Deaver Gave Up Privileges, Administration Confirms

Michael K. Deaver, the former White House aide whose lobbying business is under investigation, voluntarily turned in his White House pass and has relinquished other perquisites, Reagan Administration officials confirmed today.

“These things were done at his initiative,” said a senior Administration official, speaking on condition he remain anonymous.

The White House said Deaver gave up his insider perks after Deaver told the Washington Post of his actions.

“I’ve never used my relationship with the Reagans in the White House on behalf of any client since I’ve left, and that’s one of the reasons why yesterday I returned my White House pass,” Deaver said in the interview published today.

Deaver also said that he told White House officials two weeks ago to stop sending him a copy of President Reagan’s confidential, daily schedule and that he no longer uses the White House tennis court.

Deaver’s lobbying on behalf of Canada and other clients has prompted allegations that the former White House deputy chief of staff might have misused his influence in gaining clients.

The General Accounting Office, Congress’ investigative arm, said Deaver may have violated federal conflict-of-interest laws by working for the Canadian government on acid rain.

Deaver, who left the White House last May and signed a $105,000 contract to represent the Canadian government two months later, told the Post: “I don’t think it’s wrong for a (former) senior White House official to represent a foreign government. . . . I believe that that experience can provide a real service, not only to that government or any client, and also serve the best interests (of) the United States.”

Conflict-of-interest laws forbid a former top aide to discuss issues with government officials in which he was “personally and substantially” involved.

“I was never involved personally or substantively, in my opinion, on the substantive issue of acid rain,” Deaver told the Post. “I couldn’t tell you today what acid rain means.”