Speakes Denies Regan Pressure, Report He’ll Quit

WASHINGTON — White House spokesman Larry Speakes denied a report today that he was planning to leave his post as chief presidential spokesman because of pressure from Chief of Staff Donald T. Regan.

Speakes expressed surprise when questioned about the report by columnists Rowland Evans and Robert Novak on their program for Cable News Network.

He said when he first heard about the report, he told Regan, “ ‘My future is in your hands,’ and he said, ‘Your future is safe.’ ”

At the noon briefing for reporters, Speakes said: “Regan just called me and said he was asked to confirm or deny, ‘Are you leaving?’ And I said, ‘I don’t even have any place to go for lunch.’ ”

Told that the report said he had a lucrative job lined up, Speakes said, “Tell ‘em to put their money where their mouth is.”

Speakes conceded that his job of briefing the press twice a day and appearing on television as President Reagan’s spokesman has its risks.

“You’re only as good as your last briefing. The screw-up potential is high for this podium,” he said.