Time magazine is reporting that President Bush plans to name Fred Fielding, a former White House counsel in the Reagan administration, as his top lawyer. Fielding, a partner at D.C.’s Wiley, Rein & Fielding, will succeed Harriet Miers, who resigned last week. A source briefed on the announcement told Time that Fielding is “the ultimate Washington lawyer-insider — he’s the man to see.” The source added: “He’s the guy who helps you defend your position, stick to your principles, but tries to work out a reasonable compromise. He’s highly partisan, but he’s highly regarded by everyone.”
Time writes: “Fielding was persuaded to leave his lucrative position as a senior partner in the Washington law firm of Wiley, Rein & Fielding with “an appeal to patriotism” and an assurance that he would not just be the President’s lawyer but would be deeply involved in Congressional strategy and negotiations,” the official said.
Fielding (Gettysburg, Virginia Law) served as Counsel to President Reagan from 1981 to 1986, deputy White House counsel from 1972 to 1974 and associate White House counsel from 1970 to 1972.
From the WSJ Law Blog: