Alexander Haig
59th United States Secretary of State
In office January 22, 1981 – July 5, 1982
Preceded by	Edmund Muskie
Succeeded by	George Shultz
5th White House Chief of Staff
In office 1973 – 1974
Preceded by	H.R. Haldeman
Succeeded by	Donald Rumsfeld
Born	December 02, 1924 (1924-12-02) (age 82) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Political party	Republican

Alexander Meigs Haig, Jr. (born December 2, 1924) served as the U.S. Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan and White House Chief of Staff under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Haig also served as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), hence the ex officio commander of the NATO forces from 1974-79. Haig is a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars and is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army's second highest medal for heroism. Image File history File linksMetadata Alexander_Haig. ... Seal of the United States Department of State. ... January 22 is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 179 days remaining. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Edmund Muskie (March 28, 1914 – March 26, 1996) was an American Democratic politician from Maine. ... Shultz in his official D.O.L. portrait. ... Joshua B. Bolten, the current White House Chief of Staff. ... Harry Robbins (Bob) Haldeman (October 27, 1926 - November 12, 1993) was a U.S. political aide and businessman, best known for his service in the Nixon White House, and for his role in the Watergate scandal, for which he was convicted and imprisoned. ... Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9, 1932) is a U.S. politician and businessman, who was the 13th Secretary of Defense under President Gerald Ford from 1975–1977, and the 21st Secretary of Defense under President George W. Bush from 2001–2006. ... December 2 is the 336th day (337th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Nickname: Motto: Philadelphia maneto - Let brotherly love continue Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States Commonwealth Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Government  - Mayor John F. Street (D) Area  - City 369. ... Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... The Republican Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic Party. ... for the US Secretary of State, see Alexander Haig for the UK noble, see Alexander Haig, Viscount Dawick Category: ‪Disambiguation‬ ... December 2 is the 336th day (337th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Seal of the United States Department of State. ... Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981 – 1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967 – 1975). ... Joshua B. Bolten, the current White House Chief of Staff. ... Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. ... this guy is awsome i played him in a school play he also has some pretty funky history Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. ... NATO military is divided into two commands, Atlantic and Europe. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague. ... The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. ...

Education

Haig attended St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia and graduated from Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. He then went to the University of Notre Dame for one year before transferring to and graduating from West Point in 1947. He studied business administration at Columbia Business School in 1954 and 1955. He also received a Masters degree in International Relations from Georgetown University in 1961 where his thesis focused on the role of the military officer in the making of national policy. Saint Josephs Preparatory School, founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1851, is an independent Catholic secondary school for boys operated by the Society of Jesus. ... Lower Merion High School, is an American public high school in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. ... Ardmore is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ... The University of Notre Dame IPA: is a Roman Catholic institution located in Notre Dame, Indiana, immediately northeast of South Bend, Indiana, United States. ... Alternate meanings: West Point (disambiguation). ... Columbia Business School (part of Columbia University), officially named the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, and also known as CBS, was established in 1916 to provide business training and professional preparation for undergraduate and graduate Columbia University students. ... Georgetown University, incorporated as the The President and Directors of the College of Georgetown, is one of the top private university in the United States, located in Georgetown, a historic neighborhood of Washington, D.C. With roots extending back to March 25, 1634 and founded in its current form on...

Korea, MacArthur and Vietnam

As a young officer, Haig served on the staff of General Douglas MacArthur in Japan. In the early days of the Korean War, Haig was responsible for maintaining General MacArthur's situation map and briefing MacArthur each evening on the day's battlefield events.[1]. Haig has stated that he was in the room when MacArthur famously stated to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, "Gentlemen, we will land at Inchon on September 15 or you will have a new Supreme Commander in East Asia."[2] Haig later saw combat in the Korean War (1950-51) with the X Corps, led by MacArthur's Chief of Staff, General Edward Almond.[3]. During the Korean War, Haig earned 2 Silver Stars for heroism and a Bronze Star with "V."[4] Haig participated in seven Korean War campaigns, including the Battle of Inchon, the Battle of Chosin Reservoir (a.k.a "The Frozen Chosen"), and the evacuation of Hungnam.[5] Douglas MacArthur (January 26, 1880 - April 5, 1964), was an American Field Marshal (only in the Philippines) and general who played a prominent role in the Pacific theater of World War II. He was poised to command the invasion of Japan in November 1945 but was instead instructed to accept... Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders... It has been suggested that Macarthur be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Macarthur be merged into this article or section. ... Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders... The X-Corps was a fiction team created by Marvel comics. ... Edward Almond, as a Major General while commanding the 92nd Infantry Division Edward Mallory Almond (December 12, 1892 – June 11, 1979) was an American military officer best known as the commander of the United States Army X Corps during the Korean War. ... Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders... The Silver Star is a United States military decoration and is the third highest medal for valor. ... The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ... Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders... // Combatants United Nations: United States  United Kingdom  Republic of Korea Canada  Australia  Netherlands  France Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Commanders Douglas MacArthur Arthur Dewey Struble Syngman Rhee Jeong Il-Gwon Kim Il-sung Choi Yong-Kun Strength 40,000[1]  ? Casualties 566 killed 2,713 wounded 14,000 casualties... Combatants Peoples Volunteer Army United Nations forces; including American and British Marines Commanders Song Shi-Lun Oliver Smith Strength 60,000 30,000 Casualties 25,000 killed, 12,500 wounded, 30,000 frostbite casualties 2,500 dead, 192 missing, 5,000 wounded, 7,500 cold-related injuries The Battle... Hungnam is a port city on the Eastern coast of North Korea on the Sea of Japan. ...

Haig later served as a staff officer in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (DCSOPS) at the Pentagon (1962-64), and then was appointed Military Assistant to Secretary of the Army Stephen Ailes in 1964. Haig then was appointed Military Assistant to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. He continued in that service until the end of 1965, whereupon he took command of a Battalion of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. This article is about the U.S. military building. ... Stephen Ailes Stephen Ailes (born May 25, 1912) is a U.S. administrator. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army —nicknamed “The Big Red One” after its shoulder patch—is the oldest continuously serving division in the United States Army. ...

Distinguished Service Cross in Vietnam

On May 22, 1967, Lt. Colonel Haig was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second highest medal for heroism, by General William Westmoreland as a result of his actions during the battle of Ap Gu in March 1967.[6] During the battle, then Lt. Colonel Haig's troops (of the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division (United States) became pinned down by a Viet Cong force that outnumbered U.S. forces by a three to one margin. In an attempt to survey the battlefield, Haig boarded a helicopter and flew to the point of contact.[6]. His helicopter was subsequently shot down. Two days of bloody hand to hand combat ensued. An excerpt from Haig's official Army citation follows: The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. ... William C. Westmoreland (March 26, 1914 – July 18, 2005) was an American General who commanded American military operations in the Vietnam War at its peak from 1964 to 1968 and who served as US Army Chief of Staff from 1968 to 1972. ... The 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army —nicknamed “The Big Red One” after its shoulder patch; and also nicknamed The Fighting First—is the oldest division in the United States Army, and has seen continuous service since its organization in 1917. ...

"When two of his companies were engaged by a large hostile force, Colonel Haig landed admid a hail of fire, personally took charge of the units, called for artillery and air fire support and succeeded in soundly defeating the insurgent force...the next day a barrage of 400 rounds was fired by the Viet Cong, but it was ineffective because of the warning and preparations by Colonel Haig. As the barrage subsided, a force three times larger than his began a series of human wave assaults on the camp. Heedless of the danger himself, Colonel Haig repeatedly braved intense hostile fire to survey the battlefield. His personal courage and determination, and his skillful employment of every defense and support tactic possible, inspired his men to fight with previously unimagined power. Although his force was outnumbered three to one, Colonel Haig succeeded in inflicting 592 casualties on the Viet Cong..." (HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2318 (May 22, 1967)[7]

Haig was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart during his tour in Vietnam.[8] Haig was eventually promoted to Colonel and became a brigade commander of the 1st Infantry Division (United States) in Vietnam. The Distinguished Flying Cross. ... For other meanings see Purple Heart (disambiguation). ... The 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army —nicknamed “The Big Red One” after its shoulder patch; and also nicknamed The Fighting First—is the oldest division in the United States Army, and has seen continuous service since its organization in 1917. ...

1969–1972 Henry Kissinger's military assistant, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army

Alexander Haig returned to the Continental United States at the end of his one-year tour to become Regimental Commander of the Third Regiment of the Corps of Cadets at the USMA under the also newly-arrived Commandant, Brigadier General Bernard Rogers. (Both had served together in the 1st Infantry Division, Rogers as Assistant Division Commander and Haig as Brigade Commander.) In 1969, he was appointed as Military Assistant to the Presidential Assistant for National Security Affairs, Henry Kissinger, a position he retained until 1970, when President Richard Nixon promoted Haig to Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. In this position, Haig helped South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu to negotiate the final cease-fire talks in 1972. Haig continued in this position until 1973 when he was appointed to be Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, a post he held until the last few months of President Nixon’s presidency, when he served as White House Chief of Staff. Henry Alfred Kissinger (born Heinz Alfred Kissinger on May 27, 1923) is a German-born American diplomat, and 1973 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. ... Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. ... Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809 km² N/A Population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ... President Nguyen Van Thieu Nguyen Van Thieu, (April 5, 1923 – September 29, 2001) was a former General and President of South Vietnam. ... Joshua B. Bolten, the current White House Chief of Staff. ...

1973–1974 White House Chief of Staff for Nixon and Ford

Alexander Haig served as White House Chief of Staff during the height of the Watergate affair from May 1973 until September 1974. During this time, Haig played a large "crisis management" role as the Watergate scandal unfolded. Haig has been largely credited with keeping the government running while President Nixon was preoccupied with Watergate.[9]. Haig also played an instrumental role in finally persuading Nixon to resign. In his 2001 book, "Shadow", author Bob Woodward describes Haig's role as the point man between Nixon and then Vice President Gerald Ford during the final days of Watergate. According to the book, Haig played a major behind the scenes role in the delicate negotiations of the transfer of power from President Nixon to President Ford. Haig remained White House Chief of Staff during the early days of the Ford Administration until he was replaced by Donald Rumsfeld in September 1974. Joshua B. Bolten, the current White House Chief of Staff. ... The Watergate building. ... The Watergate building. ... Order: 37th President Vice President: Spiro Agnew (1969–1973), Gerald R. Ford (1973–1974) Term of office: January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974 Preceded by: Lyndon B. Johnson Succeeded by: Gerald R. Ford Date of birth: January 9, 1913 Place of birth: Yorba Linda, California Date of death: April 22... The Watergate building. ... Nixon is the surname of some prominent people: Richard Nixon - 37th President of the United States Patricia Nixon - First Lady to President Richard Nixon Tricia Nixon Cox - older daughter to Richard and Pat Nixon Julie Nixon Eisenhower - younger daughter to Richard and Pat Nixon John B. Nixon - oldest inmate executed... Bob Woodward Robert Upshur Bob Woodward (born March 26, 1943) is assistant managing editor of The Washington Post. ... Nixon is the surname of some prominent people: Richard Nixon - 37th President of the United States Patricia Nixon - First Lady to President Richard Nixon Tricia Nixon Cox - older daughter to Richard and Pat Nixon Julie Nixon Eisenhower - younger daughter to Richard and Pat Nixon John B. Nixon - oldest inmate executed... this guy is awsome i played him in a school play he also has some pretty funky history Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. ... The Watergate building. ... Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. ... this guy is awsome i played him in a school play he also has some pretty funky history Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. ... Joshua B. Bolten, the current White House Chief of Staff. ... Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9, 1932) is a U.S. politician and businessman, who was the 13th Secretary of Defense under President Gerald Ford from 1975–1977, and the 21st Secretary of Defense under President George W. Bush from 2001–2006. ...

Deep Throat

For many years, people speculated that Haig was Deep Throat, the anonymous source for Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Authors Len Colodny and Robert Gettlin speculated in their 1991 book Silent Coup: The Removal of a President that Haig may have been "Deep Throat," noting Woodward and Haig knew each other when Woodward worked in naval intelligence. But, in 2005, it was revealed that W. Mark Felt, the associate director of the FBI, was Woodward and Bernstein's source. Furthermore, Haig was known to have been out of the country during some of the meetings between "Deep Throat" and the reporters. Deep Throat is the pseudonym that was given to William Mark Felt, Sr. ... ... Bob Woodward Robert Upshur Bob Woodward (born March 26, 1943) is assistant managing editor of The Washington Post. ... Carl Bernstein (left) and Bob Woodward (right)This image is pending deletion. ... Book by Len Colodny and Robert Gettlin in which they contend that John Dean orchestrated the 1972 Watergate burglary at Democratic National Committee headquarters to protect his future wife, then named Maureen Biner, by removing information linking her to a call-girl ring that worked for the DNC. It was... Book by Len Colodny and Robert Gettlin in which they contend that John Dean orchestrated the 1972 Watergate burglary at Democratic National Committee headquarters to protect his future wife, then named Maureen Biner, by removing information linking her to a call-girl ring that worked for the DNC. It was... W. Mark Felt, on the set of CBSs Face the Nation in 1976. ... Mark Felt, special agent in charge of the Salt Lake City field office, poses for the Deseret News on January 20, 1958. ...

1974–1979 Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and assassination attempt

From 1974 to 1979, Haig served as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), and Commander in Chief, US European Command (CinCUSEUR), and thus was effectively the Commander of NATO Forces. An assassination attempt on Haig was unsuccessful in Mons, Belgium on June 25, 1979. During the attack, a land mine blew up under the bridge on which Haig's car was travelling, narrowly missing Haig's car but wounding three of his bodyguards in a following car.[10] The attack was later deemed to be carried out by the Red Army Faction (RAF), also known as Baader-Meinhof-group. In 1993, a German Court sentenced Rolf Clemens Wagner, a former Red Army Faction Terrorist, to a life sentence for the assassination attempt on Haig.[11] While Haig was at NATO, Wesley Clark (then a Major) served as Haig's speechwriter.[12]. Alexander Haig retired from the Army in 1979, and moved on to civilian employment. The NATO structure is divided into two commands, one for operations and one for transformation. ... A Commander-in-Chief is the commander of a nations military forces or significant element of those forces. ... The U.S. European Command (EUCOM) is unified combatant command of the United States military, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. ... It has been suggested that Selective assassination be merged into this article or section. ... Geography Country Belgium Region Walloon Region Community French Community Province Hainaut Arrondissement Mons Coordinates Area 146. ... June 25 is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 189 days remaining. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Red Army Fraction Insignia - a Red Star and a Heckler & Koch MP5 The Red Army Faction (also commonly known as the Baader-Meinhof Group [or Gang] in German: Rote Armee Fraktion or simply RAF), was one of postwar West Germanys most active and prominent militant left-wing groups. ... RAF Logo The Red Army Faction (in German: Rote Armee Fraktion; RAF), also known as the Baader-Meinhof Gang, was postwar Germanys most active radical leftist paramilitary group, which is widely regarded as a terrorist organization. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague. ... Wesley Kanne Clark (born December 23, 1944) is a retired four-star general of the United States Army. ...

Secretary of State for President Reagan

In 1979, he became President, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Director of United Technologies, Inc., a job he retained until 1981. United Technologies Corporation (UTC) (NYSE: UTX) is a major multinational corporation based in Hartford, Connecticut. ...

In January 1981, Haig was tapped by Reagan to be Secretary of State and he began confirmation hearings before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Much of the hearing focused on Haig's role during Watergate. Haig was easily confirmed by a Senate vote of 93-6.[13] Robert White, ambassador in El Salvador from 1980 to 81, has claimed that Alexander Haig pushed for his removal because he did not favor a military solution for the El Salvadoran situation. Michael Ledeen, now an international adviser for Karl Rove, George W. Bush's closest advisor, was his "anti-terrorism" expert during this period; before that, Ledeen had worked as analyst for the Italian military intelligence agencies. In several countries, Secretary of State is a senior government position. ... U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is a standing committee of the United States Senate. ... The Watergate building. ... Robert White served as U.S. ambassador under different administrations. ... Michael Ledeen (born August 1, 1941) is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. ... Karl Christian Rove (born December 25, 1950) is Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... Servizio per le Informazioni e la Sicurezza Militare (Military Intelligence and Security Service, SISMI) is the military intelligence agency of Italy. ...

Haig resigned abruptly in July 1982. His desire to be the so-called "vicar" of American foreign policy, in emulation of his mentor Henry Kissinger, did not mesh well with Ronald Reagan, who had his own ideas about foreign policy. It was also said that Nancy Reagan did not like him. A military hawk, Haig caused some alarm with his suggestion that a "nuclear warning shot" in Europe might be effective in deterring the Soviet Union. His tenure as Secretary of State was often characterized by his clashes with the more moderate Defense Secretary, Caspar Weinberger. Henry Alfred Kissinger (born Heinz Alfred Kissinger on May 27, 1923) is a German-born American diplomat, and 1973 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. ... Hawkishness or Hawkism is an informal term used to describe a political stance of preparedness for aggression, by diplomatic and ultimately military means, against others to improve the standing of their own government, country or organization. ... Caspar Willard Cap Weinberger, GBE (August 18, 1917 – March 28, 2006), was an American politician and Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan from January 21, 1981, until November 23, 1987, making him the third longest-serving defense secretary to date, after Robert McNamara and Donald Rumsfeld. ...

"I'm in control here"

In 1981, after the March 30 assassination attempt on Reagan, Haig asserted before reporters that "I'm in control here" as a result of Reagan's hospitalization. The quotation became seen as an attempt by Haig to exceed his authority. The full quotation is: March 30 is the 89th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (90th in leap years). ... The Reagan assassination attempt occurred on March 30, 1894, just 70 days into the presidency of Ronald Reagan. ...

Constitutionally, gentlemen, you have the president, the vice president and the secretary of state, in that order, and should the president decide he wants to transfer the helm to the vice president, he will do so. As for now, I'm in control here, in the White House, pending the return of the vice president and in close touch with him. If something came up, I would check with him, of course.^{[citation needed]}

Haig was incorrect in his interpretation of the U.S. Constitution concerning both the presidential line of succession and the 25th Amendment, which dictates what happens when a president is incapacitated. But the holders of the two offices between the Vice President and the Secretary of State, the Speaker of the House and the President pro tem of the Senate, are required under U.S. law (3 U.S.C. 19) to resign their positions in order for either of them to become acting President—an unlikely event considering that Vice-President Bush was merely not immediately available. Haig's statement therefore reflected political reality, if not necessarily legal reality. Haig later said, Page I of the Constitution of the United States of America Page II of the United States Constitution Page III of the United States Constitution Page IV of the United States Constitution The Syng inkstand, with which the Constitution was signed The Constitution of the United States is the supreme... The presidential line of succession defines who may become or act as President of the United States upon the incapacity, death, resignation, or removal from office (by impeachment and subsequent conviction) of a sitting president or a president-elect. ... Amendment XXV (the Twenty-fifth Amendment) of the United States Constitution clarifies an ambiguous provision of the Constitution regarding succession to the Presidency, and establishes procedures both for filling a vacancy in the office of the Vice President as well as responding to Presidential disabilities. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the... Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia the current President pro tempore of the United States Senate. ...

"I wasn’t talking about transition. I was talking about the executive branch, who is running the government. That was the question asked. It was not, 'Who is in line should the President die?'" [14]

However, the real reason behind what happened was far more terrifying. What was not generally known, was that the assassination attempt resulted in a raised status of US nuclear forces. It should be noted that this has occurred frequently since 1945 and is a far cry from "almost triggered a nuclear exchange". Several sources, including Haig's memoir of the Reagan years "Caveat" and Casper Weinberger's own memoirs indicated that after hearing of the assassination attempt, Weinberger brought US nuclear strategic forces to an increased defense condition. With tensions being what they were in the Cold War, for obvious reasons Haig was horrified upon learning this. His statement was an attempt to ratchet down the overreaction by Weinberger and to attempt to maintain control of the situation until Vice-President Bush could arrive and assume control. There is no indication that Weinberger was ever disciplined or counselled because of this.

Chief of Staff Haig (far right), Sec. of State Kissinger, Rep. Ford and President Nixon meet on October 13, 1973 regarding Ford's upcoming appointment to Vice-President.

October 13, 1973 _ WHPO E1637_21 (L_R) Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Rep. ... October 13, 1973 _ WHPO E1637_21 (L_R) Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Rep. ... October 13 is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ...

1982

1982 Falklands War

The Falklands War (March-June 1982) occurred during Haig's tenure as Secretary of State and saw Haig attempt to conduct shuttle diplomacy in April 1982 following the Argentine invasion, but prior to the arrival of the British fleet in the war zone. Haig met with both the British government in London and the Argentine government in Buenos Aires, but talks broke down and Haig returned to Washington on April 19. Combatants Argentina United Kingdom Commanders Presidente Leopoldo Galtieri Vice Admiral Juan Lombardo Brigadier General Ernesto Crespo Brigade General Mario Menéndez Prime minister Margaret Thatcher Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse Rear-Admiral Sandy Woodward Major General Jeremy Moore Casualties 649 killed 1,068 wounded 11,313 taken prisoner 75 fixed wing... In diplomacy and international relations, shuttle diplomacy is the use of a third party to serve as an intermediary or mediator between two parties who do not talk directly. ... April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ...

1982 Lebanon Invasion by Israel

Haig critics have accused him of "greenlighting" the Israeli Invasion of Lebanon in June of 1982. Haig denies this and said he urged restraint at the time.[15] Combatants Israel Phalange South Lebanon Army Amal PLO Syria Commanders Menachem Begin (Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon, (Ministry of Defence) Rafael Eitan, (CoS) Yasser Arafat Strength 76,000 37,000 Casualties 670 9,800 The 1982 Lebanon War (Hebrew: , Milkhemet Levanon, Milkhemet Levanon, Arabic: ‎), called by Israel the Operation Peace of...

1988 Republican presidential nomination - unsuccessful bid

Haig unsuccessfully ran for the Republican Party nomination for President in 1988. He was a fierce critic of the more moderate George H.W. Bush, and speculation was that he sought the Presidency in part because of that. When he withdrew from the race, he threw his support to the presidential campaign of Senator Robert Dole of Kansas. Haig was reported saying to Dole regarding George Bush, "I've done all the damage I can, Bob."^{[citation needed]} Haig allegedly viewed Bush as weak and indecisive leader.^{[citation needed]} The Republican Party, often called the GOP (for Grand Old Party, although one early citation described it as the Gallant Old Party) [1], is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... Order: 41st President Vice President: Dan Quayle Term of office: January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993 Preceded by: Ronald Reagan Succeeded by: Bill Clinton Date of birth: June 12, 1924 Place of birth: Milton, Massachusetts First Lady: Barbara Pierce Bush Political party: Republican George Herbert Walker Bush, KBE (born... Bob Dole Robert Joseph Dole (born July 22, 1923) is best known as a former Republican United States Senate Majority Leader and Senator from Kansas. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ...

Military decorations

• Distinguished Service Cross
• Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster
• Defense Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
• Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster
• Bronze Star with "V"
• Combat Infantryman Badge
• Purple Heart

The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army, awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. ... The Distinguished Flying Cross. ... Bronze and Silver oak leaf clusters An Oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on military awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. ... The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States. ... Bronze and Silver oak leaf clusters An Oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on military awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. ... The Silver Star is the fourth highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. ... Bronze and Silver oak leaf clusters An Oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on military awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. ... The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ... The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is an award of the United States Army which is presented to those officers, warrant officers and enlisted soldiers, in the grade of Colonel and below, who participate in active ground combat while assigned as a member of an infantry or special forces unit, brigade... For other meanings see Purple Heart (disambiguation). ...

Current activities

Haig was the host for several years of the television program World Business Review and now hosts 21st Century Business, each program a weekly business education forum that includes business solutions, expert interview, commentary and field reports.^{[citation needed]} World Business Review is an American television news magazine that currently airs across North America and various outlets worldwide, including campus television, podcast and in-flight. ...

Haig is co-chairman of the American Committee for Peace in the Caucasus, along with Zbigniew Brzezinski and Stephen J. Solarz. Zbigniew Kazimierz Brzezinski (born March 28, 1928, Warsaw, Poland) is a Polish-American political scientist, geostrategist, and statesman. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Haig was a founding Board Member of America Online.^{[citation needed]} To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ...

On January 5, 2006, Haig participated in a meeting at the White House of former Secretaries of Defense and State to discuss United States foreign policy with Bush administration officials.^{[citation needed]} January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ...

On May 12, 2006, Haig participated in a second White House meeting with 10 former Secretaries of State and Defense. The meeting including briefings by Donald Rumsfeld and Condoleezza Rice, and was followed by a discussion with President George W. Bush.[16] May 12 is the 132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ... Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9, 1932) is a U.S. politician and businessman, who was the 13th Secretary of Defense under President Gerald Ford from 1975–1977, and the 21st Secretary of Defense under President George W. Bush from 2001–2006. ... Condoleezza Rice (born November 14, 1954) is the 66th United States Secretary of State, and the second in the administration of President George W. Bush to hold the office. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ...

Haig published his memoirs, entitled Inner Circles: How America Changed The World, in 1992.

Alexander Haig is the father of author Brian Haig.^{[citation needed]} Brian Haig (1953) is a thriller author and the son of former U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig. ...

He is a Knight of Malta.^{[citation needed]} The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta (also known as the Knights Hospitaller, Knights of Malta, Order of Malta, Knights of Rhodes, and Chevaliers of Malta) is an organization that began as an Amalfitan hospital founded in Jerusalem in 1080 to provide...

Trivia

• Haig has appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine on 3 occasions.^{[citation needed]}

• Haig, George C. Marshall, and Colin L. Powell are the only Army Generals to have ever served as Secretary of State.

• Richard Dreyfuss played Haig in the movie The Day Reagan was Shot. He was also portrayed in the CBS/Showtime miniseries The Reagans. "M*A*S*H" actor David Ogden Stiers played Haig in a television movie version of The Final Days, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's account of the last days of the Nixon presidency. Powers Boothe played Haig in Oliver Stone's 1995 film Nixon.

• Haig is referenced in the 1983 song "The Fletcher Memorial Home" by the band Pink Floyd.

• Haig is referenced in the movie Heavyweights.

• After Maine schoolgirl Samantha Smith wrote to Soviet leader Yuri Andropov in 1983, Johnny Carson played President Ronald Reagan in a sketch on NBC's "The Tonight Show," in which a Russian girl writes to the President. The Russian girl's letter asked for the name of the monkey Reagan used to appear with. Carson, as Reagan, replied, "Alexander Haig."

• Haig is briefly mentioned in the song "We've Got a Bigger Problem Now" by the Dead Kennedys in reference to serving under ex-president Ronald Reagan.

• Haig is referenced in a 1995 episode of The Simpsons television show. In the "Who Shot Mr. Burns" episode, Homer Simpson appears in a mugshot photo while wearing a HAIG IN '88 t-shirt. [17]

• In the Police Squad! episode "Testimony of Evil," Drebin and Hocken find the contents of a morgue cadaver drawer repulsive ("disgusting"). The camera then reveals that they are looking at a photograph of Haig.

• Haig's brother, the Rev. Frank R. Haig, S.J., is a Jesuit priest who teaches physics at Loyola College in Maryland.^{[citation needed]}

• In 1980, Spiro Agnew published a memoir in which he implied that, in 1973, Richard Nixon and Haig had planned to assassinate him if Agnew refused to resign the Vice-Presidency, and that Haig told him "to go quietly … or else."^[1]

• In Frank Bryan and Bill Mare's book Out: The Vermont Secession Book, Haig is elected president in 1988, beating Teddy Kennedy. In the book, Haig is portrayed as arrogant, idiotic, and perpetually, wilfully, and happily misinformed about the country.

• Haig is referenced by the band Youth Group in their song "Daisychains:" "I'm more General Haig than Napoleon Bonaparte."

(Clockwise from upper left) Time magazine covers from May 7, 1945; July 25, 1969; December 31, 1999; September 14, 2001; and April 21, 2003. ... George C. Marshall George Catlett Marshall (December 31, 1880–October 16, 1959), an American military leader and statesman, was born into a middle-class family in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. ... Colin Luther Powell (pronounced Coe-lin, born April 5, 1937) was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving from January 20, 2001 to January 26, 2005 under President George W. Bush. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In several countries, Secretary of State is a senior government position. ... Richard Stephen Dreyfuss (born October 29, 1947) is an Oscar-winning American actor. ... CBS is one of the largest radio and television networks in the United States. ... Showtime is a subscription television brand used by a number of channels and platforms around the world, but primarily refers to a group of channels in the United States. ... The Reagans is a controversial four-hour miniseries about U.S. President Ronald Reagan and his family which CBS had planned to broadcast in November 2003 during fall sweeps, but was ultimately broadcast on November 30 of that year on premium cable channel Showtime. ... David Ogden Stiers (born October 31, 1942) is an American character actor, voice actor and musician, most noted for his role in the television sitcom M*A*S*H, and the science fiction drama The Dead Zone. ... Bob Woodward Robert Upshur Bob Woodward (born March 26, 1943) is assistant managing editor of The Washington Post. ... Carl Bernstein (left) and Bob Woodward (right)This image is pending deletion. ... Powers Allen Boothe (born June 1, 1948) is an American television and film actor. ... William Oliver Stone (born September 15, 1946), known simply as Oliver Stone, is a three-time Academy Award-winning American film director and screenwriter. ... Nixon is the surname of some prominent people: Richard Nixon - 37th President of the United States Patricia Nixon - First Lady to President Richard Nixon Tricia Nixon Cox - older daughter to Richard and Pat Nixon Julie Nixon Eisenhower - younger daughter to Richard and Pat Nixon John B. Nixon - oldest inmate executed... Pink Floyd are an English rock band that earned recognition for their psychedelic rock music, and, as they evolved, for their avant-garde progressive rock music. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Samantha Reed Smith (June 29, 1972 – August 25, 1985) was an American schoolgirl from Manchester, Maine who was called Americas Youngest Ambassador in the United States and the Goodwill Ambassador in the Soviet Union during her short lifetime. ... Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov (Russian: Ю́рий Влади́мирович Андро́пов; 15 June [O.S. 2 June] 1914 – February 9, 1984) was a Soviet politician and General Secretary of the CPSU from November 12, 1982 until his death just sixteen months later. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other persons named John Carson, see John Carson (disambiguation). ... (GREATEST BAND) The Dead Kennedys (often known by their initials DK, as in decay) are a hardcore punk band from San Francisco, California. ... Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981 – 1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967 – 1975). ... Simpsons redirects here. ... Police Squad! was a television comedy series first broadcast in 1982. ... The Society of Jesus (Latin: Societas Iesu), commonly known as the Jesuits, is a Roman Catholic religious order. ... Physics (Greek: (phúsis), nature and (phusiké), knowledge of nature) is the science concerned with the discovery and characterization of universal laws which govern matter, energy, space, and time. ... Loyola College in Maryland, formerly Loyola College, is a private, coeducational university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, affiliated with the Society of Jesus and the Roman Catholic Church. ... Spiro Theodore Agnew (November 9, 1918 – September 17, 1996) was the 39th Vice President of the United States serving under President Richard M. Nixon, and the 55th Governor of Maryland. ... As a literary genre, a memoir (from the Latin memoria, meaning memory) forms a subclass of autobiography, although it is an older form of writing. ...

Endnotes

1. ^ Agnew, Spiro T:: "Go quietly ... or else". Morrow, 1980. ISBN 0-688-03668-6.

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Alexander Haig

• The Day Reagan was Shot article on Haig
• The Falklands: Failure of a Mission critique of Haig's mediation efforts