General Alexander Haig Dies, Most Interesting Days Surely Were With President Nixon

There is no doubt that  General Alexander Haig lived a most remarkable life.  He rose above being just another military man, and cross-crossed the political terrain with patience and skill while serving President Nixon.  He served as Secretary of State for President Reagan, and eyed the White House in an ill-fitting campaign. 

I am sure if Al Haig were asked what the most interesting period of his life was he would mention the stressful and also intoxicatingly exciting days in 1973-74 when he worked in the White House as Chief of Staff for President Nixon.  He is to be given much credit for helping to facilitate the events that helped Nixon understand that resignation was the best route for himself, and the nation.  He could not push Nixon, and would not do so.  But he would assist in helping to lead the nation through that troubling time as much as any other single person.  He did his work behind the scenes and in complicated, and often thankless ways.  The nation for the most part does not know or care to read the books and understand the gentle (or otherwise) nuances that Haig added in the White House to see the nation through to the other side of Watergate.  But that aside, Al Haig is to be thanked for the work he did. 

As a Nixon history buff I have listened, thanks to C-SPAN, to huge amounts of the recordings from the time President Nixon had his machines running.  As such when I heard about the news of Al Haig’s passing, and feeling that he enjoyed this part of his life the most, I sought out one of the nuggets.    The tapes are, after all, the gift that keeps on giving.  I am so thankful that they were not destroyed as they give great insight into the mindset of Richard Nixon, and also the workings of a White House.  Priceless.