Reagan's Legacy Defined By His Associates

November 18, 2003

Ronald Reagan's advisors and associates define the type of administration he created in the 1980's.  Though his staff were exasperated by his lies, mis-quotes and observations they protected him as best they could. Reagan's mental incompetence was apparent in his second term and because of this,  people took advantage and scandals erupted.

Reagan was probably a good person with a solid moral character but his mental disability and general incompetence caused great harm to his legacy. His friends and associates weren't really friends. Unfortunately he will never know that.

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Richard ALLEN and Nancy REAGAN

In mid November 1981, the Justice Department began to investigate a $1,000 payment given to National Security Adviser Richard Allen for arranging an interview with Nancy Reagan. He said,  "I didn't accept it, I received it." He said the Japanese would have been embarrassed if he gave the money back to them so he didn't. Nancy Reagan was furious that she was dragged into the scandal.

Nancy REAGAN:

In January 1982, Nancy Reagan's press secretary said, that Mrs. Reagan "derived no personal benefit" from her acceptance of thousands of dollars worth of free clothing from American designers, since her sole motive was to help the national fashion industry.

On 10/17/88 the White House confirmed that, despite her 1982 announcement that she would not do it anymore, Nancy Reagan continued to receive free designer clothing over the past six years.

Paul THAYER:

On January 4, 1984 the Deputy defense secretary resigned amid charges of insider trading. He served 19 months for perjury and obstruction of justice.

Ed MEESE:

In March 1984, Attorney General-designate Ed Meese admitted he "inadvertently failed to list" a $15,000 interest-free loan from a man who later received a federal job. He said "it never occurred to me that an interest-free loan was a thing of value."

In January 1985, lawyers for Ed Meese, revealed that the Office of Government Ethics found him in violation of federal ethical standards.

In July 1988, independent counsel James McKay stated that Ed Meese "probably violated the criminal law" four times since becoming America's chief law enforcement officer. Some violations were that Meese filed a false income tax return, failed to pay capital gains taxes on time, and participated in decisions about matters in which he had a financial interest.

Soon after, the Justice Department opens an investigation into Ed Meese's possible violation of federal ethics laws.

In January 1989, a Justice Department report detailed "conduct which should not be tolerated by any government employee, especially not the attorney general of the United States."


Raymond DONOVAN:

On 3/15/85, Labor Secretary Raymond Donovan resigns after being ordered to stand trial on fraud and larceny charges.

Michael DEAVER:

In April 1986 Michael Deaver, Presidential Advisor, defended himself against charges that he has cashed in on his White House connections with unseemly speed and behavior after he left the administration

In May 1986 an investigation begins to find the facts about conflict-of-interest charges against Michael Deaver.

March 18,1987, Deaver is indicted on five counts of perjury. The first person charged under the provisions of the 1978 Ethics in Government Act.

William REHNQUIST:

On July 30, 1986, at his confirmation hearing for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, William Rehnquist said the  "separate but equal" doctrine represented the views of the justice he was clerking for, not his own.  Also at his hearing:

He said he wrote a memo in the early 1960's supporting minority voters however four witnesses rebutted this days later.

He said he could not recall that his Vermont vacation home had an unlawful covenant prohibiting its sale to anyone of the "Hebrew race". However the committee received a copy of a 1974 letter from his lawyer which informed him of the covenant.

In spite of this, he was confirmed as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on September 17,1986.

John POINDEXTER and Oliver NORTH:

On January 25, 1986 President Reagan announced that National Security Adviser John Poindexter resigned and NSC staffer Oliver North was fired for their activities in the Iran-Contra scandal.

Ed Meese, Attorney General explained, "Certain monies which were received in the transaction between representatives of Israel and representatives of Iran were taken and made available to the forces in Central America which are opposing the Sandinista government there." 

In December 1986 Oliver North and John Poindexter invoked their Fifth Amendment rights and refuse to testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

In March 1988 Oliver North, John Poindexter, Richard Secord and Albert Hakim plead not guilty to charges of conspiracy, theft and fraud in connection with the Iran-contra scandal. North, calls the indictment a "badge of honor".

Robert MCFARLANE

In May 1987, Senate counsel Arthur Liman questions Robert McFarlane, NSC Chairman, about Oliver North's destruction of documents relating to the Iran-contra scandal. Liman asked, "What did he tell you abut a 'shredding party'?" McFarlane responded, "Well, just that there had to be one."

Elliot ABRAMS

In May 1987 investigators discover that $10 million solicited for the contras by Elliott Abrams, Assistant Secretary of State was mistakenly deposited to the account of a Swiss businessman after Oliver North transposed two digits in his arms network's secret account.