Reagan Has ‘No Affection for Kiss-and-Tell Books’

President Reagan said today that he was caught unaware by the disclosure of fabricated quotes by his former spokesman, Larry Speakes, and said he has “no affection for these kiss-and-tell books” written by his ex-aides.

Fielding questions before members of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, Reagan was asked about Speakes’ admission in a new book that he made up remarks attributed to the President at the 1985 Geneva summit.

“I was not aware of it,” Reagan said, “and just heard it recently, as all the rest of you did, in the words in his book.”

His remarks conflicted with a statement by Speakes, in an interview Tuesday, that after fabricating the quotations he told the President that he had done so.

Attacks Baring of Secrets

Reagan, speaking one day after his present spokesman, Marlin Fitzwater, denounced what Speakes did as “a damned outrage,” went on to deliver a sharp attack on the baring of secrets from his White House.

“I can tell you right now that I have no affection for these kiss-and-tell books that are being written,” he said, “and I find them entirely fiction.”

Reagan also made an oblique reference to the Speakes controversy in a speech to the editors before he answered questions.

After referring to a previous speech that he had made, Reagan said: “That’s one of the nice things about this job. You get to quote yourself shamelessly, and if you don’t, Larry Speakes will.”

Speakes has official Washington buzzing from the barbs slung in his new book, “Speaking Out.”

Fitzwater Assurance

But of the many insider episodes covered by the book, none had the impact that was felt Tuesday by his admission that presidential quotes he relayed to reporters on at least two important occasions were, in fact, made up.

Fitzwater, worried that such tactics by his former superior could impinge on his own integrity, assured reporters that the statements he attributes to Reagan in such cases come straight from the President.

That failed to stem the swirl of discussion at the White House, where Speakes often defended his personal credibility and seldom was reluctant to respond with righteous indignation whenever a reporter challenged his integrity.

Gennady Gerasimov, a chief spokesman for Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev, said Tuesday that he would have been fired if he fabricated comments in the name of his boss. “I don’t think it is the proper way to do the job,” he told reporters in Boston.