I was in the Navy at the time with Soviet subs shadowing us and heard on radio the entire context of his statement. I felt re-assured that he stepped forward during the cold war to tell the Soviets there is a still a real man in charge so don't try any shit, until the Vice-President arrives. I thought it was the right thing to do and so did my shipmates. This is just another example of the MSM eliminating certain phrases to suit their anti-military Utopian bias.
One more time, Haig specifically included the phrasing "until the Vice-President" arrives or takes charge or words to that effect. However, Haig was wrong about the succession of Constitutional power. Read below:
When a reporter asked who was running the government, Haig moved toward the podium.
“It was a moment of high tension,” says Allen, the national security advisor. “And I became alarmed when I had seen him I was standing right next to him, watched his hands and his knuckles were white and his knees were wobbling and his voice cracked.”
Haig answered the reporter: “Constitutionally gentlemen, you have the president, the vice president and the secretary of state [wrong...Speaker of the House and the Senate pro tempore President were next in line, but who knew where they were?], 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.”
Haig was wrong to say “constitutionally.” The constitution mentions the secretary of state only in an actual transfer of power and then it places him fourth in line.
“I wasn’t talking about transition,” Haig says now. “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?’”
Haig says he knew the order of succession better than anyone. In 1974 he was chief-of-staff when Nixon resigned. Haig insists the briefing room appearance was meant to reassure the world and ease the pressure on the nuclear trigger.
Again, that's why in the era of Soviet aggression I was glad to see a man come forward and say I've got the "football". Don't even think about it you Soviet sh*theads. I'm a highly decorated Veteran and know war.
I ask again, where was the Speaker of the House AND the President pro tempore of the Senate? Who cares? I saw a real man take charge. I thank him for that. We all should. It was a real opportunity for the Soviets to make a move. We needed balls at that moment, not to take time to hunt down the Speaker or Senate President and instruct them on the "football" and all the Strategic implications.
RIP General.
Well said, ANV.
RIP, General.