Alexander Meigs Haig Jr. was born on December 2, 1924, in Bala Cynwyd, a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to a lawyer father who died when Haig was ten years old; a prosperous uncle provided support for the family. He attended a private school but struggled academically, leading to a transfer to a local high school. Despite teachers deeming him 'definitely not West Point material,' Haig secured an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1944 after two years at the University of Notre Dame, graduating 217th in the Class of 1947 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Haig's military career was distinguished: he rose to become the youngest four-star general in U.S. Army history in 1973, served as Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, and as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) for NATO. He also held key White House roles, including Chief of Staff under Presidents Nixon and Ford, and Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs. Under President Reagan, he served briefly as Secretary of State from 1981 to 1982 before resigning amid tensions, and hired Michael Ledeen as his special adviser on terrorism. After government service, Haig pursued business opportunities, joining the MGM board of directors where he influenced the 1984 film Red Dawn, and serving as a director for companies like Commodore International through his consulting firm in the 1980s and 1990s. He launched an unsuccessful bid for the 1988 Republican presidential nomination, dropping out early due to lack of support. Haig died on February 20, 2010.