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New York, April 8—Back to Haig. What are the grounds for discontent?

It was indeed tactless for him to display before a congressional committee his displeasure with the arrangements, contrived by Mr. Reagan’s staff and ratified by Reagan, on the question who would be in charge in the event of a crisis. Since it usually makes sense to meditate alternative explanations to those of narrow-mindedness when examining the motives of experienced, able men, it would seem fair to assume that General Haig instinctively thought of “crisis” situations as those caused by international events. The most obvious recent historical example is of course the hostage seizure. Remember that the President had spoken on the telephone with his Secretary of State the very morning the decision was subsequently released identifying Vice President Bush as chairman of the crisis management team in the absence of the President—and President Reagan had made no mention of the forthcoming announcement. Haig had hardly had time to assimilate the news when he was asked about it by a congressional committee. He is being criticized for having spoken the exact truth to Congress. In answer to the question, Was he upset by the President’s arrangements, Haig’s answer was: “Yes.”

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William F. Buckley Jr.

William F. Buckley Jr. founded National Review magazine in 1955.

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New York, April 8—Back to Haig. What are the grounds for discontent?

It was indeed tactless for him to display before a congressional committee his displeasure with the arrangements, contrived by Mr. Reagan’s staff and ratified by Reagan, on the question who would be in charge in the event of a crisis. Since it usually makes sense to meditate alternative explanations to those of narrow-mindedness when examining the motives of experienced, able men, it would seem fair to assume that General Haig instinctively thought of “crisis” situations as those caused by international events. The most obvious recent historical example is of course the hostage seizure. Remember that the President had spoken on the telephone with his Secretary of State the very morning the decision was subsequently released identifying Vice President Bush as chairman of the crisis management team in the absence of the President—and President Reagan had made no mention of the forthcoming announcement. Haig had hardly had time to assimilate the news when he was asked about it by a congressional committee. He is being criticized for having spoken the exact truth to Congress. In answer to the question, Was he upset by the President’s arrangements, Haig’s answer was: “Yes.”