Full Story of Firing Not Told, Reagan Says

President Reagan suggested today that “there is more than meets the eye” in the firing of Terry Eastland as chief spokesman for the Justice Department under beleaguered Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III.

The President, taking questions from reporters after appearing in the White House briefing room to hail the start of Senate debate on the U.S.-Soviet nuclear arms treaty, expressed “complete confidence” in Meese.

“You’ll have to talk to the attorney general,” Reagan told reporters when asked for comment on the firing of Terry Eastland, chief spokesman for the department.

Meese is turning to an outside public relations consultant to improve his image after firing Eastland, prompting accusations by conservatives that he wants “blind loyalty.”

‘Not Going to Back Away’

The President also said he will not back away from efforts to negotiate the removal from power of Panama’s Gen. Manuel A. Noriega despite mounting opposition to making such a deal.

“No, I’m not going to back away from what we’re trying to do,” Reagan said when asked whether he might reconsider U.S. attempts to negotiate a departure deal with Noriega.

Reagan repeatedly refused to respond to specific questions about the thus-far fruitless efforts to oust Noriega, who is under U.S. indictment for drug-trafficking, because he said serious negotiations are still under way.

“We’re in the midst of real negotiations,” the President said in one of several references to behind-the-scenes bargaining between U.S. diplomats and Noriega representatives.

Denies Astrology Role

Reagan dismissed reports that he and his wife, Nancy, have considered astrological signs in determining his schedule.

“Nothing of that kind was ever going on,” he said.

Asked whether he believes in astrology, Reagan said, “I don’t guide my life by it.” But he said he could not say whether it was valid. “I don’t know enough about it,” he added.

The President said his wife consulted an astrologer for reassurance after he was wounded by an assailant.