enable the government to file multiple cases in various jurisdictions at the same time which eroded some of the markets for pornography.[44]

Drug control policy

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As Attorney General, Meese chaired the National Drug Policy Board, which coordinated with Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No," national anti-drug educational campaign. One of Meese's innovations was to seek the cooperation of drug-producing countries.

"One of our most effective weapons against drug traffickers," Meese wrote in his autobiography, "was to confiscate the assets of their criminal activity, such as expensive autos, yachts, businesses and homes.... To make this technique even more effective, we shared the proceeds with cooperating local law enforcement agencies to enhance their drug-fighting activities."[45]

Supreme Court views

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In 1985, Meese delivered a speech calling for a "jurisprudence of original intent"[46] and criticizing the Supreme Court for straying from the original intention of the U.S. Constitution. Justices William J. Brennan and John Paul Stevens disagreed with Meese publicly later that year. The dispute foreshadowed the contentious Robert Bork hearings of 1987.

Meese was known for his opposition to the Miranda Warning ruling by the Supreme Court, which required a suspect's rights to be read to him before he is questioned by authorities.[47]

U.S News & World Report: You criticize the Miranda ruling, which gives suspects the right to have a lawyer present before police questioning. Shouldn't people, who may be innocent, have such protection?
Meese: Suspects who are innocent of a crime should. But the thing is, you don't have many suspects who are innocent of a crime. That's contradictory. If a person is innocent of a crime, then he is not a suspect.[47]

Iraq Study Group

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Further information: Iraq Study Group

In May 2006, Meese was named a member of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group by the group co-chairmen, James Baker III and Lee H. Hamilton. The Iraq Study Group was commissioned to assess and report on the contemporary status of the Iraq War. Meese co-authored the group's final December 2006 report.[48]

Fellowships and honors

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Meese (center left) discussing the findings of the 9/11 Commission with FBI director James Comey in March 2015
Meese receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from president Donald Trump in October 2019

In 1982, Meese was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.[49] Meese serves on the boards of several institutions. Meese has held the Ronald Reagan Chair in Public Policy at The Heritage Foundation since 1988, when he joined the think tank. It is the only policy chair in the United States officially named for the 40th president.[22][50] He is also chairman of Heritage's Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, founded in 2001 to advance conservative views about the Constitution, legal principles and their impact on public policy.[50]

Meese is currently the second vice chairman of Landmark Legal Foundation, a conservative non-profit legal group.[51] He serves as an adjunct fellow at the Discovery Institute and is a member of the board of directors of the Junior State of America[52] Meese is also on the board of directors of the Capital Research Center, a conservative think tank devoted to the research of non-profit groups.[4]

Meese served on the executive committee (1994) and as president (1996) of the Council for National Policy (CNP), and he was co-chairman of the Constitution Project's bipartisan Sentencing Committee.[53]

Meese served two terms as a member of the board of visitors of George Mason University from 1996 to 2004. From 1998 to 2004, he served as rector (chairman) of the board.[54]

For his lifetime of service and leadership, Meese was named the first-ever Honorary Reagan Fellow at Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. in 2008. Recognizing Meese as a model for young people, the honor was given on behalf of the Reagan Fellows program President Ronald Reagan, established at his own alma mater in 1982. Meese is a charter member of the Ronald W. Reagan Society of Eureka College and was a featured speaker at the "Reagan and the Midwest" academic conference held on the college's campus to launch the Reagan Centennial in 2011.

In 2017, Meese became a veteran companion of the Military Order of Foreign Wars.

Meese serves as a member of the board of directors of the Mercatus Center, a non-profit market-oriented research, education, and outreach think tank located on George Mason University's Arlington campus.[55]

The Republican National Lawyers Association annually bestows the "Edwin Meese Award" to a notable Republican attorney or official. Previous recipients have included Lindsey Graham, John Ashcroft, Don McGahn, C. Boyden Gray, and Michael Mukasey.

On October 8, 2019, U.S. president Donald Trump awarded Meese the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.[56][57] Former Meese chief of staff Mark Levin paid tribute to him at the ceremony.[58]

Books and film

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Meese has authored or co-authored a number of books on government, judiciary and civics, including:

  • A Familiar Exposition of the Constitution of the United States, Bicentennial Edition (1986)
  • The Great Debate: Interpreting Our Written Constitution (1986)
  • With Reagan: The Inside Story (1992) Regnery Gateway, ISBN 0895265222
  • Making America Safer: What Citizens and Their State and Local Officials Can Do to Combat Crime (2000)
  • Defending the American Homeland (2002)
  • Leadership, Ethics and Policing: Challenges for the 21st Century (2004)
  • The Heritage Guide to the Constitution (2005) ISBN 159698001X
  • Judicial Tyranny: The New Kings of America? – contributing author (Amerisearch, 2005) ISBN 0975345567

Edwin Meese has been a subject of many TV documentaries. Documentaries in which he personally appears include:

  • In The Face of Evil (2004)
  • William F. Buckley: Right from the Start (2008)
  • Hippies (2007)
  • I Want Your Money (2010)

See also

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References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Edwin Meese

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

Edwin Meese III (born December 2, 1931) is an American attorney, law professor, author, and government official who served as the 75th of the from February 1985 to August 1988. Born in , he earned a bachelor's degree from in 1953 and a from the , Berkeley's Boalt Hall of in 1958. Meese began his career as a in , and later under , including , before becoming in Reagan's administration from 1981 to 1985, where he chaired the Domestic Policy Council and participated in the . As , he directed federal law enforcement priorities, including intensified efforts against drug trafficking, , and , while advocating for initiatives. Meese is renowned for championing in constitutional interpretation, launching a pivotal debate through his 1985 speech to the , which emphasized fidelity to the framers' original intent over evolving judicial standards. This influenced conservative legal thought and judicial nominations. After leaving office, he joined as a principal fellow, establishing its Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, and received the in 2019 for his contributions to and .

Early Life and Education

Family Background and Upbringing

Edwin Meese III was born on December 2, 1931, in Oakland, California, as the eldest of four sons to Edwin Meese Jr. and Leone Meese. His father, a holder of a law degree and doctorate in jurisprudence, served over 50 years in public roles, including as a police court clerk and later as Alameda County's treasurer and tax collector, a position he held for more than two decades until retirement. The Meese family traced its roots to German Lutheran immigrants, with Meese's great-grandfather Hermann Meese arriving in Oakland around 1850, establishing a tradition of civic involvement that included his grandfather—the first Edwin Meese—serving as a city councilman and treasurer. The family resided in Oakland's neighborhood, maintaining close ties with extended relatives living within six blocks, fostering a tight-knit environment rooted in Lutheran values at Zion Lutheran Church. Meese's upbringing emphasized public service, patriotism, and frugality; nightly family routines included prayer and recitation of the , reflecting their devout heritage. One of his younger brothers, Myron, was born with , resulting in partial paralysis, yet contributed part-time at the family church, with Meese sharing a bedroom with him during childhood. Meese described his early years as typical for the era, involving part-time jobs such as delivering the on a paper route, working in a local drugstore, and performing like clearing trails for $2.50 per day or at an iron works after high school. Exposed to his father's accounts of legal and administrative work, Meese developed an early interest in , which influenced his later path while growing up in a city noted for its civic spirit.

Academic Achievements

Edwin Meese III completed his undergraduate education at , earning a degree in 1953. After serving in the United States Army, Meese pursued legal studies at the School of Law (Boalt Hall), where he received his degree in 1958.

Military Service

Meese participated in the (ROTC) program while attending , from which he graduated in 1953 with a degree and was commissioned as a in the branch of the . Following graduation, Meese served on as an artillery officer for two years, from 1954 to 1956, stationed at , , where he completed his initial commitment. After his active duty period, Meese continued his service in the Army Reserve, eventually attaining the rank of before retiring in 1984.

Early Professional Career

Meese earned a degree from in 1953 before attending the , Berkeley's Boalt Hall of , from which he received his in 1958. During his legal studies, he took a two-year leave of absence to serve as an artillery officer in the Army. Upon completing his degree, Meese entered legal practice by joining the Oakland office of the Alameda County District Attorney's Office as a deputy district attorney, a position he held for three years starting in 1958. In this role, he prosecuted cases amid rising campus unrest and criminal procedure changes in the late 1950s and early 1960s, gaining early experience in criminal law enforcement.

Alameda County District Attorney's Office

In 1959, shortly after earning his J.D. from the School of Law, Edwin Meese III joined the Alameda County as a in . He served in this capacity until 1967, functioning primarily as a trial attorney responsible for prosecuting major criminal cases. Meese's work focused on felony prosecutions amid the rising rates of the era, including handling complex trials that demanded rigorous evidentiary preparation and courtroom advocacy. His approach emphasized strict of the , reflecting a commitment to in Alameda , which encompassed high-crime areas like Oakland and the politically volatile of Berkeley. This period honed his prosecutorial skills, providing foundational experience in administration that he later applied in higher roles. By 1967, Meese had departed the office to accept a position on Governor Ronald Reagan's staff, marking the end of his direct involvement in county-level prosecutions. His tenure, spanning eight years, established him as a competent and dedicated without notable public controversies or landmark cases drawing widespread attention beyond local courts.

Service in California Government

Appointment Under Governor Reagan

In January 1967, shortly after Reagan's inauguration as , Edwin Meese III was appointed Legal Affairs , a role focused on advising on clemency, policy, and related legal matters for the administration. Meese, then a deputy in Alameda County with experience prosecuting cases, had been recommended to Reagan through professional networks in 's legal , reflecting the governor's emphasis on appointing capable prosecutors to key staff positions amid rising concerns over campus unrest and crime. Meese served in the legal affairs role through 1968, gaining Reagan's trust by managing sensitive issues such as pardons and coordination, which positioned him for rapid advancement within the gubernatorial staff. In 1969, he was promoted to Executive Assistant and , overseeing the governor's office operations, directing cabinet-level activities, and coordinating policy implementation across executive functions until Reagan's departure from office in 1975. This progression underscored Meese's alignment with Reagan's conservative priorities, including fiscal restraint and tough-on-crime initiatives, without reliance on prior political . The appointments highlighted Reagan's strategy of building a merit-based inner circle from California's prosecutorial ranks, contrasting with more ideologically driven selections in prior administrations, and laid the foundation for Meese's enduring advisory role in Reagan's subsequent national campaigns.

Handling of Berkeley Protests and Campus Unrest

As Governor Ronald Reagan's executive assistant and later , Edwin Meese played a central role in coordinating the state's response to campus unrest at the , emphasizing against disruptions that violated public order and property rights. Meese, drawing from his experience as a in Alameda County where he prosecuted numerous cases stemming from Berkeley's protests—including those involving marijuana possession and anti-war demonstrations—advised on strategies to restore campus discipline without yielding to radical demands. Meese's involvement peaked during the 1969 People's Park confrontation, where activists had seized university-owned land to create an unauthorized communal garden, leading to escalating violence. On May 15, 1969—known as "Bloody Thursday"—Meese coordinated the deployment of approximately 800 law enforcement officers from the , Berkeley police, and other agencies to reclaim the site and fence it off, a decision he helped orchestrate in planning meetings with police officials. The operation faced immediate resistance from around 6,000 protesters, resulting in clashes that injured over 100 people, including the shooting death of bystander James Rector by police and the blinding of Alan Blanchard in one eye by buckshot. In response to the ensuing riots, which saw protesters hurling rocks, bottles, and homemade bombs, Meese facilitated requests for mutual aid, leading to the mobilization of 2,700 California National Guard troops who occupied Berkeley for two weeks to quell the disorder. This hardline approach aligned with Reagan's campaign promises to curb "campus chaos," reflecting Meese's view—expressed in advisory roles—that concessions to militants only encouraged further lawlessness, a stance substantiated by the pattern of repeated disruptions at Berkeley since the 1964 Free Speech Movement. Critics, including left-leaning academics and media outlets, decried the tactics as excessive, but Meese maintained they were necessary to protect public safety and university authority, preventing the campus from becoming a haven for unchecked radicalism. Meese's broader oversight extended to other Berkeley incidents in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including advising on responses to anti-Vietnam War protests and coordinating with military officials, such as in a 1968 directive to Lt. Gen. Stanley R. Larsen amid preparations for potential federal intervention. These efforts contributed to a state-level buildup of capabilities, including expanded training, which Meese helped develop to address the wave of unrest that had intensified under prior administrations. By prioritizing over , Meese's strategies underscored a commitment to causal accountability, holding protesters responsible for violence rather than attributing it to systemic grievances—a position that bolstered Reagan's image as a decisive leader amid national debates over campus governance.

Reagan Administration Roles

1980 Presidential Campaign and Transition

Edwin Meese served as and senior issues advisor for the Reagan-Bush presidential campaign committee during the 1980 election cycle. In this capacity, he managed day-to-day operations and provided strategic guidance on policy matters, drawing from his prior experience advising as governor. Meese's role ensured alignment between campaign rhetoric and prospective administrative priorities, particularly on and . Following Reagan's electoral victory on , , Meese was named director of the presidential transition that same day. He oversaw the of over 4,000 personnel for the incoming administration, including key cabinet positions, and coordinated briefings to facilitate a rapid handover from administration. This effort emphasized ideological consistency with Reagan's conservative platform, focusing on , cuts, and anti-communist . The transition concluded on , , and has been characterized by contemporaries as the most efficient in modern U.S. history due to its structured approach and minimal disruptions. Meese collaborated closely with James A. Baker III, who handled financial and logistical aspects, and , responsible for communications strategy, forming an informal triumvirate that shaped early operations. This troika model prioritized centralized decision-making to implement Reagan's agenda swiftly, avoiding the factionalism that plagued previous transitions. Meese's leadership in this phase positioned him for subsequent roles in the administration, underscoring his influence as a trusted Reagan .

Counselor to the President

Edwin Meese III served as from , , to , , holding the senior position on the staff during Reagan's first term. In this role, Meese functioned as Reagan's chief policy adviser, coordinating domestic and initiatives. He was a member of the President's Cabinet and the , providing strategic guidance on key administration priorities. Meese formed part of the influential "troika" of advisors alongside Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff , who collectively managed operations and advised Reagan on political and policy matters. As chairman of the Council, he oversaw the development and implementation of domestic agendas, including economic deregulation, efforts, and enhancements aligned with Reagan's conservative platform. His advisory duties emphasized first-term goals such as reducing federal bureaucracy and promoting , drawing on his prior experience in state government. During this period, Meese contributed to the administration's early policy framework, including preparations for judicial appointments and responses to domestic challenges like urban unrest and inflation control. He played a central role in vetting personnel for key positions and ensuring alignment with Reagan's philosophical commitments to and individual liberties. Meese's tenure as Counselor ended when he resigned to pursue nomination as U.S. , amid ongoing efforts to advance the administration's legal and regulatory reform objectives.

Key Policy Advising and Domestic Initiatives

As Counselor to the President from 1981 to 1985, Edwin Meese III served as 's chief policy advisor, with primary responsibility for coordinating development and overseeing the administration's Cabinet and Cabinet Council system. In this capacity, he chaired the Council, which facilitated inter-agency collaboration on national priorities, and the National Drug Policy Board, addressing escalating narcotics issues. Meese's advising emphasized Reagan's principles of , , and economic liberty, influencing the restructuring of executive decision-making to prioritize presidential directives over bureaucratic inertia. Meese played a pivotal role in advancing Reagan's supply-side economic agenda, including the framing and implementation of the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (ERTA), which reduced marginal rates by 25 percent across brackets over three years, from a top rate of 70 percent to 50 percent, while indexing brackets for to curb bracket creep. This legislation, coordinated through Cabinet Councils, aimed to stimulate investment and growth amid , contributing to GDP expansion averaging 3.5 percent annually from 1983 onward. He also advised on efforts via the Cabinet Council on Management and Administration, targeting procurement reforms, personnel reductions, and streamlined federal operations to cut civilian employment and administrative costs. In entitlement policy, Meese guided discussions on Social solvency and cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) indexing, supporting bipartisan reforms in 1983 that raised the retirement age gradually and taxed benefits for higher earners, stabilizing the program's finances without immediate benefit cuts. His work on the Domestic Policy Council extended to federalism initiatives, promoting block grants and devolution of programs like welfare and to states, reducing federal mandates and enhancing local control, as exemplified by the consolidation of over 80 categorical grants into fewer blocks under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981. These measures aligned with Reagan's goal of curbing federal overreach, though implementation faced congressional resistance. On criminal justice and drug policy, Meese's leadership of the National Drug Policy Board laid groundwork for intensified federal responses, including interdiction and coordination with state efforts, predating his later tenure but informing early anti-trafficking strategies amid rising epidemics. He also influenced civil rights policy by advocating stricter enforcement against urban violence and supporting Reagan's opposition to quota-based , prioritizing merit and color-blind approaches in federal guidelines. Overall, Meese's advising facilitated a cohesive domestic framework that prioritized fiscal restraint, law enforcement, and state autonomy, underpinning Reagan's first-term achievements in economic recovery and policy realignment.

Tenure as U.S. Attorney General

Nomination, Confirmation, and Early Priorities

President nominated Edwin Meese III to serve as U.S. on January 23, , to succeed upon his . The nomination encountered significant , including an independent counsel investigation into Meese's personal finances and dealings, led by Stein, which ultimately cleared him of . hearings occurred in and resumed January 29–31, , amid allegations of ethical lapses that Democrats emphasized but which lacked substantiation. The confirmed Meese on February 23, 1985, by a vote of 63–31, marking the highest number of opposing votes for an nominee since ; all "nay" votes came from Democrats. Meese was sworn in informally on February 25, 1985, at the , with formal ceremonies following, and he assumed full duties around March 20, 1985. Upon taking office, Meese prioritized aggressive initiatives, including intensified efforts against international and interstate drug trafficking as outlined in the Department of Justice's fiscal year 1987 plans. He spearheaded actions to and , such as securing guilty pleas from corporations like in defense cases by May 1985. Additionally, Meese supported the creation of a on Victims of to support for crime victims and chaired interagency efforts to enhance anti-corruption measures. These early focuses reflected a commitment to restoring prosecutorial vigor and federalism in policy, emphasizing decentralized authority while targeting major threats like drugs and terrorism.

Domestic Policy Reforms and Law Enforcement

As United States Attorney General from February 1985 to August 1988, Edwin Meese III emphasized restoring balance in the criminal justice system by prioritizing public safety over expanded defendants' rights, advocating for increased prison capacity to address overcrowding amid a 400% rise in major crimes and arrests over the prior 25 years, where capacity had grown only 71%. He directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to focus resources on core law enforcement functions, requesting a 1987 budget of $4.3 billion and 64,415 permanent positions to enhance prosecution of violent and organized crime. Meese supported reforms to bolster , implementing Victim/Witness Coordinators in every U.S. Attorney's office to provide assistance and compensation under new federal laws, building on the 1982 President's Task Force on Victims of Crime recommendations. He promoted coordination between federal, state, and local agencies through law enforcement councils, offering training at facilities like Quantico and Glynco, and services to aid investigations of interstate crimes. Community partnerships were encouraged, highlighting over 650 programs that since 1981 had solved 75,000 crimes and recovered $450 million in property and narcotics. In line with principles, Meese opposed excessive federal intrusion into state criminal matters, favoring state and local control for most while reserving federal roles for cross-jurisdictional threats. His administration addressed order by targeting , such as and drug-related activities in neighborhoods, through operations and legislative to reclaim from . These efforts aimed to mobilize all levels of government and citizens against rising criminality, reflecting a commitment to law and order without undermining constitutional limits on federal power.

Judicial Philosophy and Originalist Influence

As United States Attorney General from February 1985 to August 1988, Edwin Meese III articulated and advanced a judicial philosophy centered on originalism, emphasizing strict adherence to the Constitution's original public meaning and the framers' intent as safeguards against judicial overreach. In a July 9, 1985, address to the American Bar Association, Meese critiqued prevailing interpretive methods, such as those allowing the Constitution to evolve with societal changes or judges to infuse personal policy views, which he argued undermined democratic self-government by transferring legislative power to unelected courts. He advocated instead for a "jurisprudence of original intention," wherein judges would interpret the document's text as understood by its ratifiers, ensuring fidelity to the separation of powers and limited federal authority envisioned in 1787. Meese reinforced this framework in a November 15, 1985, speech to the D.C. Chapter of the , asserting that reconciled with republican principles by constraining judges to historical evidence rather than subjective "fundamental values" or balancing tests that masked . Under his leadership, the Department of Justice shifted its litigation strategy, directing U.S. Attorneys and solicitors general to file amicus briefs and appellate arguments grounded in originalist analysis, thereby educating the judiciary and bar on over instrumentalism. This approach targeted perceived excesses in areas like erosion and expansions, aligning with Reagan administration goals to restore constitutional limits. Meese's influence extended to judicial selection, where he coordinated Reagan's nomination process to prioritize candidates committed to originalist principles, developing vetting criteria that assessed nominees' records for evidence of restraint and textual fidelity rather than ideological litmus tests alone. Key outcomes included the 1986 elevation of from the D.C. Circuit to the , selected in part for his scholarly defense of , and appointments to lower courts that seeded a bench less inclined to "living Constitution" interpretations. These efforts, though facing opposition from groups favoring expansive judicial roles, laid foundational groundwork for subsequent originalist majorities, as evidenced by later doctrinal shifts toward historical methods in Second Amendment and cases. Meese's philosophy, rooted in the framers' deliberate word choices for enduring governance, positioned the executive branch as a counterweight to non-originalist precedents without endorsing judicial supremacy.

Drug Policy and International Efforts

As from February 1985 to August 1988, Edwin Meese III chaired the National Drug Policy Board, which coordinated federal anti-drug strategies across agencies including the Department of Justice, , and others. Under his leadership, the board emphasized enforcement priorities such as increased prosecutions, from traffickers, and mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, aligning with President Reagan's escalation of the that saw federal drug arrests rise from approximately 9,000 in 1980 to over 25,000 by 1988. Meese advocated against drug , testifying in 1985 that such approaches would exacerbate abuse rather than reduce it, and he prioritized demand reduction through education and treatment alongside supply interdiction. Meese's domestic efforts included directing the Justice Department to target major trafficking organizations, resulting in operations that dismantled networks responsible for distributing and in urban areas, with federal convictions for drug-related crimes increasing by about 20% during his tenure. He testified before committees on the board's performance, defending its focus on interagency collaboration amid criticisms of insufficient resources, and pushed for legislative measures like the , which imposed harsher penalties for offenses compared to powder cocaine. In a address, he argued against expanded , asserting that executive-led enforcement was more effective for rapid response to evolving threats. On the international front, Meese led U.S. delegations to global forums, including the 1987 International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Vienna, where he called for multinational controls on precursor chemicals used in drug production, leading to arrests of traffickers through enhanced monitoring. He praised Mexico's cooperation in joint operations during a 1985 visit, highlighting extraditions and eradication programs that disrupted heroin and marijuana flows from source countries, and advocated for similar partnerships in South America to combat cocaine cartels. In speeches, such as one in Vienna on December 9, 1985, Meese outlined U.S. support for international demand-reduction initiatives modeled on Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign while emphasizing interdiction in producer nations, contributing to bilateral agreements that facilitated over 100 extraditions of major traffickers by 1988. These efforts reflected a strategy prioritizing source-country enforcement, with U.S. aid to nations like Colombia increasing to fund military-assisted crop substitution programs.

Controversies and Ethical Investigations

During his tenure as U.S. , Edwin Meese III faced multiple ethical investigations, primarily centered on his associations with the , a Bronx-based defense contractor implicated in and to secure federal contracts. Wedtech, certified as a minority-owned business, allegedly misrepresented its status and overbilled the on engine contracts worth tens of millions, leading to convictions of company executives, two U.S. Congressmen, and others on charges between 1987 and 1989. Meese's connection stemmed from his longtime friend E. Robert Wallach, who received over $1.5 million from Wedtech between 1982 and 1986, purportedly for legal services but scrutinized as payments for influencing government officials, including Meese. Additionally, in 1985, Meese invested more than $50,000 in a stock deal arranged by Wedtech consultant and later director W. Franklyn Chinn, yielding a profit of nearly $40,000, which raised questions about potential conflicts despite Meese's claim of unawareness of Wedtech's involvement. In May 1987, Independent Counsel James C. , initially appointed in February 1987 to probe violations by former Reagan aide , expanded the investigation to examine Meese's role in Wedtech matters, including allegations of improper interventions to aid contract approvals and related financial dealings such as an Iraq-Jordan oil pipeline proposal involving Wallach. Meese recused himself from direct Wedtech oversight but acknowledged discussing the company with officials at Wallach's behest; critics, including Democratic lawmakers, alleged this created an appearance of impropriety and potential violation of conflict-of-interest laws. The probe also reviewed Meese's handling of policy amid his ownership of Baby Bell and irregularities in the Meeses' returns and for Mrs. Meese's position. McKay's July 18, 1988, report, released the following day, concluded there was insufficient evidence for criminal prosecution against Meese, citing invoked Fifth Amendment pleas by key witnesses that hampered full inquiry but finding no proof of , , or knowing illegal acts. Meese resigned as on July 19, 1988, stating the ongoing scrutiny impaired his ability to perform duties and merited an unimpeded review, though he maintained his innocence and described the investigations as politically motivated. Separate probes, including by Independent Counsel into Iran-Contra, examined Meese's early involvement in discovering and disclosing the diversion of funds to Nicaraguan but declined prosecution, attributing no criminal intent despite criticisms of incomplete initial briefings to President Reagan. In January 1989, a Justice Department internal review, conducted post-resignation, identified multiple ethics breaches by Meese, including failures to avoid the appearance of impropriety in Wedtech assistance, untimely 1985 tax filing without extension, and inadequate disclosure of Wallach's requests; it deemed these violations severe enough to warrant discipline if he remained in office, though no criminal referrals ensued. Meese contested the report's characterizations, arguing it ignored context and exonerations from independent counsels. No formal charges were ever filed against him, and subsequent analyses have portrayed the episodes as emblematic of partisan attacks on Reagan administration figures rather than substantiated corruption.

Post-Administration Activities

Iraq Study Group Participation

Edwin Meese III joined the Study Group on May 31, 2006, replacing Rudolph Giuliani, who resigned due to commitments related to his presidential exploratory committee. The bipartisan panel, established by the on March 15, 2006, at the urging of President , aimed to assess U.S. policy in amid escalating violence following the 2003 invasion. Co-chaired by former James A. Baker III and former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Lee H. Hamilton, the group included ten members representing diverse political backgrounds, with Meese providing a conservative viewpoint informed by his experience as Ronald Reagan's and counselor. During his tenure, Meese participated in extensive consultations, including meetings with Iraqi leaders, U.S. military commanders, and regional stakeholders in the , as well as briefings from officials and experts in Washington. At the time, he held the Ronald Reagan Chair in Public at , positioning him to advocate for strategies emphasizing strengthened Iraqi governance, security sector reform, and sustained U.S. commitment against and . The group's work culminated in the unanimous release of the "Iraq Study Group Report: The Way Forward—A New Approach" on December 6, 2006, which recommended 79 specific actions, including diplomatic outreach to Iraq's neighbors such as and , a 2010 deadline for Iraqi forces to assume primary combat responsibilities, and a limited U.S. residual force focused on training, logistics, and targeted counterterrorism operations rather than indefinite large-scale combat deployments. The report's emphasis on phased redeployment and multilateral faced immediate pushback from conservative commentators, who argued it undermined prospects for victory by signaling weakness to adversaries and prioritizing exit timelines over conditions-based success. Meese, as a prominent Republican member, encountered particular scrutiny from the political right for endorsing the consensus document, with critics at institutions like the viewing its proposals as a retreat from aggressive efforts that later informed the 2007 troop surge. Nonetheless, the group's findings influenced subsequent policy debates, though President Bush ultimately pursued a surge strategy that diverged from the report's core recommendations on troop drawdowns.

Conservative Think Tanks and Fellowships

Following his tenure as U.S. Attorney General, Edwin Meese III joined in Washington, D.C., as its first Distinguished Fellow, a position he held to advance research. He maintained a formal association with the organization for over a quarter-century, serving as chairman of its Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, which was later renamed the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies in recognition of his contributions to constitutional and judicial policy. Meese also held the Ronald Reagan Chair in Public Policy at Heritage, where he focused on preserving Reagan-era principles in areas such as limited government and rule of law. Upon retiring from active roles, he became Ronald Reagan Distinguished Fellow Emeritus, continuing to influence the think tank's work on legal and judicial studies. Additionally, Meese served as a distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, contributing to research on public policy and governance from a conservative perspective. These fellowships underscored Meese's post-government emphasis on intellectual advocacy for and conservative reforms, including critiques of expansive federal authority and support for in . His roles at these institutions facilitated mentorship of legal scholars and policy analysts, with Heritage establishing an annual Edwin Meese III Originalism Lecture to honor his advocacy for interpreting the based on its original public meaning.

Publications and Public Commentary

Meese authored With Reagan: The Inside Story in 1992, offering a detailed of his experiences as a key advisor to President , including insights into policy decisions and the Iran-Contra affair. He co-authored Making America Safer: What Citizens and Police Can Do Together in 1997, advocating community-based approaches to crime reduction through partnerships between and civilians. In 2004, Meese contributed to Leadership, Ethics and Policing: Challenges for the Future, addressing ethical dilemmas and leadership strategies in modern policing. As chairman of the advisory board for The Heritage Guide to the Constitution (first published in 2010), Meese oversaw its clause-by-clause analysis emphasizing originalist interpretation of the U.S. , drawing on historical context and founding-era sources to counter perceived . He wrote the introduction to One Nation Under Arrest: How Excessive Federal Criminal Laws and Enforcement Practices Are Endangering Americans in 2010, critiquing overcriminalization trends and the expansion of federal prosecutorial powers. Meese has published op-eds on policy issues, including a 2006 New York Times piece opposing comprehensive immigration reform as effectively granting amnesty, arguing it would incentivize further illegal entry without addressing enforcement gaps. In a 2020 Newsweek op-ed, he urged the Supreme Court in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia to protect religious foster care agencies from antidiscrimination mandates, prioritizing First Amendment rights over government contracting conditions. Through his Chair in Public Policy at since 1988, Meese has provided ongoing commentary on constitutional , judicial nominations, and rule-of-law issues, often via lectures and policy briefs. He delivered speeches post-tenure, such as a 2018 address to the D.C. emphasizing and restraint on unelected judges. Meese's writings and statements consistently advocate strict in law, , and , influencing conservative legal discourse.

Recent Engagements and Honors

On October 8, 2019, President Donald Trump presented Edwin Meese III with the , the highest civilian honor awarded by the , citing his distinguished leadership as and enduring advocacy for originalist . In September 2025, Meese authored the foreword for the third edition of The Heritage Guide to the Constitution, a comprehensive clause-by-clause originalist compiled by , underscoring his ongoing influence on constitutional interpretation. As Distinguished Fellow Emeritus at , Meese maintains involvement in policy discourse, including contributions to publications advancing conservative legal principles. In October 2025, the at recognized Meese's decades-long service on its board since 2005 by designating him Board Member Emeritus, honoring his guidance in advancing free-market scholarship.

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