Meskill Steps Down

There were few brighter up-and-coming stars in the G.O.P. galaxy than Connecticut Governor Thomas Meskill, 46, who accomplished in his first term of office just what he said he would. He has turned a $244 million budget deficit that he inherited from the Democrats into a substantial surplus, mainly by reducing spending, introducing tuition at state colleges, and increasing the sales tax. He also kept his campaign promise to set up one of the most active environmental agencies in the nation.

Yet last week he announced that he would not run for reelection. "I feel I've done my duty," he said. "I feel I don't have to do it again." He added that he had grown restless with a job that cut too deeply into the time he wanted to spend with his family. Meskill denied that his decision was influenced by Watergate, but aides admitted that he might have been induced to run against Democratic Senator Abraham Ribicoff if Watergate had not soured Republican chances. Instead, Meskill is likely to be offered a top Washington post or an appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

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