AThe Presidential Succession Act of 1947 laid down the following order of succession to the Presidency; it was clarified and reinforced by the 25th Amendment ratified in 1967:(this is the succession existing in 1981) * The Vice President * Speaker of the House * President pro tempore of the Senate * Secretary of State * Secretary of the Treasury * Secretary of Defense * Attorney General * Secretary of the Interior * Secretary of Agriculture * Secretary of Commerce * Secretary of Labor * Secretary of Health and Human Services * Secretary of Housing and Urban Development * Secretary of Transportation * Secretary of Energy * Secretary of Education So Alexander Haig spoke out of turn. As SecState, he was four steps down the line of succession from Ronald Reagan. George H.W. Bush could have exercised his rightful role of successor to the President from Air Force Two (scrambled radios DID exist in 1981).General Alexander Haig was always known as his foremost admirer and head of his own fan club. By March 1981, the Reagan administration's "press honeymoon" had already elapsed - the press corps by and large had been rooting for Jimmy Carter, so any mis-step was grist for critical press coverage, even a mis-step intended to convey that things were under control after Reagan had been shot. And Alexander Haig was too good a target for the press not to hit.What really happened? A mouthy jackass who happened to be Secretary of State displayed his ignorance of US law in front of reporters. At no time could Al Haig really have exerted any authority as President at all. Had he seriously tried, the Secret Service and Military Office of the White House would have given him a quick ride back to his offices at Foggy Bottom and told him to stick to running the Department of State.Bush assumed actual control over the Presidency and the country the minute Reagan was deemed incapacitated under the 25th Amendment. The Vice-President is (and was in 1981) in constant radio contact with the White House just in case the President is disabled. Everything was fine, in fact. Haig just needed to be given a job more in keeping with his talents, like, say the manager of the pro shop at the Greenbrier.

A"I'm in charge here."

Auhuhuhuh .......yes!

AHe was 83 so it was natural causes

AMcLean, Virginia.

AThe President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Alexander M. Haig, Jr. (0-50790), Lieutenant Colonel (Armor), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with while serving with Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Lieutenant Colonel Haig distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 March and 1 April 1967 while serving as battalion commander during an attack by a numerically superior Viet Cong force near Ap Gu. When two of his companies were engaged by a large hostile force, Colonel Haig landed amid a hail of fire, personally took charge of the units, called for artillery and air fire support, and succeeded in soundly defeating the insurgent force. Before dawn the nest day, when a single mortar round fell near the perimeter, Colonel Haig recognized it as the registering round prior to a massive attack and immediately alerted his entire unit. Within five minutes a barrage of 400 rounds was fired by the Viet Cong, but it was ineffective because of the warning and preparations by Colonel Haig. As the barrage subsided, a force three times larger than his began a series of human wave assaults on the camp. Heedless of the danger to himself, Colonel Haig repeatedly braved intense hostile fire to survey the battlefield. His personal courage and determination, and his skillful employment of every defense and support tactic possible, inspired his men to fight with previously unimagined power. Although his force was outnumbered three to one, Colonel Haig succeeded in inflicting 592 casualties on the Viet Cong. Lieutenant Colonel Haig's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.Headquarters, US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2318 (May 22, 1967)

Ago for it. all ya can do is screw things up more!

ALMAO, I remember that one. And while he's at it, B.O. might also head for the nearest Army base and let the cameras film him taking an Abrams tank for a spin like Dukakis did that same year.

ANo. Everyone knows that the only reason Powell endorsed Obama is because he is black. Secondly, Powell is trolling for a position in the government if Obama wins. It means nothing.