Social : Joined group 1954 (Joined Navy three years)
Relationship : Marriage 27 December 1954 (Joyce Pierson) chart Placidus Equal_H.
Work : New Job 1957 (Joined a political staff)
Work : New Career 1962 (Elected to Congress)
Work : New Job 21 April 1969 (Office of Economic Opportunity) chart Placidus Equal_H.
Work : Gain social status December 1970 (Full-time White House member) chart Placidus Equal_H.
Work : New Job January 1973 (NATO ambassador) chart Placidus Equal_H.
Work : New Job August 1974 (Chief of Staff) chart Placidus Equal_H.
Work : New Job October 1974 (Named coordinator of White House operations) chart Placidus Equal_H.
Work : New Job 1975 (Secretary of Defense)
Work : Prize 1975 (Distinguished Eagle Scout Award)
Work : New Career 1977 (Left Washington for private industry)
Work : Prize 1977 (Presidential Medal of Freedom)
Work : New Job June 1977 (CEO of Searle) chart Placidus Equal_H.
Work : Prize 1984 (George Catlett Marshal Award)
Work : New Career 1985 (Private business)
Work : Prize 1985 (Woodrow Wilson Award)
Work : Gain social status 1990 (CEO of General Instrument)
Work : Prize 1993 (Dwight Eisenhower Award)
Work : Gain social status 29 December 2000 (Nominated to Bush cabinet) chart Placidus Equal_H.
Work : Lose social status May 2004 (news and pictures that US military tortured Iraqi detainees) chart Placidus Equal_H.
Work : Fired/Laid off/Quit 8 November 2006 (From Bush cabinet role of Secretary of Defense) chart Placidus Equal_H.
Work : Published/ Exhibited/ Released 8 February 2011 (Memoir, "Known and Unknown") chart Placidus Equal_H.
Death:Death by Disease 29 June 2021 (Multiple myeloma, age 88) chart Placidus Equal_H.
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. Donald Rumsfeld was born to George and Jeannette (Husted) Rumsfeld who resided in Evanston, Illinois. Five years later, the family moved to nearby Winnetka where he and his sister, Joan, enjoyed the suburban lifestyle of children of a successful realtor. He attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, graduating in 1950 with an academic scholarship to Princeton. At Princeton, he distinguished himself in sports as captain of the wrestling team. Upon graduation in 1954, Rumsfeld joined the U.S. Navy as an ensign and served until 1957, eventually earning the rank of lieutenant. After his discharge from the Navy in 1957, he joined the administrative staff of Congressman David Dennison of Ohio. Later that year, he entered a banking and investment firm in Chicago. He won a seat in the House in 1962, and served three more terms. President Nixon named Rumsfeld Chief of the Office of Economic Opportunity on 21 April 1969, only months after becoming president. He resigned from Congress and was confirmed by the Senate and sworn in on 26 May 1969. In January 1973 he was posted to Brussels, Belgium as NATO ambassador. In August 1974 he was called back to Washington to serve as Chief of Staff of the White House for President Ford. He served as a cabinet member from 1974 to 1975, and as the 13th U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977, the youngest in history. Rumsfeld left Washington after over 20 years of public service to lecture at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of International Affairs and at Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management prior to entering private enterprise. In June 1977, he took the job of Chief Executive Officer of G.D. Searle & Co., an international pharmaceutical company, serving there until 1985. He was named Outstanding Chief Executive Officer in the Pharmaceutical Industry in 1980 and 1981 for his turnarounds at Searle. From 1985 to 1990 he was in private business. From 1990 to 1993, he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Instrument Corporation, which he took public and then returned to private business. He continued his public service on various federal posts and civic activities. His honors include: Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, 1975; George Catlett Marshal Award, 1984; Woodrow Wilson Award, 1985; Dwight Eisenhower Medal, 1993; and 11 honorary degrees. He was awarded the nation’s highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1977. Rumsfeld married Joyce Pierson, a high school classmate and native of Montana, on 27 December 1954. They had three children: Valerie, Marcy and Nicholas. He was trim, muscular and personable. He often worked twelve-hour days. He relaxed by reading, skiing, occasional rounds of tennis and less-frequent workouts on the trampoline. On 29 December 2000, he was nomRead less
Date of Birth: July 9, 1932
Place of Birth: Chicago, United States
Donald Henry Rumsfeld was a prominent American politician and businessman, serving as the Secretary of Defense under President Gerald Ford and President George W. Bush. He was one of the key architects of the Iraq War and played a significant role in U.S. military policy during his tenure. He had a long and varied career in both the public and private sectors, beginning his political career as a congressman from Illinois.
As of the latest updates, Donald Rumsfeld passed away on June 29, 2021, at the age of 88. His legacy continues to be a subject of debate and analysis, especially concerning his role in the Iraq War and his tenure as Secretary of Defense. Posthumously, discussions about his strategies, decisions, and their impacts on global politics remain prevalent in political and academic circles.
Rumsfeld was not known to be active on social media platforms personally. However, discussions about his policies and legacy continue to be prominent on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, where political analysts, historians, and the general public weigh in with their perspectives.
Before his passing, Rumsfeld was involved in several initiatives, including the Rumsfeld Foundation, which he established with his wife, Joyce. The foundation focused on encouraging public service and providing scholarships for students from Central Asia and the Caucasus regions. It also supported military charities and promoted leadership in free political and economic systems.
Donald Rumsfeld authored several books, with "Known and Unknown: A Memoir" being among the most notable. In this memoir, he detailed his extensive career in public service, offering insights into his decision-making processes and views on various political matters. His writings and speeches remain a valuable resource for understanding American defense policies during his tenure.
Rumsfeld's legacy is complex, marked by his strategic acumen and controversial decisions. His approach to military modernization and defense strategies continues to influence Pentagon policies. Critics and supporters alike assess his impact on U.S. military history, often focusing on his role in the post-9/11 era and the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Donald Rumsfeld's life and career were characterized by influential and often contentious decisions that shaped American military and foreign policy. His contributions and controversies remain subjects of study and discussion, reflecting the complexities of leadership in times of conflict and change.