Baker proposed that Meese should be “counselor to the president”; he would be in charge of policy, supervise the domestic and national security councils, preside over cabinet meetings, and have cabinet rank. Baker, as chief of staff, would control access to the president, paperwork, speechwriting, and the White House staff. Meese readily agreed, and Baker had a memo typed up for their signatures. “The way I made it right with Ed worked,” says Baker. “It worked for the Gipper, it worked for the country, it worked for me.”
