Yes he did. On camera Haig appeared to be very nervous and confused by all that was happening that day. I'm sure he knew that he wasn't in line to take over while RR was unable to carry out his duties, and I thought at the time that it was just of a result of all the confusion during that day's events, and certainly not an attempt by Haig to assume presidential authority. The media loved to make fun of Haig about his slip up, and they played and replayed the tape clip over and over even weeks afterward.
I was working in an office full of liberals at that time. We had a small TV turned on in the GM's office for the rest of the day after the shooting happened, and the libs were laughing and making fun of Haig's nervous appearance and his statement. I was just so glad and thankful to God that RR was alive and was going to make it through that I didn't much care what those other clowns thought was so funny.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: Who is making the decisions for the government right now? Who is making the decisions?
HAIG: 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.
QUESTION: Who makes that decision? (CROSSTALK)
HAIG: As of now, I am in control here in the White House pending return of the vice president and in close touch with him. If something came up, I would check with him, of course.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Notice he says "here in the White House" and points out that the VP is next in line to the Pres and that all decisions would be checked with the VP. Doesn't sound to me like he was upset or nervous. Sounds like he was trying to reassure the bed wetters that the grown ups were still around.