Meese’s Spokesman Fired; Chief Speech Writer Quits : Accused of Not Backing Atty. Gen.

Embattled Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III fired the Justice Department’s chief spokesman for not defending him aggressively enough, and Meese’s top speech writer abruptly quit today in new turmoil stirred by inquiries into Meese’s ethics and finances.

Justice Department spokesman Terry Eastland told his staff today that he was fired Friday because, according to Eastland, Meese felt that the aide had failed to defend him aggressively enough against “any and all criticism.”

Eastland’s ouster, the latest in a recent series of high-level shake-ups of Meese’s top staff, was quickly followed by the resignation of Meese’s chief speech writer, William Schambra.

No reason was given for Schambra’s departure but he worked for Eastland, and associates said Schambra’s move was in protest over the firing of his boss.

Reaction from Capitol Hill was swift and sharp. Assistant House Democratic leader Tony Coelho of California said: “Now Mr. Meese will have to stick his own feet in his mouth.”

‘Kill the Messenger’

“It’s a new variation on an old theme: If you don’t like the message, kill the messenger,” said Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.).

“I am concerned about this latest development,” Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a statement.

Thurmond, saying “Eastland has a fine reputation,” added that the committee will hold hearings after independent prosecutor James McKay issues a report, due in weeks, that is expected to raise numerous questions about Meese’s ethical behavior.

Eastland, 38, is a staunch political conservative who has helped craft many of Meese’s most controversial speeches on subjects ranging from civil rights policies to criticisms of Supreme Court rulings.

Education Secretary William J. Bennett, who once wrote a book with Eastland on the Bakke affirmative action case, immediately offered Eastland a job at the Department of Education.

In explaining Eastland’s dismissal, Meese told reporters, “Basically I decided this was a good time for a change in leadership.”

Leaving Immediately

Meese appointed the department’s No. 2 spokesman, Patrick Korten, to replace Eastland.

In a pointedly worded letter to Meese today, Eastland noted that the attorney general fired him Friday with 30 days notice, but Eastland said he is leaving immediately.

“My view of the Office of Public Affairs is that it has an obligation to serve not only the attorney general but also the Department of Justice and the American people,” the letter said.

His dismissal is the latest in a string of departures that began March 29 when Deputy Atty. Gen. Arnold I. Burns and criminal division chief William F. Weld quit out of concern over Meese’s continued tenure as attorney general.

‘Uncomfortable’ in Defense

Meese has been the focus of a criminal investigation by McKay into the attorney general’s ties to scandal-plagued Wedtech Corp. and his involvement with a $1-billion Iraqi oil pipeline.

At the meeting Friday, Meese told Eastland that he had been hearing both inside and outside the Justice Department that the spokesman felt “uncomfortable defending” him, department sources said.

Meese also said he had heard that Eastland was “uneasy” over the likelihood that McKay’s report will question Meese’s ethical behavior, the sources said.

Eastland told Meese that he had made no judgments about the attorney general and that he would make none until the report is issued, according to the sources. Meese responded that he didn’t want that kind of person being the chief spokesman for the Justice Department.