This is the last in a series of profiles published over the past year in which TIME has explored the backgrounds, personalities and political outlooks of the 1988 Democratic and Republican presidential candidates.
Alexander Haig picked the wrong 15 minutes to be famous. Shortly after President Reagan was shot in 1981, Haig went on television to reassure a frightened world that someone at the White House was in charge. Sweating, a crack in his voice, he uttered the immortal words, "I am in control here." He came off like a character from Dr. Strangelove, and has never been allowed to forget...
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