Exhibit 1



                             JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

     In  accordance  with Rule 13d-1 (f) under the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934,  as amended,  the  undersigned  hereby  agree to the joint filing with all
other Reporting Entities (as such term is defined in the Schedule 13G) on behalf
of each of them of a statement on Schedule 13G  (including  amendments  thereto)
with respect to the Common Stock,  $1.00 par value per share,  of First American
Corporation,  and that this  Agreement  be  included as an Exhibit to such joint
filing.  This  Agreement  may be executed in any number of  counterparts  all of
which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                  IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  hereby  execute  this
Agreement this 14th day of March, 2001.

                                            EQSF ADVISERS, INC.

                                            By:/s/ MARTIN J. WHITMAN
                                            --------------------------
                                            Martin J. Whitman
                                            Chairman, President and Chief
                                            Executive Officer

                                            M.J. WHITMAN ADVISERS, INC.

                                            By:/s/ MARTIN J. WHITMAN
                                            --------------------------
                                            Martin J. Whitman
                                            Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

                                            /s/   MARTIN J. WHITMAN
                                            --------------------------
                                             Martin J. Whitman