Meese, Edwin, 3d

Meese, Edwin, 3d,

1931–, American public official, b. Oakland, Calif. As a deputy district attorney of Alameda co., he was a tough prosecutor with little toleration for radical protest. As a result, Gov. Ronald ReaganReagan, Ronald Wilson
, 1911–2004, 40th president of the United States (1981–89), b. Tampico, Ill. In 1932, after graduation from Eureka College, he became a radio announcer and sportscaster.
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 appointed him secretary of legal affairs. Meese served as counselor to President Reagan (1981–85) before becoming Attorney General (1985–88). As Attorney General he strongly criticized liberal Supreme Court rulings for straying from the "original intent" of the founders. Questions concerning his finances and his handling of the Iran-contra affairIran-contra affair,
in U.S. history, secret arrangement in the 1980s to provide funds to the Nicaraguan contra rebels from profits gained by selling arms to Iran. The Iran-contra affair was the product of two separate initiatives during the administration of President Ronald
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 led to his resignation in 1988. He later was (2006) a member of the Iraq Study Group.