Alexander Haig, Former Secretary Of State, Has Died

Alexander Meigs Haig, Jr. was a retired four-star general in the United States Army.  Haig served under three presidents, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, as Secretary of State.

This “patriot’s patriot” had a long and highly decorated career.  His service to his country included Vice Chief of Staff and Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.  He was a staff member to General Douglas MacArthur in Japan.  Haig was a veteran of the Korean War including the Battle of Inchon, the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, and the evacuation of Hŭngnam and Vietnam receiving the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars with oak leaf cluster for heroism, the Bronze Star with Valor device and the Purple Heart.

The three-time Secretary of State, 85, was admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital on January 28, 2010 in critical condition with an infection.  His lost his fight on February 20, 2010.

 Many in the media will focus on his statement following the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan in 1981 when he used the ill-chosen words, “As of now, I am in control here in the White House, pending the return of the vice president.”  Vice President Bush was flying back from Texas to Washington.  It was not the inappropriate power grab many at the time had described. 

The nation was in shock that John Hinckley had shot the president and seriously wounded White House Press Secretary James Brady.  Haig made the statement to the nation to calm fears and assure everyone that there was not a constitutional crisis as a result of a madman’s actions.  It was something Haig never lived down.

In his book, Caveat, Haig later wrote that he had been “guilty of a poor choice of words and optimistic if I had imagined I would be forgiven the imprecision out of respect for the tragedy of the occasion.”

George P. Shultz, who succeeded Haig as Sectary of State in 1982, said, “No matter how you sliced him it came out red, white and blue. He was always willing to serve.”

In the days that follow, many will try to rewrite history but it should be remembered that General Alexander Haig played a major role in managing the crisis that erupted following the Watergate scandal. He is credited with finally persuading Richard Nixon to resign so that a transfer of power could take place from Nixon to Gerald Ford during the final days of Watergate.