Alexander Haig and the Regan Assassination
In 1981, following the March 30 assassination attempt on Reagan, Haig asserted before reporters “I am in control here” as a result of Reagan’s hospitalization, indicating that, while President Reagan had not “transfer[red] the helm”, Haig was in fact directing White House Crisis Management until Vice President Bush arrived in Washington to assume that role.
Constitutionally, gentlemen, you have the President, the Vice President, and the Secretary of State in that order, and should the President decide he wants to transfer the helm to the Vice President, he will do so. He has not done that. As of now, I am in control here, in the White House, pending return of the Vice President and in close touch with him. If something came up, I would check with him, of course.
—Alexander Haig, Alexander Haig, autobiographical profile in TIME Magazine, April 2, 1984[26]