Alexander Meigs Haig State of Residency: Connecticut Appointment: Jan 22, 1981 Entry on Duty: Jan 22, 1981 Termination of Appointment: Jul 5, 1982 Presidency: Reagan

As Secretary of State

• Second military leader to head the Department of State

• Helped formulate a policy opposing the expansion of Soviet influence

• Mediated dispute between Britain and Argentinians over the small British force stationed on the Faulkland islands

• After repeated disputed over little authority in foreign policy, he resigned

Foreign Travels of Secretary of State Alexander Haig

Profile
Born:December 2, 1924
Died:
Married: Patricia Antionette Fox
Education: U.S. Military Academy; Georgetown University
Occupation: Military

Government Positions

• Aide to General Douglas MacArthur in Japan

• Staff officer in the Department of the Army at the Pentagon in 1962

• Special Assistant to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara in 1964

• Went to Vietnam as a batallion commander in an infantry unit; awarded the Distinguished Service Cross; promoted to colonel

• Military assistant to Henry Kissinger in 1969

• Deputy assistant to the President for national security affairs 1971

• Nixon appointed him for several foreign assignments, including Vietnam peace talks in Paris

• Nixon made him Army vice chief of staff with rank of four-star general and later became Chief of the White House staff

• President Ford appointed Haig supreme allied commander of NATO forces in Europe 1974-1979; he later resigned from this post

Notable Events