Lawmakers March 15, 1984 Ed Meese nomination for Attorney General
Lawmakers March 15, 1984 Ed Meese nomination for Attorney General
Lawmakers March 15, 1984 Ed Meese nomination for Attorney General
Lawmakers March 15, 1984 Ed Meese nomination for Attorney General
Paul Duke reports that the nomination of Ed Meese to Attorney General is in more trouble. New disclosures about Meese s financial affairs. Senator Howard Metzenbaum (D Ohio) has called for Reagan to withdraw nomination, dissent by Senator John East (R North Carolina)
Lawmakers March 15, 1984 Ed Meese nomination for Attorney General
Senator John East (R North Carolina) speaking to the Senate Judiciary committee To put responsible people through this kind of torment, torture, twisting in the wind I think does a great disservice to the power of advise and consent, which is a very responsible power we have under Article II of the Constitution. I still stand behind Mr. Meese.
Lawmakers March 15, 1984 Ed Meese nomination for Attorney General
Paul Duke with guest Ronald Ostrow reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Paul Duke How serious is the new trouble for him (Ed Meese)? Ronald Ostrow, Los Angeles Times Well, he certainly in a great deal more difficulty now than he was a week or two weeks ago. They are not only recalling him for testimony, they re expanding the hearings with at least eight more witnesses being called to testify. It will be another week or so before they get back to Meese. There s a lot more to come. Paul Duke And the major reasons for this? Ronald Ostrow, Los Angeles Times There s a pattern emerging of people who came to Meese s financial aid in one form or another and then received Federal appointments. They all testified that there s no connection between the financial aid and receiving the federal appointment but you have four of them that have emerged already. Paul Duke So it s an accumulation of things rather than any one major issue. Ronald Ostrow, Los Angeles Times That s right. The latest disclosure though of at $15,000 interest free loan to Mrs. Meese shortly before the administration took office that they then invested in stock for two of their children. He inadvertently, he says, failed to reveal that on his government disclosure form.
Lawmakers March 15, 1984 Ed Meese nomination for Attorney General
Paul Duke One of the interesting things going on now is the sniping, or what appears to be sniping, from some White House Aides against Mr. Meese. What bearing is that going to have on the testimony? And are White House Aides going to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee? Ronald Ostrow, Los Angeles Times The question of White House Aides testifying was left up in the air at a meeting today that was held in Senate Majority Leader Baker s office. We ll still have to see whether they re going to come. But the sniping is certainly there. I don t think that those doing the sniping will be those testifying if they do. Paul Duke How do you see the line up on the Judiciary Committee at this point in the voting? Ronald Ostrow, Los Angeles Times Well, it contrasts now with what it was again a week or two weeks ago. It seemed like a virtual certainty that he would be confirmed. Now you have Republicans like Senator Specter of Pennsylvania, you could say wavering. He wants to hear more testimony. And certainly the Democrats, who indicated many of them that they would confirm the President s choice even though they didn t agree with this policies, now have serious reservations and indicate they are going to vote no.
Lawmakers March 15, 1984 Ed Meese nomination for Attorney General
Paul Duke We all remember that Jimmy Carter stood loyally behind Bert Lance even when he was political damaged by the revelations that came out in the Lance case. Is it possible President Reagan will commit the same mistake and too loyal to Ed Meese and suffer political damage in this year s campaign? Ronald Ostrow, Los Angeles Times Oh, I believe it s quite a possibility. Because if it were anyone, I believe, but Mr. Meese with the relationship he has with the President, there d be serious thought right now given to withdrawing him. Paul Duke What do you think the odds are as of this moment on confirmation? Ronald Ostrow, Los Angeles Times I think I d still at this stage go with a vote of yes. It s likely he would get confirmed but with a large number of negative votes. Paul Duke But by no means certain? Ronald Ostrow, Los Angeles Times By no means certain Paul Duke Thanks Ron.