Rumsfeld, Donald, 1932-2021
Name Entries
person
Rumsfeld, Donald, 1932-2021
Computed Name Heading
Name Components
Surname :
Rumsfeld
Forename :
Donald
Date :
1932-2021
eng
Latn
authorizedForm
rda
ラムズフェルド, ドナルド, 1932-2021
Computed Name Heading
Name Components
Surname :
ラムズフェルド
Forename :
ドナルド
Date :
1932-2021
jpn
Jpan
alternativeForm
rda
Rumsfeld, Donald Henry, 1932-2021
Computed Name Heading
Name Components
Surname :
Rumsfeld
Forename :
Donald Henry
Date :
1932-2021
eng
Latn
alternativeForm
rda
Genders
Male
Exist Dates
Biographical History
Donald Henry Rumsfeld (July 9, 1932 – June 29, 2021) was an American politician, government official and businessman who served as Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under Gerald Ford, and again from 2001 to 2006 under George W. Bush. He was both the youngest and the second-oldest person to have served as Secretary of Defense. Additionally, Rumsfeld was a three-term U.S. Congressman from Illinois (1963–1969), director of the Office of Economic Opportunity (1969–1970), counsellor to the president (1969–1973), the United States Permanent Representative to NATO (1973–1974), and White House Chief of Staff (1974–1975). Between his terms as Secretary of Defense, he served as the CEO and chairman of several companies.
Born in Illinois, Rumsfeld attended Princeton University, graduating in 1954 with a degree in political science. After serving in the Navy for three years, he mounted a campaign for Congress in Illinois's 13th Congressional District and serving as a legislative assistant to , winning in 1962 at the age of 30. While in Congress, he was a leading co-sponsor of the Freedom of Information Act. Rumsfeld accepted an appointment by President Richard Nixon to head the Office of Economic Opportunity in 1969; appointed counsellor by Nixon and entitled to Cabinet-level status, he also headed up the Economic Stabilization Program before being appointed ambassador to NATO. Called back to Washington in August 1974, Rumsfeld was appointed chief of staff by President Ford. Rumsfeld recruited a young one-time staffer of his, Dick Cheney, to succeed him when Ford nominated him to be Secretary of Defense in 1975. When Ford lost the 1976 election, Rumsfeld returned to private business and financial life, and was named president and CEO of the pharmaceutical corporation G. D. Searle & Company. He was later named CEO of General Instrument from 1990 to 1993 and chairman of Gilead Sciences from 1997 to 2001.
Rumsfeld was appointed Secretary of Defense for a second time in January 2001 by President George W. Bush. As Secretary of Defense, Rumsfeld played a central role in the invasion of Afghanistan and invasion of Iraq. Before and during the Iraq War, he claimed that Iraq had an active weapons of mass destruction program; yet no stockpiles were ever found. A Pentagon Inspector General report found that Rumsfeld's top policy aide "developed, produced, and then disseminated alternative intelligence assessments on the Iraq and al Qaida relationship, which included some conclusions that were inconsistent with the consensus of the Intelligence Community, to senior decision-makers". Rumsfeld's tenure was controversial for its use of torture and the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal. Rumsfeld gradually lost political support and resigned in late 2006. In his retirement years, he published an autobiography, Known and Unknown: A Memoir, as well as Rumsfeld's Rules: Leadership Lessons in Business, Politics, War, and Life. He died on June 29, 2021, at the age of 88.
eng
Latn
External Related CPF
https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n93082884
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/10573956
https://viaf.org/viaf/41974687
https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n93082884
https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q184650
Other Entity IDs (Same As)
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Languages Used
eng
Latn
Subjects
Astronautics and state
Astronautics and state
Astronautics, Military
Astronautics, Military
Balance of trade
Balance of trade
Ballistic missile defenses
Ballistic missile defenses
Campaign funds
Campaign funds
Civil rights
Civil rights
Draft
Draft
Economic stabilization
Economic stabilization
Eisenhower fellowships
Eisenhower fellowships
Freedom of information
Freedom of information
Law of the sea
Law of the sea
Legislative oversight
Legislative oversight
National security
National security
Pharmaceutical industry
Pharmaceutical industry
Presidents
Presidents
Presidents
Presidents
Science and state
Science and state
Space vehicle accidents
Space vehicle accidents
Terrorism
Terrorism
Urban policy
Urban policy
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
Weapons of mass destruction
Weapons of mass destruction
Nationalities
Americans
Activities
Occupations
Authors
Businessmen
Cabinet officers
Chief executive officers
Diplomats
Investment bankers
Legislative assistants
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Legal Statuses
Places
Winnetka
IL, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Coronado
CA, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Cleveland
OH, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
District of Columbia
DC, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Colfax County
NM, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Brussels
BRU, BE
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Taos
NM, US
AssociatedPlace
Death
Chicago
IL, US
AssociatedPlace
Birth
Grosse Ile
MI, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Princeton
NJ, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Convention Declarations
<conventionDeclaration><citation>VIAF</citation></conventionDeclaration>