WASHINGTON -- President Reagan,declaring 'I've had it up to my keister' with leaks to the press, directed White House staff members Monday to exert tighter control over all interviews with reporters.
At Reagan's direction, chief of staff James Baker issued a set of guidelines that lay down the law on contacts with the media and aim at giving the ultimate clearance to the communications office.
David Gergen, director of the communications office, said, 'The president does not appreciate the free-lance artists who come out of a meeting with him and speak to the press.'
He said Reagan 'has been irritated on more than one occasion' at stories that have appeared following private meetings about the budget and other issues, and he quoted Reagan as saying:
'I've had it up to my keister (rump) with these leaks.'
'We do not think it's helpful to have some free-lance artists who may be passing around information that is inaccurate or one-sided,' Gergen told reporters.
The announcement of the new orders on dealing with the press came on the heels of an interview Baker gave with the Dallas Morning News, in which he said Labor Secretary Raymond Donovan should not remain in the Cabinet. Baker apologized to Donovan Monday and expressed his deep regret.
Gergen insisted the guidelines did not stem from the Baker interview, although Baker quipped in a postscript to his memorandum on guidelines: 'The president has refused to make an exception for interviews in turkey blinds.'
Baker had been in Texas on a hunting expedition.
Gergen said the White House had considered the clam-up orders before Christmas.
The first guidline reads:
'The press office should remain the first stop for White House reporters seeking information about the president's policies and views.'
Gergen insisted reporters may still telephone staffers directly, saying Reagan wants to continue to maintain an 'open administration.'
Asked if there would be penalties against aides who fail to clear their interviews with the communications office, Gergen said, 'Could be.'
'The president takes it very seriously,' he said, 'and I assume if someone violates the guidelines, we'll probably deal with it.'
He said the action 'was prompted by aides who had put out bum dope on what we had done.'
Gergen said such orders have applied in the past to certain White House offices such as congressional liaison. 'These kinds of guidelines have been under consideration for several weeks,' he said.
'I wouldn't call this a gag rule,' he said in response to a question.
Jack Landau, director of the Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press, said the new restrictions are 'gag order rules' that indicate the Reagan administration 'is flying off again on one of its news censorship binges.'
'Today's gag order rules on White House officials are reminiscent of the White House's ill-fated efforts of last year to impose a White House controlled news blackout on all interviews with the national media on foreign affairs and national security news,' Landau sad.
The new rules were discussed by the president at his 'issues' luncheon with his staff, Gergen said, adding, 'There was a strong consensus that something like this was necessary.'
'We believe we have a good track record in mounting an open presidency,' Gergen said. 'But if we have a meeting which we consider private ... I'm not going to say' what happened.
He declined to identify the 'free lance artists' he spoke of, but said 'the problem is on our side.' He said he recognized that reporters have to do an 'aggressive' job.
Other guidelines included:
-'To maintain an open presidency, it is essential that members of the senior staff also be willing to meet with reporters on a frequent basis.'
-As the need arises, the communications department will designate key staff members who will be available to the press to answer questions on a specific subject. These 'designated hitters' will be expected to take either telephone calls or be personally available to the news media.
-Requests for interviews or comments from members of the staff who have not already been designated to answer questions should first be referred to the communications department.
-Other departments in the White House office complex are to adopt parallel guidelines in coordination with the communications department.
-As in the past, no member of the White House staff or executive offices may accept a major television interview or large-scale press luncheon and breakfast without coordinating it in advance with the communications department. In addition, it is recommended a White House stenographer be present at all major interviews with groups of reporters inside the complex.
-On-the-record interviews should be recognized as the best way to conduct most press interviews.
-The guidelines will apply whether the president is in Washington or out of town, but will not apply to strictly social engagements with members of the press.
-'In keeping with the traditions of this presidency, these guidelines should be carried out in a way that maintains an atmosphere of openness, professionalism and civility in relations with the White House press corps.'
President Reagan, declaring 'I've had it up to my keister' with leaks to the press, directed White House staff members Monday to exert tighter control over all interviews with reporters.
At Reagan's direction, chief of staff James Baker issued a set of guidelines that lay down the law on contacts with the media and aim at giving the ultimate clearance to the communications office.
David Gergen, director of the communications office, said, 'The president does not appreciate the free-lance artists who come out of a meeting with him and speak to the press.'
He said Reagan 'has been irritated on more than one occasion' at stories that have appeared following private meetings about the budget and other issues, and he quoted Reagan as saying:
'I've had it up to my keister (rump) with these leaks.'
'We do not think it's helpful to have some free-lance artists who may be passing around information that is inaccurate or one-sided,' Gergen told reporters.
The announcement of the new orders on dealing with the press came on the heels of an interview that Baker gave with the Dallas Morning News, in which he said Labor Secretary Raymond Donovan should not remain in the Cabinet. Baker apologized to Donovan Monday and expressed his deep regret.
Gergen insisted the guidelines did not stem from the Baker interview, although Baker quipped in a postscript to his memorandum on guidelines: 'The president has refused to make an exception for interviews in turkey blinds.'
Baker had been in Texas on a hunting expedition.
Gergen said the White House had considered the clam-up orders before Christmas.
The first guidline reads:
'The press office should remain the first stop for White House reporters seeking information about the president's policies and views.'
Gergen insisted reporters may still telephone staffers directly, saying Reagan wants to continue to maintain an 'open administration.'
Asked if there would be penalties againstaides who fail to clear their interviews with the communications office, Gergen said, 'Could be.'
'The president takes it very seriously,' he said, 'and I assume if someone violates the guidelines, we'll probably deal with it.'
He said the action 'was prompted by aides who had put out bum dope on what we had done.'
Gergen said such orders have applied in the past to certain White House offices such as congressional liaison. 'These kinds of guidelines have been under consideration for several weeks,' he said.
'I wouldn't call this a gag rule,' he said in response to a question.
The new rules were discussed by the president at his 'issues' luncheon with his staff, Gergen said, adding, 'there was a strong consensus that something like this was necessary.'
'We believe we have a good track record in mounting an open presidency,' Gergen said. 'But if we have a meeting which we consider private ... I'm not going to say' what happened.
He declined to identify the 'free lance artists' he spoke of, but said 'the problem is on our side.' He said he recognized that reporters have to do an 'aggressive' job.
Other guidelines included:
-'To maintain an open presidency, it is essential that members of the senior staff also be willing to meet with reporters on a frequent basis.
-As the need arises, the communications department will designate key staff members who will be available to the press to answer questions on a specific subject. These 'designated hitters' will be expected to take either telephone calls or be personally available to the news media.
-Requests for interviews or comments from members of the staff who have not already been designated to answer questions should first be referred to the communications department.
-Other departments in the White House office complex are to adopt parallel guidelines in coordination with the communications department.
-As in the past, no member of the White House staff or executive offices may accept a major television interview or large-scale press luncheon and breakfast without coordinating it in advance with the communications department. In addition, it is recommended a White House stenographer be present at all major interviews with groups of reporters inside the complex.
-On-the-record interviews should be recognized as the best way to conduct most press interviews.
-The guidelines will apply whether the president is in Washington or out of town, but will not apply to strictly social engagements with members of the press.
-'In keeping with the traditions of this presidency, these guidelines should be carried out in a way that maintains an atmosphere of openness, professionalism and civility in relations with the White House press corps.'
