NickDG 23 #1 February 20, 2010 "I am in control here!" I was in the loft at the DZ that day in 1981 when we heard the first report on the radio that President Reagan had possibly been assassinated. We flipped on a TV and after finding out Reagan was still alive, we later saw Haig, then Secretary of State, out of breath (he'd just run up the stairs from the Situation Room) in the White House stating the above famous quote. We all seriously thought it was a coup d'état attempt by the former Army General. But it just turned out he choose his words badly . . . Al Haig, 1924-2010 NickD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ZigZagMarquis 9 #2 February 20, 2010 I remember coming home from Junior High School and finding my mom pissed that the T.V. station had interrupted General Hospital with news of the Reagan shooting. I don't remember seeing Al Haig's faux pas specifically, but do remember talk about it on the news in the hours and days the followed. It certainly contributed to the end of his political career, if not the reason in and of itself. As years went by, he seemed to have a deep desire to "set the record straight." One could think its sad that he's remembered most for some poorly chosen words that were also somewhat misinterpreted by the press during a time of stress and confusion, but that's how life is; its not fair. I can relate. RIP Al Haig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Amazon 7 #3 February 20, 2010 Quote "I am in control here!" I was in the loft at the DZ that day in 1981 when we heard the first report on the radio that President Reagan had possibly been assassinated. We flipped on a TV and after finding out Reagan was still alive, we later saw Haig, then Secretary of State, out of breath (he'd just run up the stairs from the Situation Room) in the White House stating the above famous quote. We all seriously thought it was a coup d'état attempt by the former Army General. But it just turned out he choose his words badly . . . Al Haig, 1924-2010 NickD I was up in Canada... and I think their news was more along the lines of what the hell are the Americans doing THIS time. I was kind of amazed that Reagan survived THE CURSE of Tippecanoe. Then again.... seeing how he and the next guy on the 20 did... maybe its still in effect. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites NickDG 23 #4 February 20, 2010 Here's the "I'm in control" thing . . . http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2010/02/20/sot.haig.im.in.charge.cnn?hpt=T1 NickD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 7 #5 February 20, 2010 "I am in control here!" ~~That's the first thing that came to mind when I heard of the Generals passing... Too bad...a remarkable man that will be forever remembered for a quote out of context. RIP Al. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites warpedskydiver 0 #6 February 20, 2010 People remember all the parodies and insist that it was the truth, much like Sarah Palin being blamed for things said by Tina Fey. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Andy9o8 2 #7 February 21, 2010 QuotePeople remember all the parodies and insist that it was the truth, much like Sarah Palin being blamed for things said by Tina Fey. Consider the logic: if it weren't for Sarah Palin, Tina Fey never would have said them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites warpedskydiver 0 #8 February 21, 2010 The logic of that fails. If a person never said something it is wrong to attribute it to them. People can no longer distinguish between TV shows and what has really occurred in the news. Should we judge all skydivers by the TV commercials featuring false skydivers? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites wolfriverjoe 1,523 #9 February 21, 2010 QuotePeople remember all the parodies and insist that it was the truth, much like Sarah Palin being blamed for things said by Tina Fey. One of the funniest Palin impersonations that Fey did was one where she repeated what Palin had said word for word. Fey used just a little different emphasis but the words were the exact same."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Amazon 7 #10 February 21, 2010 QuoteThe logic of that fails. If a person never said something it is wrong to attribute it to them. People can no longer distinguish between TV shows and what has really occurred in the news. Should we judge all skydivers by the TV commercials featuring false skydivers? Uh that has been going on for a while.. Ronnie RayGun got a few things in movies mixed up with real life..funny shit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites NickDG 23 #11 February 21, 2010 What parodies? When I, Frank Mott, and another rigger saw him say, "I'm in control," live on TV from the White House we all said the same thing, "WTF did he just say!" And if trying to make your point using that worthless piece of shit from Alaska as an example forget it. I haven't seen an episode of SNL since it was funny in 1975 . . . NickD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Remster 30 #12 February 21, 2010 Come on Nick.. Dont hold back! Tell us what you really think! Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Andy9o8 2 #13 February 21, 2010 QuoteThe logic of that fails. Zooom. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites wayneflorida 0 #14 February 21, 2010 Went from Lt. Colonel in 1967 to Four Star in 1973. Pretty fast track, but it helped working for the President. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JohnMitchell 16 #15 February 21, 2010 Quote What parodies? When I, Frank Mott, and another rigger saw him say, "I'm in control," live on TV from the White House we all said the same thing, "WTF did he just say!" I never saw that live, but I just watched the clip. In context, he seemed perfectly reasonable to me. He talked about the chain of succession and stated that he was subordinate to the Vice President. Hardly seemed like an egocentric power grab to me. As much as I love our free press, I think they get a little too full of themselves sometimes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Andy9o8 2 #16 February 21, 2010 Quote Quote What parodies? When I, Frank Mott, and another rigger saw him say, "I'm in control," live on TV from the White House we all said the same thing, "WTF did he just say!" I never saw that live, but I just watched the clip. In context, he seemed perfectly reasonable to me. He talked about the chain of succession and stated that he was subordinate to the Vice President. Hardly seemed like an egocentric power grab to me. As much as I love our free press, I think they get a little too full of themselves sometimes. A few historical notes to this context: Haig got one thing wrong by neglecting to mention that presidential succession after VP is followed by the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate, and THEN by the Secretary of State. For someone born in 1925, and who was speaking under some stress of the moment, that was a somewhat understandable error, as presidential succession did proceed directly from VP to Secy of State until it was modified the late 1940's, when Haig was already an adult. The "I am in control" remark was thought to be insufficiently respectful of the Vice President; in part, it was demagogued some, and in part, it was an accurate reflection of the reputation Haig had earned in the Nixon and Ford Administrations as a power-grabber and self-promoter. At the same time, people though Haig looked stressed to the point of spazzed when he made these remarks. What actually happened was that he was watching the press briefing on TV from his office, and was aghast at what he thought was the spokesman's leaving the public impression that with the VP out of the building, nobody was in firm control at the White House. So (at age 57) he made a mad dash through the building to the press room, and when he got to the podium he was sweating and still out of breath from the physical exertion. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites NickDG 23 #17 February 21, 2010 I think the confusion comes from this: There is a loop hole in the 25th Amendment. It says the VP becomes President in the event of the President's resignation, death, OR after a written declaration the President can no longer discharge his duties. If no letter exists beforehand and the President is medicated or under anesthesia he can't write or sign such a letter. In Reagan's case, the Press was correct in their concern although I'm not sure Reagan was medicated right off the bat. But if he was (and no one knew one way or the other at the time) than legally no one was in charge. And that's what made Haig's statement troublesome. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-fifth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution NickD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Andy9o8 2 #18 February 21, 2010 That's correct. If the President doesn't sign an Article 3 letter, who is in charge of the executive branch - and wields the power as Commander in Chief of the military - in the interim (no matter how brief) between a president's incapacity and the issuance of an Article 4 declaration? (Or to put it another way - during this interim, who commands "The Football" - the briefcase with the nuclear codes?) The Constitution is silent as to that question; and that loophole could easily set up a Constitutional (and military command) crisis between the Vice President and the Secretary of State. I haven't researched it (yet), but it leaves me wondering why this loophole, which is a pretty obvious one, wasn't closed-up during the final revision of the 25th Amendment. (Come to think of it, in The West Wing TV program, this loophole is acknowledged by discussion of the fictional president having a pre-signed Article 3 letter in a file drawer and ready to go in the event of his incapacity.) 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ZigZagMarquis 9 #2 February 20, 2010 I remember coming home from Junior High School and finding my mom pissed that the T.V. station had interrupted General Hospital with news of the Reagan shooting. I don't remember seeing Al Haig's faux pas specifically, but do remember talk about it on the news in the hours and days the followed. It certainly contributed to the end of his political career, if not the reason in and of itself. As years went by, he seemed to have a deep desire to "set the record straight." One could think its sad that he's remembered most for some poorly chosen words that were also somewhat misinterpreted by the press during a time of stress and confusion, but that's how life is; its not fair. I can relate. RIP Al Haig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #3 February 20, 2010 Quote "I am in control here!" I was in the loft at the DZ that day in 1981 when we heard the first report on the radio that President Reagan had possibly been assassinated. We flipped on a TV and after finding out Reagan was still alive, we later saw Haig, then Secretary of State, out of breath (he'd just run up the stairs from the Situation Room) in the White House stating the above famous quote. We all seriously thought it was a coup d'état attempt by the former Army General. But it just turned out he choose his words badly . . . Al Haig, 1924-2010 NickD I was up in Canada... and I think their news was more along the lines of what the hell are the Americans doing THIS time. I was kind of amazed that Reagan survived THE CURSE of Tippecanoe. Then again.... seeing how he and the next guy on the 20 did... maybe its still in effect. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickDG 23 #4 February 20, 2010 Here's the "I'm in control" thing . . . http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2010/02/20/sot.haig.im.in.charge.cnn?hpt=T1 NickD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #5 February 20, 2010 "I am in control here!" ~~That's the first thing that came to mind when I heard of the Generals passing... Too bad...a remarkable man that will be forever remembered for a quote out of context. RIP Al. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #6 February 20, 2010 People remember all the parodies and insist that it was the truth, much like Sarah Palin being blamed for things said by Tina Fey. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #7 February 21, 2010 QuotePeople remember all the parodies and insist that it was the truth, much like Sarah Palin being blamed for things said by Tina Fey. Consider the logic: if it weren't for Sarah Palin, Tina Fey never would have said them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #8 February 21, 2010 The logic of that fails. If a person never said something it is wrong to attribute it to them. People can no longer distinguish between TV shows and what has really occurred in the news. Should we judge all skydivers by the TV commercials featuring false skydivers? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,523 #9 February 21, 2010 QuotePeople remember all the parodies and insist that it was the truth, much like Sarah Palin being blamed for things said by Tina Fey. One of the funniest Palin impersonations that Fey did was one where she repeated what Palin had said word for word. Fey used just a little different emphasis but the words were the exact same."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #10 February 21, 2010 QuoteThe logic of that fails. If a person never said something it is wrong to attribute it to them. People can no longer distinguish between TV shows and what has really occurred in the news. Should we judge all skydivers by the TV commercials featuring false skydivers? Uh that has been going on for a while.. Ronnie RayGun got a few things in movies mixed up with real life..funny shit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickDG 23 #11 February 21, 2010 What parodies? When I, Frank Mott, and another rigger saw him say, "I'm in control," live on TV from the White House we all said the same thing, "WTF did he just say!" And if trying to make your point using that worthless piece of shit from Alaska as an example forget it. I haven't seen an episode of SNL since it was funny in 1975 . . . NickD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #12 February 21, 2010 Come on Nick.. Dont hold back! Tell us what you really think! Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #13 February 21, 2010 QuoteThe logic of that fails. Zooom. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wayneflorida 0 #14 February 21, 2010 Went from Lt. Colonel in 1967 to Four Star in 1973. Pretty fast track, but it helped working for the President. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #15 February 21, 2010 Quote What parodies? When I, Frank Mott, and another rigger saw him say, "I'm in control," live on TV from the White House we all said the same thing, "WTF did he just say!" I never saw that live, but I just watched the clip. In context, he seemed perfectly reasonable to me. He talked about the chain of succession and stated that he was subordinate to the Vice President. Hardly seemed like an egocentric power grab to me. As much as I love our free press, I think they get a little too full of themselves sometimes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #16 February 21, 2010 Quote Quote What parodies? When I, Frank Mott, and another rigger saw him say, "I'm in control," live on TV from the White House we all said the same thing, "WTF did he just say!" I never saw that live, but I just watched the clip. In context, he seemed perfectly reasonable to me. He talked about the chain of succession and stated that he was subordinate to the Vice President. Hardly seemed like an egocentric power grab to me. As much as I love our free press, I think they get a little too full of themselves sometimes. A few historical notes to this context: Haig got one thing wrong by neglecting to mention that presidential succession after VP is followed by the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate, and THEN by the Secretary of State. For someone born in 1925, and who was speaking under some stress of the moment, that was a somewhat understandable error, as presidential succession did proceed directly from VP to Secy of State until it was modified the late 1940's, when Haig was already an adult. The "I am in control" remark was thought to be insufficiently respectful of the Vice President; in part, it was demagogued some, and in part, it was an accurate reflection of the reputation Haig had earned in the Nixon and Ford Administrations as a power-grabber and self-promoter. At the same time, people though Haig looked stressed to the point of spazzed when he made these remarks. What actually happened was that he was watching the press briefing on TV from his office, and was aghast at what he thought was the spokesman's leaving the public impression that with the VP out of the building, nobody was in firm control at the White House. So (at age 57) he made a mad dash through the building to the press room, and when he got to the podium he was sweating and still out of breath from the physical exertion. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickDG 23 #17 February 21, 2010 I think the confusion comes from this: There is a loop hole in the 25th Amendment. It says the VP becomes President in the event of the President's resignation, death, OR after a written declaration the President can no longer discharge his duties. If no letter exists beforehand and the President is medicated or under anesthesia he can't write or sign such a letter. In Reagan's case, the Press was correct in their concern although I'm not sure Reagan was medicated right off the bat. But if he was (and no one knew one way or the other at the time) than legally no one was in charge. And that's what made Haig's statement troublesome. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-fifth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution NickD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #18 February 21, 2010 That's correct. If the President doesn't sign an Article 3 letter, who is in charge of the executive branch - and wields the power as Commander in Chief of the military - in the interim (no matter how brief) between a president's incapacity and the issuance of an Article 4 declaration? (Or to put it another way - during this interim, who commands "The Football" - the briefcase with the nuclear codes?) The Constitution is silent as to that question; and that loophole could easily set up a Constitutional (and military command) crisis between the Vice President and the Secretary of State. I haven't researched it (yet), but it leaves me wondering why this loophole, which is a pretty obvious one, wasn't closed-up during the final revision of the 25th Amendment. (Come to think of it, in The West Wing TV program, this loophole is acknowledged by discussion of the fictional president having a pre-signed Article 3 letter in a file drawer and ready to go in the event of his incapacity.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
