Author Description

To a degree virtually unmatched by any other American of his time, Alexander M. Haig, Jr. has participated in an astounding range of historical events. Among them: the Korean War, Vietnam, the Secret War against Castro's Cuba, Watergate, Nixon's establishment of diplomatic relations with China, the events surrounding the tragic death of John F. Kennedy, and the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan. Now Alexander Haig, the man who served six U.S. presidents, presents a fiery, fascinating portrait of these events in the order that they occurred in his life, from his post as a young Army staff officer under MacArthur and combat in Korea to his rise inside the White House, to his stormy career as Richard Nixon's last Chief of Staff and his years as a Supreme Commander of NATO. In the process, Haig unravels mysteries and misperceptions of much of recent America and world political history and those who helped make it, from presidents to apparatchiks. Looking back at a career filled with controversy and honors, Haig draws provocative conclusions about American policy successes and failures. Looking ahead, he challenges the current crop of American politicians to improve our record in international affairs and makes specific recommendations by solving the most pressing issues at home, including urban decay and the budget deficit. In a dramatic, blow-by-blow account of Watergate Haig gives new and fascinating commentary on such key elements as the "Saturday Night Massacre," the Nixon tap, and "Deep Throat." In addition, he provides the most thorough, fascinating portrait yet of Nixon himself during that time - why the essentially reclusive President made the decisions he did, and how he was both served and sabotaged by those around him. Inner Circles gives unforgettable insights into the towering figures of Haig's career, including Lyndon Johnson, whose inferiority complex about the Kennedys led to a mismanagement of the Vietnam situation, Henry Kissinger, and such othe