Edwin Meese III 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 1984 presidential election, Reagan considered him for the White House Chief of Staff position, but James Baker was chosen instead. 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.
Edwin Meese
Meese with President Ronald Reagan 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, December 1981
Meese (center left) discussing the findings of the 9/11 Commission with then-FBI director James Comey, March 2015
Governorship of Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan was the 33rd governor of California for two terms, the first beginning in 1967 and the second in 1971. He left office in 1975, declining to run for a third term. Robert Finch, Edwin Reinecke and John L. Harmer served as lieutenant governors over the course of his governorship.
Governorship of Ronald Reagan
The Reagans meeting with President Richard Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon in July 1970