Meese and Reagan: The Anatomy of a Friendship Once again it was apparent that Edwin Meese 3d's political longevity has rested on his relationship with Ronald Reagan. For more than 20 years Mr. Meese has shared emotions and experiences with his chief and hero, performing the role of the ''perfect servant bureaucrat,'' as a mutual friend put it. As a result of that relationship, President Reagan has adamantly rejected the advice of Republicans and Democrats alike who have urged him to remove the Attorney General in the face of repeated questions about Mr. Meese's ethical judgment.
''I have every confidence in him,'' Mr. Reagan angrily told reporters last Wednesday in response to questions about Mr. Meese. ''He's been a friend for 20 years, and I'm not going to comment any further on what's going on.'' Few Reagan loyalists now believe that time will ever come. As Dana Rohrabacher, a former White House speech writer who is now running for Congress, put it: ''My bet is that when Ronald Reagan leaves the White House, Ed Meese will leave the Justice Department.''
Jonathan and David One of the most famous stories about friendship in the Bible is the story of Jonathan and David (1 Samuel 18-20). Saul was the first king of Israel and Jonathan was his son. Jonathan would have been the next king in Israel, but his father Saul had disobeyed God to the point of having the kingdom taken away from him. God had already chosen David to be the next king of Israel. Even though Jonathan knew that David would be the next king, he befriended the young man. Jonathan was willing to trust God’s decision in the choice of the next king, while accepting that this meant Jonathan would never be king. Saul tried to kill David but Jonathan helped him escape. When it was clear that King Saul would not allow David to live, Jonathan put himself at risk to protect David. Jonathan confronted Saul concerning David at which time Saul’s anger was turned toward Jonathan. They eventually parted out of necessity. David was heartbroken to learn of his friend’s death.
Meese and Reagan: The Anatomy of a Friendship
ReplyDeleteOnce again it was apparent that Edwin Meese 3d's political longevity has rested on his relationship with Ronald Reagan. For more than 20 years Mr. Meese has shared emotions and experiences with his chief and hero, performing the role of the ''perfect servant bureaucrat,'' as a mutual friend put it.
As a result of that relationship, President Reagan has adamantly rejected the advice of Republicans and Democrats alike who have urged him to remove the Attorney General in the face of repeated questions about Mr. Meese's ethical judgment.
''I have every confidence in him,'' Mr. Reagan angrily told reporters last Wednesday in response to questions about Mr. Meese. ''He's been a friend for 20 years, and I'm not going to comment any further on what's going on.''
Few Reagan loyalists now believe that time will ever come. As Dana Rohrabacher, a former White House speech writer who is now running for Congress, put it: ''My bet is that when Ronald Reagan leaves the White House, Ed Meese will leave the Justice Department.''
Liu Shuwei:
ReplyDeleteJonathan and David
One of the most famous stories about friendship in the Bible is the story of Jonathan and David (1 Samuel 18-20). Saul was the first king of Israel and Jonathan was his son. Jonathan would have been the next king in Israel, but his father Saul had disobeyed God to the point of having the kingdom taken away from him. God had already chosen David to be the next king of Israel.
Even though Jonathan knew that David would be the next king, he befriended the young man. Jonathan was willing to trust God’s decision in the choice of the next king, while accepting that this meant Jonathan would never be king.
Saul tried to kill David but Jonathan helped him escape. When it was clear that King Saul would not allow David to live, Jonathan put himself at risk to protect David. Jonathan confronted Saul concerning David at which time Saul’s anger was turned toward Jonathan.
They eventually parted out of necessity. David was heartbroken to learn of his friend’s death.