This is Seven Days In May, not "creative speculation"...

[OldDem2012]

110. Very few people took note of the fact that two-star Army general Al Haig was appointed as....

Nixon's Chief of Staff during the last year of Nixon's presidency, but that was a very interesting by-product of Watergate.

General Haig basically ran the White House acting as the president, but he didn't report to Nixon. He actually reported to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Additionally, the "football" was removed from the White House during that last year because Nixon was viewed by the military and others as being mentally unstable.

That last year prior to Nixon's resignation was actually the result of a non-violent and very skillful coup carried out by the military. When Ford took over the presidency, the military faded back into the woodwork.

Additionally, the powers behind the scene never wanted Nixon to testify in any trial or hearing. He knew too much about too many skeletons in the US closet.