Regan Silent on Deaver, Reacts to Stockman ‘Yes Man’ Epithet

White House Chief of Staff Donald T. Regan used contrasting approaches when he was asked Sunday to comment on the activities of two former Administration colleagues whose non-governmental activities have raised eyebrows in Washington.

Regan, questioned in Tokyo by a panelist on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” sidestepped a suggestion that Michael K. Deaver, former deputy White House chief of staff and longtime friend of President and Mrs. Reagan, may have gone too far in advancing the lucrative lobbying operation he began after he left the government last year.

Regan said that for him to comment on Deaver “would not be appropriate,” since Deaver has requested that an independent counsel be named to review his activities as a lobbyist for foreign governments. Deaver has denied that his conduct was illegal or improper.

Regan, who was Reagan’s first Treasury secretary, shifted gears when a panelist raised the matter of David A. Stockman, former director of the Office of Management and Budget, who has incorporated unflattering views of Reagan’s policies and many of the President’s aides into a controversial book.

Advised that Stockman portrayed him as “a yes man more interested in telling the President what he wants to hear than giving him sound economic advice,” Regan replied: “I plead guilty to being faithful to the President and trying to carry out the President’s programs. The President was elected twice by overwhelming majorities of the American people who wanted his program put into effect. . . .”

Pressed again for comment on Stockman, Regan continued, saying that he was “carrying out those (presidential programs).” Naming no names, he added: “Those who don’t want to carry out the President’s program are not loyal to the President. I happen to be loyal to this President.”