McFarlane Calls Regan Rift Nonsense; Aide Gets His Job : President Hits Reports of Bad Blood

President Reagan announced today that Robert C. McFarlane, a key figure in putting together the Geneva summit, has resigned as his national security adviser and that Vice Adm. John M. Poindexter will be his successor.

Reading a statement to reporters at the White House, Reagan said he accepted McFarlane’s resignation with “deep regret,” and lauded him as “a trusted adviser and confidant” in the key foreign policy post.

At the same time, Reagan praised Poindexter--McFarlane’s deputy and said to be his choice for the job--for having been “a truly steady hand at the helm” during his White House service.

Facing reporters after the announcement, McFarlane stepped to the microphone to answer a question directed to the President about whether conflict between McFarlane and White House Chief of Staff Donald T. Regan had led to the resignation.

“That’s nonsense,” McFarlane said, a scowl crossing his face.

Access Already Discussed

Poindexter, who also appeared with Reagan for the announcement, said he and Regan have already discussed the question of access to the President--said to have been a major sore point between Regan and McFarlane.

“You know the Navy and the Marine Corps always get along,” Poindexter said, referring to Regan’s status as a former Marine colonel--the same rank McFarlane held before joining the White House staff.

Reagan said the reports of bad blood between Regan and McFarlane “have probably disturbed me more than anything I’ve heard since being in this office.”

“I want to hear all sides of every issue before I make the decision,” the President said, adding that he did not understand how that variety of voices could “be translated into somehow friction every time someone leaves.”

Reagan thanked McFarlane for more than 30 years of government service and cautioned him: “Don’t relax too much. I’ll probably be calling on you.”

‘Important Contribution’

Reagan said Poindexter, 49, has already made a “very important contribution . . . to carrying out our foreign policy objectives” in his five years of White House service and is “well prepared to carry on.”

Poindexter graduated first in his class at the Naval Academy in 1958, holds a Ph.D. in nuclear physics and served as an aide to three Navy secretaries.

McFarlane, 48, reportedly told Reagan over the Thanksgiving weekend in California that he wanted to resign the post. He took over as national security adviser in October, 1983, from William P. Clark, who moved to the Cabinet as secretary of the Interior.

Some sources said McFarlane had made up his mind to leave the high-powered White House post before the Nov. 19-20 Geneva summit between Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev.

The summit was Reagan’s first encounter with a Soviet leader since taking office in 1981, and in announcing the resignation the President cited McFarlane’s “key role” in putting it together.

McFarlane’s Reasons

Strained relations with Regan have been frequently cited as the key reason McFarlane decided to leave.

McFarlane was said to be miffed over Regan’s control of his access to Reagan. Sources said that McFarlane also resented Regan’s interference in the foreign policy field, feeling that Regan--a successful Wall Street figure and former Treasury secretary--lacked the background to deal with strategic questions.

Among other reasons cited were McFarlane’s desire to spend more time with his family after 26 years of government service, and his hopes of making more money.