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Why was Secretary of State Haig fired ?
Alexander Haig only served 18 months as secretary of state to President Ronald Reagan. Haig is notoriously remembered for his speech after the Reagan assassination attempt. Through a televised speech he told the nation, "As of now I am in control here in the White House." [1] Haig's confusion in presidential succession created worries among the American people and its governmental stability. In office, Haig committed his policy efforts to fighting Latin American communist insurgency. However, his hawkish approach in El Salvador alarmed even the "hard-core anti-Communist around Reagan."[2] Haig's demeanor and policy efforts disturbed his peers. As a result, the Reagan administration isolated Haig and compelled him to quit. Many people believe Haig was fired due to his febrile speech following Reagan's assassination attempt, but his Central American policy efforts may have been the catalyst for his departure. Haig's erratic speech combined with his commitment to the Salvadorean government piled conflicts among the Reagan administration. Under what condition was Secretary of State Alexander Haig pushed out of office?
About the Author
Sited is designed by Matthew Flores for the course History 282: Diplomatic History of the United States with Professor Matthew Pinsker. Matthew Flores is a member of the 2024 Class and is pursuing his Bachelor's degree in International Studies at Dickinson College.
Footnotes
[1] “I’m in Control Here,” Youtube, last modified December 10, 2015, https://youtu.be/zUKW0fL-OqY.
[2] George C. Herring, From Colony to Superpower: U.S. Foreign Relations Since 1776 (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008), 887.