Word: haig
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...lunch, which began at 12:10 Friday, was an odd affair. Of the dozen or so people attending, only Reagan, Baker, Clark and Deaver knew that Haig was finished. Says one of those four: "We had to sit through that lunch knowing what was about to happen, and knowing that Haig didn't even know." Haig's demeanor, however, struck most of those attending as exceptionally quiet and peaceful, possibly because he had made up his mind to go through with his resignation...
...fact, he had no choice. After the NSC lunch broke up at about 1:15, Reagan, as planned, summoned Haig into the Oval Office. Immediately, the President handed the Secretary of State his signed acceptance of Haig's resignation-which still had not been formally offered. The two men talked, apparently without heat, for about 20 min. Nothing remained except to break the news...
...Haig, appearing before reporters and cheering subordinates in the State Department auditorium, simply read aloud his letter of resignation, which he had finally delivered, three hours after it had been accepted. He said about his successor Shultz: "My own knowledge of George and his experience, professionalism and integrity gives me the utmost confidence." Reagan and Haig both opened by announcing that they would answer no questions, and both left the podium quickly, ignoring shouts of "Why?" Reagan went by helicopter to Camp David shortly after his appearance. Later, a top White House aide was asked how Reagan felt about...
There was almost a palpable sense of relief at the White House over the prospect of Haig's departure and Shultz's arrival. Some aides actually celebrated on Friday evening. Whether the new Secretary of State will actually direct a fundamental shift in foreign policy remains to be seen. Institutional restraints and Shultz's own need to familiarize himself with both his assignment and new colleagues will probably prevent him from having a noticeable impact in the weeks ahead, even if he comes to Foggy Bottom with a mandate from Reagan and a clear set of objectives...
...doubt, Haig's mercurial personality worsened conflicts. But Myer Rashish, who was forced to resign last January as Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, says of the storms of the Haig era: "Neither Haig nor the White House was right in any of this. The problem is the system for making policy. It is neither designed for, nor capable of, making coherent policy on any major issue. Policy is all made ad hoc." It will take more than a change of the name of the Secretary of State from Haig to Shultz to overcome that difficulty...