Donald Rumsfeld | |
---|---|
13th and 21st United States Secretary of Defense | |
In office January 20, 2001 – December 18, 2006 |
|
President | George W. Bush |
Deputy |
Paul Wolfowitz Gordon England |
Preceded by | Bill Cohen |
Succeeded by | Bob Gates |
In office November 20, 1975 – January 20, 1977 |
|
President | Gerald Ford |
Deputy | Bill Clements |
Preceded by | James Schlesinger |
Succeeded by | Harold Brown |
6th White House Chief of Staff | |
In office September 21, 1974 – November 20, 1975 |
|
President | Gerald Ford |
Preceded by | Alexander Haig |
Succeeded by | Dick Cheney |
9th United States Ambassador to NATO | |
In office February 2, 1973 – September 21, 1974 |
|
President |
Richard Nixon Gerald Ford |
Preceded by | David Kennedy |
Succeeded by | David Bruce |
Director of the Cost of Living Council | |
In office October 15, 1971 – February 2, 1973 |
|
Preceded by | Position Established |
Succeeded by | Position Abolished |
Counselor to the President | |
In office December 11, 1970 – October 15, 1971 Served with Robert Finch |
|
President | Richard Nixon |
Preceded by |
Bryce Harlow Pat Moynihan |
Succeeded by | Robert Finch |
3rd Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity | |
In office May 27, 1969 – December 11, 1970 |
|
President | Richard Nixon |
Preceded by | Bertrand Harding |
Succeeded by | Frank Carlucci |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 13th district |
|
In office January 3, 1963 – March 20, 1969 |
|
Preceded by | Marguerite Church |
Succeeded by | Phil Crane |
Personal details | |
Born |
Donald Henry Rumsfeld July 9, 1932 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Joyce Pierson |
Children | 3 |
Education | Princeton University (BA) |
Signature | |
Website | Library website |
Military service | |
Nickname(s) | "Rummy" |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1954–1957 (active) 1957–1975 (Reserve) 1975–1989 (Ready Reserve) |
Rank | Captain |
Donald Henry "Don" Rumsfeld (born July 9, 1932) is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the second oldest (after Leon Panetta) 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).
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' 13th Congressional District, winning in 1962 at the age of 30. He was a leading co-sponsor of the Freedom of Information Act. Rumsfeld reluctantly 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 would also head 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 Secretary of Defense in 1975.