Edwin Meese was the Attorney General under President Ronald Reagan from 1985 to 1988. He was appointed by Reagan and confirmed by the Senate in February of 1985. Meese, often referred to as Ed Meese, was a key figure in the Reagan administration and was responsible for overseeing the Department of Justice. He was known for his conservative views on law enforcement and criminal justice reform. He also played a major role in the Iran-Contra affair. Meese left office in 1988 and was succeeded by Dick Thornburgh.