I was given the Nickname of Tank Haig after the "I'm in control" incident by a friend and colleague Dave French, I did not mind being compared to General Haig, as I knew him in the Army. He was a stand up guy in all circumstances.
Exert from a Newsmax article: General Haig: A Great Warrior for Freedom Passes
Saturday, 20 Feb 2010 09:36 AM
By: Dave Eberhart
A military man, always cognizant of the vital links of chain of command, Haig and other senior officials watched the television incredulously as a member of the press asked neophyte deputy White House spokesman Larry Speakes who exactly was in charge of the federal government. Speakes’ response was vague and uncertain.
Haig announced he would rush up to the press room to reassure friends and enemies that the U.S. government was running smoothly. Haig had to climb a flight of stairs to make his way there. He quickly took the podium, somewhat out of breath and sounding shaky, and announced:
“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.”
Years later, Haig explained: “What I meant was, we had to run a government. We had to have an authority to send all the messages out, to speak should we find it was a conspiracy and to take appropriate action, if necessary, pending return of the vice president.”
In fact, the Constitution does mention the secretary of state in the transfer of power, placing him fourth in line for the presidency.
Never apologetic about the incident, Haig once dismissed the furor with: “I don’t worry about the midgets.”
Haig may have composed his own best epitaph when he wrote of a simple blueprint for living life: “Practice rather than preach. Make of your life an affirmation, defined by your ideals, not the negation of others. Dare to the level of your capability then go beyond to a higher level.”
Alexander Haig served as Secretary of State when we needed bold leadership to stare down Russia during the final days of the cold war.
WE need bold leadership like Alexander Haig today.
May God Bless Alexander Haig for his duty to God, Country and his fellow man.
Michael Mack, An American
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