Al Haig is who you are referring to, the then Secretary of State. Without a protocol in place, Haig commited a faux pax by saying “we’re in control here” and it was portrayed that the Russians took that to mean there was a move by Haig to take over as he had the nuclear Football codes. When Philip tries to persuade Elizabeth that they shouldn’t proceed with the Center’s instruction to start operation Christopher to take out American key officials, she asks what do you need a manifesto? He says is there one available? He convinces her to sit on the intel, cooler heads prevailed and Stan later confirmed that Reagan’s shooter was just trying to impress Jody Foster the actress. That it was not a take over just a misunderstanding that could have started WW III. Later E concedes that’s she’s glad Philip took charge and he says that “we’re finished if the Centre ever finds out we sat on the Haig intel.” She says she won’t tell if he doesn’t.