General Alexander Haig, I was reminded of his overzealous overstatement during the assassination attempt on President Reagan. How in retrospect that seemed to be a turning point in his career.

But apparently, Alexander Haig did have a short fuse, as was evidenced by this exchange during his Senate Confirmation Hearings when he was appointed Secretary of State by President-Elect Reagan.

Alexander Haig (when asked about his possible role in Watergate): “Do you think I’m going to endorse what was done? No way! On either side! And I want to be sure that balance is kept. And nobody has a monopoly on virtue. Not even you Senator”.

Certainly explains why one Senator presented him with a box of nails for a birthday present. But he did garner respect from his peers and he was a figure in history during some tumultuous years.

And to have survived that deserves at least praise.