Edwin Meese

Edwin Meese III
Born	Edwin Meese III 2 12, 1931
Birthplace	Oakland, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Attorney, law professor, author, government official
Known for	75th United States Attorney General; Counselor to the President; advocacy for originalist constitutional interpretation
Education	University of California, Berkeley (LL.B.)
Children	3
Awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom (2019)

Edwin Meese III (born December 2, 1931) is an American attorney, law professor, author, and conservative political figure who served in several senior roles during the administration of President Ronald Reagan. A product of Oakland, California, and educated at Yale University and the University of California, Berkeley, Meese first entered public life as a key adviser during Reagan's tenure as Governor of California from 1967 to 1974. He went on to serve as Counselor to the President from January 1981 to February 1985, occupying a position of considerable influence within the White House before his appointment and confirmation as the 75th United States Attorney General, a post he held from February 25, 1985, until his resignation on August 12, 1988. Throughout his time in government, Meese became closely identified with the promotion of originalism as a framework for constitutional interpretation, a legal philosophy that gained substantial traction in American jurisprudence during and after the Reagan era. Following his departure from government service, Meese continued to shape conservative legal and policy discourse through affiliations with The Heritage Foundation, the Hoover Institution, and the Federalist Society. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019. In December 2025, a new institute bearing his name — the Edwin Meese III Institute for the Rule of Law — was established under the auspices of Advancing American Freedom.

Early Life

Edwin Meese III was born on December 2, 1931, in Oakland, California. He grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended local schools before pursuing higher education. Details regarding his parents and family background during his youth remain limited in public records, though Meese has spoken in general terms about a middle-class upbringing in Northern California that instilled in him an interest in law and public service.

Following his undergraduate studies, Meese entered military service in the United States Army, where he was assigned to the Field Artillery Branch. He served on active duty beginning in 1953 and continued his association with the military through reserve service, ultimately attaining the rank of Colonel before his retirement from the Army in 1984. His military career, spanning over three decades, reflected a sustained commitment to national defense and public duty that would later inform his work in government and policy.

Education

Meese attended Yale University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (then known as Boalt Hall), where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree. His legal education at Berkeley placed him within the orbit of California's legal and political establishment, and his time in the Bay Area would prove instrumental in shaping his early professional career and his eventual entry into California state politics.

Career

California State Government (1967–1974)

Meese's career in government began in earnest when Ronald Reagan was elected Governor of California in 1966. Meese joined Reagan's gubernatorial administration in 1967 and served in various capacities over the following years, becoming one of Reagan's closest and most trusted advisers. During this period, Meese helped shape the administration's policies on law enforcement, criminal justice, and state governance. His role in Sacramento established a professional and personal bond with Reagan that would endure for decades and ultimately carry both men to Washington, D.C.

Meese's work in the California governor's office spanned the entirety of Reagan's two terms, from 1967 to 1974. His responsibilities grew over time, and he became recognized as a central figure in the governor's inner circle, handling a wide range of policy and administrative matters. This experience provided Meese with extensive knowledge of executive branch operations that he would later apply at the federal level.

Presidential Transition and Counselor to the President (1980–1985)

Following Reagan's victory in the 1980 United States presidential election, Meese played a central role on the presidential transition team, helping to organize the incoming administration and identify personnel for key positions. Reagan initially considered Meese for the position of White House Chief of Staff, but ultimately selected James Baker for that role. Instead, Meese was appointed Counselor to the President, a Cabinet-level position that afforded him broad influence over domestic policy, national security matters, and the overall direction of the administration.

As Counselor to the President, a post he held from January 20, 1981, to February 25, 1985, Meese served alongside Baker and Deputy Chief of Staff Michael Deaver in what was commonly referred to as the "troika" — the three senior White House aides who managed the Reagan presidency's day-to-day operations and strategic direction. Within this structure, Meese was generally understood to be the most ideologically conservative of the three and the one most closely aligned with Reagan's own policy instincts.

During this period, Meese's public statements occasionally generated controversy. In December 1983, comments he made regarding hunger in America produced what The New York Times described as "a storm of controversy." Meese questioned the extent of hunger in the United States, prompting sharp criticism from advocacy groups and political opponents. Shortly afterward, Meese sought to counter what he termed the "myth" that the Reagan administration had a weak record on assistance to the poor.

Attorney General of the United States (1985–1988)

In 1984, Reagan nominated Meese to succeed William French Smith as United States Attorney General. The nomination sparked a contentious confirmation process. Common Cause, the government watchdog organization, urged the Senate to vote against Meese's confirmation, raising concerns about ethical matters related to his financial dealings and the appointments of individuals who had provided him with financial assistance. Despite the opposition, the Senate approved Meese's nomination in February 1985, and he was confirmed as the 75th Attorney General of the United States. He assumed office on February 25, 1985.

Originalism and Constitutional Interpretation

As Attorney General, Meese became one of the most prominent advocates for originalism — the legal theory that the Constitution should be interpreted according to the original meaning of its text as understood at the time of its adoption. In a series of speeches and public statements, Meese called for a "jurisprudence of original intention," arguing that judges should not read their own policy preferences into constitutional provisions. This position placed him in direct tension with many members of the legal establishment and the federal judiciary, some of whom viewed originalism as an effort to roll back constitutional protections that had been recognized through evolving interpretation.

Meese's advocacy for originalism was significant in elevating the philosophy from an academic position to a mainstream political and legal argument. As one analysis in the Claremont Review of Books noted, Meese's public promotion of the idea that "judges should interpret legal documents according to the plain meaning of the documents' words as they were understood at the time" had a lasting impact on American legal discourse. His tenure at the Department of Justice helped lay the intellectual groundwork for the judicial appointment strategies pursued by subsequent Republican administrations.

Meese Commission on Pornography

During his tenure as Attorney General, Meese oversaw the creation of what became known as the Meese Commission (formally the Attorney General's Commission on Pornography), which was established in 1985 to study the effects of pornography on American society. The commission's 1986 final report concluded that certain forms of pornography were harmful and recommended stricter enforcement of existing obscenity laws. The commission and its findings were controversial, drawing criticism from civil liberties organizations, publishers, and free speech advocates who argued that the commission's recommendations threatened First Amendment protections.

Criminal Justice and Sentencing Policy

Meese also played a role in shaping federal criminal justice and sentencing policy during the Reagan era. He was involved in efforts to strengthen federal law enforcement capabilities and supported mandatory minimum sentencing provisions that were enacted during the 1980s. His positions on criminal justice reflected the administration's broader "tough on crime" stance, which emphasized deterrence and incapacitation over rehabilitation.

Wedtech Scandal and Resignation

Meese's tenure as Attorney General was marked by the Wedtech scandal, an investigation into corruption involving a South Bronx defense contractor that had received government contracts through improper means. Meese came under scrutiny from an independent counsel investigation regarding his connections to Wedtech and other financial matters. Although the independent counsel ultimately did not bring criminal charges against Meese, the investigation detailed a pattern of conduct that the counsel found troubling.

The scandal and its associated investigations cast a long shadow over Meese's final years in office. The New York Times covered the unfolding story extensively, including the complex web of relationships involving a proposed Middle Eastern pipeline deal. Meese resigned as Attorney General on August 12, 1988, before the end of Reagan's second term. His successor was Dick Thornburgh, who was confirmed later that year.

Post-Government Career

Following his departure from the Department of Justice, Meese transitioned into a career in academia, policy advocacy, and institutional leadership within the conservative movement. He became a distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, where he contributed to research and publications on legal and policy matters.

Meese also established a long-term affiliation with The Heritage Foundation, the Washington, D.C.–based conservative think tank, where he served as the Ronald Reagan Distinguished Fellow Emeritus and as a member of the board of trustees. His association with Heritage spanned more than a quarter century and encompassed work on constitutional law, criminal justice, and national security policy.

In the legal sphere, Meese became a prominent member of the board of directors of the Federalist Society, the influential conservative and libertarian legal organization that has played a significant role in shaping the federal judiciary through its involvement in the judicial selection process. He also served on the board of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where his long-term leadership was formally recognized in October 2025.

Meese served as a member of the Iraq Study Group, the bipartisan panel established in 2006 to assess the situation in Iraq and recommend policy changes. He also served on the national advisory board of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and on the board of Cornerstone closed-end funds.

In 2005, Meese was among those who participated in discussions regarding the constitutional implications of Supreme Court vacancies during the George W. Bush administration.

Edwin Meese III Institute for the Rule of Law (2025)

In December 2025, Advancing American Freedom (AAF), an organization founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, announced the establishment of the Edwin Meese III Institute for the Rule of Law. The institute was created following the departure of several senior scholars and staff from The Heritage Foundation, including John G. Malcolm, who became the institute's vice president. The institute was described as being dedicated to increasing understanding of the Constitution and the rule of law. Additional hires to the institute were subsequently announced, including election law specialist Hans von Spakovsky, who had previously served at The Heritage Foundation.

Personal Life

Edwin Meese III has three children. He has been a resident of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area for much of his post-government career. His military service in the United States Army Reserve, in the Field Artillery Branch, extended from 1953 to 1984, during which time he rose to the rank of Colonel. Meese has been a member of the Republican Party throughout his public life.

Recognition

Meese received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, which was awarded to him by President Donald Trump. The award recognized his distinguished leadership and legal guidance during his years of government service.

His contributions to conservative legal thought and policy have been recognized by numerous institutions. The naming of the Edwin Meese III Institute for the Rule of Law in 2025 represented a formal acknowledgment of his influence on American legal conservatism and constitutional interpretation. The Mercatus Center at George Mason University also recognized his long-term leadership and service on its board.

Meese has been a featured speaker and participant at numerous conservative and legal conferences, including events organized by the Federalist Society and the Leadership Institute.

Legacy

Edwin Meese's legacy is principally associated with two interconnected areas: his service in the Reagan administration and his promotion of originalism as a constitutional philosophy. As Counselor to the President and later as Attorney General, Meese helped define the domestic policy agenda of the Reagan years and articulated a legal philosophy that reshaped debates about the role of the federal judiciary.

His advocacy for a "jurisprudence of original intention" during his time as Attorney General contributed to the broader intellectual movement that elevated originalism from a minority academic position to a central tenet of conservative legal thought. The philosophy Meese championed influenced the judicial appointment strategies of subsequent Republican presidents and became a defining feature of conservative legal organizations such as the Federalist Society, with which Meese has maintained a long association.

At the same time, Meese's tenure as Attorney General remains a subject of debate due to the ethical controversies that accompanied it, including the Wedtech scandal and the contentious nature of his confirmation hearings. Critics during his time in office raised persistent questions about conflicts of interest and the propriety of his financial arrangements, while supporters credited him with strengthening the Department of Justice's commitment to conservative legal principles and vigorous law enforcement.

In the decades following his government service, Meese's sustained involvement with The Heritage Foundation, the Hoover Institution, and the Federalist Society cemented his position as one of the principal architects of the modern conservative legal movement. The establishment of the Edwin Meese III Institute for the Rule of Law in 2025 reflected the continued relevance of his name and ideas within American conservative circles more than three decades after his departure from government.