European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 18, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday january 18, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 3 Regan s Book Hurt president says Reagan Laid plans for chief of staff s departure Washington a president Reagan saying he s bitter about former White House chief of staff Donald t. Regan s kiss and Tell Book has disclosed that he quietly prepared for his former aide s departure for months before he left. The president in an interview broadcast monday on Cable news network insisted there was no firing at  the president added however that he planned Touse a letter of resignation Regan had submitted months before. I set out at the same time then to Start quietly and hoping Lea proof to have a Succes Sor on hand for when he announced the time he was going to go Reagan said. The president acknowledged in the interview that the chief of staff had been having problems with first lady Nancy Reagan and that one of Reagan s weak Nesses As president is that i know that i have a soft , who had been Treasury Secretary and James a. Baker Iii then chief of staff told the president the wanted to switch jobs in Early 1985, and he approved the request. Regan left at the end of february 1987 at the height of the Iran Contra scandal and was replaced by former sen. Howard Bakerr Tenn. Reagan insisted at the time he did not fire Regan saying Regan had indicated earlier that he wanted to return to private business. In the monday interview however Reagan said he quietly hoped to be Able to use a letter of resignation that Regan had submitted months earlier when the chief of staff indicated he probably would not serve through Reagan s entire second term. There was one of those leaks that seems to be so prevalent in this institution the president said. And it leaked publicly. And i guess he Felt  Regan was infuriated when there were premature news reports of his resignation coupled with reports of Baker s selection. Donald t. Regan on the cover of his Book. Can Anchorman Bernard Shaw asked Reagan about his daughter Maureen Reagan s statement that allow ing Regan to become chief of staff had been her father s biggest  saw that. Happened to be watching television and saw that he replied. Asked if he disagreed with her statement the president said no i said that s my girl Reagan said he is bitter about Regan s Book for the record in which the former chief of staff harshly criticized Reagan s management style and also maintained that the first lady played a heavy hand in White House  was very displeased with that and yes it Hurt Reagan said. None of the attack was levelled at me Only at her. And she did t deserve it anyway. If i can use some rather rough language i be had a Bell Ful of these kiss and Tell books and so Man of them that avoid criticizing me but Lay into  in a separate can interview the first lady was asked to describe the president s reaction to Regan s comments about her in the Book. He was upset she said adding that the president also did t like it when she told him that his chief of staff had Hung up on her twice. He did t know about the hanging up the first time because i did t Tell him she said. The second time i told  first lady charged that Regan did t Tell the truth in his Book and said that she intended to Tel everything everything the Way it really happened in her memoirs to be published later this year. Reagan also was asked about reports that his administration had recently considered attacking a libyan Plant that is believed to be producing chemical weapons. I never like to talk about what the options might be that Are considered in anything of that kind. And no we had we were not planning such an option the president said. Report disputes Meese s claim he was vindicated Washington a disciplinary action against former attorney general Edwin Meese Iii would be warranted if he still held office says an internal Justice department report that disputes Meese s Asser Tion an Independent counsel completely vindicated him. A 61-Page report by the Justice depart ment s office of professional responsibility found Meese who left office in August had committed numerous violations of both departmental regulations and a 1965 executive order setting out ethical standards for government employees. The report cites Meese s relationship with san Francisco lawyer e. Bob Wallach mishandling of telecommunications matters at a time he owned Stock in regional Telephone companies and his failure to pay full taxes on time. The Washington p9st obtained a copy of the report and published its conclusions tuesday the same Day the report was scheduled to be released. Meese said in july that he had been completely vindicated by the decision of Independent counsel James c. Mckay notto seek an indictment against him. Mckay found Meese had probably violated Federal conflict of interest and tax Laws but prosecution was not appropriate. We Trust that this analysis will Lay to res the claims by or. Meese that the appropriate Standard for official behaviour is whether an Independent counsel seeks an official s indictment according to the report. We found that the Independent counsel s report far from vindicates or. Meese rather it details conduct which should not be Toler ated of any government employee especially not the attorney general of the United  the report according to the Post concludes that if Meese were still attorney Gen eral we would recommend to the next n Repon Cue Meese s Rekiau Onsum Whu Ulii Izui i Simcic i