Word: haig
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1970-1979
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Ford had been advised that Nixon simply could not stand the suspense of worrying about a potential indictment or the strain of a trial if one were eventually held. Both current Ford Aide Alexander Haig and former Nixon Counsel J. Fred Buzhardt had expressed their concern to Ford about Nixon's emotional problems, which were beginning to manifest themselves in physical ailments. Ford, whether accurately or not, came to believe that Nixon was seriously ill, deeply depressed and might even die unless he was soon relieved of some of his legal worries. Nixon's doctors did confirm a new blood...
...Ehrlichman would make a last-minute appeal for their pardons. "I just can't see you," replied Nixon. "Please don't come over here. Handle it through Haig...
Soon thereafter, Haig got a call from Haldeman. The general asked Haldeman to hold the line, rushed into Nixon's office and asked him what to do. Nixon told Haig to hear Haldeman out but that he would not talk to Haldeman. Haig hurried to the office of James St. Clair, at the tune Nixon's chief Watergate defense attorney. St. Clair advised that any citizen had the right to appeal for clemency. Haig asked St. Clair to monitor the conversation. Haldeman's pitch was brief, citing the difficulty of getting a fair trial. There was no threat of blackmail...
...Haig, who has been indispensable to the President during the transition, is expected to stay on until the staff has been reorganized. As for what lies ahead, Haig says that he has been "too busy to wrestle with my future in a violent way." In his heart, Haig hopes to go back on active duty in the Army; he had resigned only because Nixon appealed to his patriotism by insisting that he needed him to run the White House...
Failing a return to the colors, Haig would like to get a public service job-perhaps as an ambassador or a National Security Adviser. He is likely to be granted his wishes. Ford and his men deeply appreciate the fact that Haig wore himself out performing a thankless task. "If I were Al Haig," says one top Ford adviser, "I'd go down to the West Indies and sleep for six months...