Alexander Haig

Alexander Haig
Born	Alexander Meigs Haig Jr. 12/2/1924
Birthplace	Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	2/20/2010 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Military officer, diplomat, politician, businessman
Known for	59th United States Secretary of State; White House Chief of Staff during Watergate; Supreme Allied Commander Europe; "I am in control here" statement
Education	Georgetown University (MA), Columbia University (MBA), United States Military Academy (BS)
Children	3
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart

Alexander Meigs Haig Jr. (December 2, 1924 – February 20, 2010) was an American military officer, diplomat, and politician. His career stretched through some of the most turbulent moments in twentieth-century American politics. From a middle-class Philadelphia suburb, Haig rose to the highest levels of military command and civilian power. He served as the 59th United States Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan, as White House Chief of Staff under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, and as the 7th Supreme Allied Commander Europe, commanding all NATO forces on the continent. He was a decorated combat veteran of the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In 1973, he became the youngest four-star general in United States Army history.

His role as chief of staff during Watergate put him at the center of one of America's gravest constitutional crises. Following the 1981 assassination attempt on President Reagan, his declaration "I am in control here" became one of the most scrutinized statements in modern political history. After leaving government, he pursued business interests, ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 1988, and remained active in national security commentary until his death at age 85.

Early Life

Alexander Meigs Haig Jr. was born on December 2, 1924, in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. It's a suburb of Philadelphia on the Main Line. His parents were Alexander Meigs Haig Sr. and Regina Anne Murphy Haig. His father was a lawyer who died when young Haig was just ten years old. That left the family in difficult financial circumstances. Frank Haig, his brother, went on to become a Jesuit priest and academic.

Growing up in the Philadelphia area shaped him profoundly. He attended St. Joseph's Preparatory School and absorbed the city's strong Catholic traditions. Losing his father at such a young age instilled in Haig a sense of discipline and self-reliance. Those who knew him said the city dominated his formative years and influenced his sense of duty and public service. Philadelphia never left him, even after decades elsewhere.

Haig initially went to the University of Notre Dame before receiving an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science degree. His West Point class produced several notable military and public figures. The academy taught him the values of military professionalism and leadership that would shape his career in uniform and civilian government. His 1947 graduation placed him right at the start of the Cold War era. That period would define every aspect of his professional life.

Education

His formal education was extensive. After his initial time at the University of Notre Dame, Haig graduated from West Point in 1947 with a BS degree. He later earned a Master of Arts from Georgetown University and an MBA from Columbia University. This combination of military training and advanced civilian education in international affairs and business was unusual for an Army officer of his generation. It positioned him uniquely for the roles he'd occupy at the intersection of military command, diplomacy, and government administration. His Georgetown studies in particular deepened his understanding of international relations and foreign policy. Those subjects would become central to everything he did.

Career

Korean War and Early Military Service

After West Point in 1947, Haig was commissioned as an Army officer. The Korean War gave him his first significant combat experience. During that conflict, Haig served as an aide to General Alonzo Patrick Fox and later to General Edward Almond. Korea exposed him firsthand to Cold War military engagement in Asia. He learned about multinational command structures. Those lessons would prove formative for his later NATO command.

After Korea, Haig continued climbing through the Army ranks. He held various staff and command positions, gaining experience in military administration and policy. He served as an aide to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. This position gave him direct exposure to the highest levels of civilian defense policymaking and to Pentagon bureaucracy. It was an early sign of his ability to work effectively where military and civilian authority met.

Vietnam War

Haig commanded a battalion and later a brigade of the 1st Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. His combat service was distinguished. He received the Distinguished Service Cross, the military's second-highest award for valor. He also earned the Silver Star with oak leaf cluster and the Purple Heart. His performance in Vietnam cemented his reputation as an aggressive and effective field commander. The Distinguished Service Cross citation recognized his bravery under fire and his leadership during intense combat operations.

Vietnam also connected him to military and political figures who'd play significant roles later. His combat credentials gave him credibility within the military establishment. Later, in political circles where Vietnam-era service mattered, those credentials carried real weight on national security questions.

National Security Council and Rise to Influence

In 1969, Haig joined the National Security Council staff as a military assistant to National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. This appointment marked a turning point. Suddenly he wasn't just a distinguished but conventional military officer. He was at the center of American foreign policy. Kissinger quickly made him one of his most trusted aides. In June 1970, Haig was promoted to Deputy National Security Advisor. He held that role until January 1973.

On the NSC staff, Haig was involved in major foreign policy initiatives. There was the secret bombing in Cambodia. There was the diplomatic opening to China. His relationship with Kissinger was complicated. They relied on each other but also competed for influence. Haig's organizational skills were remarkable. His willingness to work brutal hours set him apart. His ability to navigate White House bureaucratic politics made him indispensable.

January 1973 brought major changes. Haig was appointed Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army. The Army's second-highest position. At the same time, he was promoted to four-star general. At age 48, he became the youngest officer to hold that rank in Army history. He'd bypassed several more senior officers. That generated controversy within the Army. But it reflected the high regard the Nixon White House had for him.

White House Chief of Staff and Watergate

Haig's time as Vice Chief of Staff lasted only four months. In May 1973, following H. R. Haldeman's resignation as the Watergate scandal escalated, President Nixon appointed Haig as White House Chief of Staff. This put Haig at the epicenter of the most serious constitutional crisis since the Civil War.

As chief of staff, Haig became the principal gatekeeper and manager of a White House consumed by the Watergate investigation. He kept the executive branch functioning even as the presidency disintegrated. Haig became one of Washington's most powerful figures during this period. His authority went far beyond what any chief of staff had wielded before.

In Nixon's final months, Haig played a crucial role in persuading the president to resign rather than face impeachment. He served as an intermediary between Nixon and other key figures, including Vice President Gerald Ford. Historians still debate the precise nature and extent of his role. But there's broad agreement he was instrumental in managing what could've been a far more destabilizing process.

After Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, Haig continued as chief of staff under President Ford. He served about one month before being succeeded by Donald Rumsfeld.

Supreme Allied Commander Europe

In December 1974, Haig returned to active military service as the 7th Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). He commanded all NATO military forces in Europe. He held this position under Presidents Ford and Jimmy Carter until July 1, 1979.

As SACEUR, Haig was responsible for defending Western Europe during one of the Cold War's tenser periods. The Soviet Union maintained a significant conventional military advantage in Central Europe. His appointment was notable given his rapid recent promotion and his close ties to the disgraced Nixon administration. Still, most regarded him as an effective commander. He brought energy and organizational skill to NATO's military structure.

During his SACEUR tenure, Haig survived an assassination attempt on June 25, 1979. A remote-controlled bomb exploded near his motorcade in Belgium. It went off moments after his car passed. The vehicle was damaged but Haig was uninjured. The Red Army Faction, a West German left-wing militant organization, claimed responsibility.

Haig retired from the Army in 1979 after 32 years of military service. Then he entered the private sector.

Secretary of State

Ronald Reagan won the 1980 presidential election, and Haig was nominated to serve as the 59th Secretary of State. He took office on January 22, 1981. Haig arrived with a clear vision of his role. He later said he intended to be the "vicar" of American foreign policy. The president's primary advisor and coordinator on international affairs.

Haig's tenure was marked by significant diplomatic activity and persistent internal conflict. He clashed repeatedly with other senior officials over foreign policy direction and the State Department's role. National Security Advisor Richard V. Allen and Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger were among those he battled.

On March 30, 1981, President Reagan was shot and seriously wounded by John Hinckley Jr. Vice President George H. W. Bush was en route to Washington from Texas. Haig appeared before television cameras in the White House press briefing room. He declared: "As of now, I am in control here, in the White House, pending return of the vice president." The statement was constitutionally inaccurate. The presidential line of succession places the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate ahead of the Secretary of State. It generated immediate controversy. Haig later maintained he was referring to the management of the executive branch's crisis response rather than claiming constitutional authority. But the moment became forever linked with his public image.

During the Falklands War of 1982, Haig undertook intensive diplomatic efforts to broker a peaceful resolution between the United Kingdom and Argentina. He engaged in shuttle diplomacy between London and Buenos Aires. The effort ultimately failed. The United States sided with its British ally after Argentina refused to withdraw its forces.

On July 5, 1982, Haig resigned as Secretary of State. He'd been in office approximately eighteen months. Months of bureaucratic infighting preceded the resignation. Haig felt increasingly marginalized. He was succeeded by George Shultz.

Scholars have since reassessed Haig's impact during his brief State Department tenure. A 2022 policy roundtable published by the Texas National Security Review examined his influence on Reagan's early foreign policy. Contributors noted both his substantive contributions and the internal dysfunction that limited his effectiveness.

1988 Presidential Campaign

Haig entered the Republican presidential primaries in 1988. He sought the party's nomination for president. His platform emphasized national security credentials and government experience. But his campaign failed to gain traction in a crowded field. Vice President George H. W. Bush was running. So was Senator Bob Dole and televangelist Pat Robertson. Haig withdrew early after poor showings in the initial contests.

Business Career and Later Activities

After leaving government, Haig moved into the private sector. He headed Worldwide Associates, a consulting firm. He served on the boards of several major corporations. He also hosted the television program World Business Review. This syndicated show focused on global business and geopolitical issues. It aired on cable television.

Throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, Haig remained active as a commentator on national security and foreign policy. He spoke frequently on U.S. military policy, NATO, and international relations. His decades of experience at the highest levels gave him credibility on these issues.

Personal Life

Alexander Haig married Patricia Antoinette Fox. She was the daughter of General Alonzo Patrick Fox. Haig had served under Fox during the Korean War. The couple had three children, including a son named Brian Haig who became a novelist.

Haig was a Roman Catholic throughout his life. His faith was rooted in his Philadelphia upbringing and in his brother Frank, who became a Jesuit priest.

His health declined in later years. On February 20, 2010, Haig died at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He was 85 years old. Complications from an infection were the cause. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. It was a fitting resting place for someone who'd served his country through war and peace for more than four decades.

Recognition

Over his career, Haig received numerous military decorations. His combat awards included the Distinguished Service Cross. That's the second-highest military decoration for valor in the United States Army. He received it for Vietnam service. He also got the Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, the Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Flying Cross, among other decorations.

In 1996, Haig received the Distinguished Graduate Award from the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy. West Point alumni who've distinguished themselves through lifetime service to the nation receive this honor.

His SACEUR service earned him recognition from multiple NATO member nations. Allied governments gave him decorations and honors during and after his tenure in that position.

Legacy

Alexander Haig's legacy is complex and contested. He held positions of extraordinary power at critical moments in American history. There was the Watergate crisis. There was the Cold War confrontation with the Soviet Union in Europe. There was the early Reagan administration's foreign policy. His supporters credit him with helping manage the orderly transition of power during Nixon's resignation. They point to his strengthening of NATO's military readiness during a dangerous period. They highlight his pursuit of a coherent, if sometimes combative, approach to American diplomacy as Secretary of State.

Critics, though, point to his combative management style. The bureaucratic warfare during his State Department tenure bothers them. The "I am in control here" episode troubles them as evidence of an overreaching temperament that ultimately limited his effectiveness. One analysis published in War on the Rocks argued that Haig "alienated himself" through "bellicose and possibly irrational behavior." It suggested his tenure illustrated the problem of character in high office.

Reassessment of Haig's contributions has continued since his death. A 2022 roundtable in the Texas National Security Review brought together scholars to reconsider his impact on Reagan-era foreign policy. It suggested his contributions were more substantive than the popular memory of bureaucratic infighting and the "in control" statement might indicate.

His burial at Arlington National Cemetery reflects the breadth of his career. He rests among other secretaries of state and senior military leaders. That placement speaks to his service as a combat commander, as an alliance leader, as manager of White House crisis, and as a diplomat at the highest levels of American government.