Donald Rumsfeld Bio (Biography)
Real name:
Donald Henry Rumsfeld
Date of birth:
July 9. 1932
Place of birth:
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Astrology Sign:
Cancer
Height:
5' 7½" (1.71 m)
Tags:
Biography
Donald Rumsfeld is a politician who served both as the thirteen and twenty first Secretary of Defense to the President of the United States. Rumsfeld served under President Gerald Ford from 1975-1977 and under President George W. Bush from 2001-2006. He is the only person to have held the position for two non-consecutive terms and served the second-longest number of years as Secretary of Defense. Rumsfeld also held numerous positions under President Nixon.
Rumsfeld was born in Chicago in 1932 and grew up in Winnetka, Illinois. During his youth, he was an Eagle Scout and later put this experience to use as a ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch. He graduated from Princeton in 1954, and during his time there, Rumsfeld shared a room with Frank Carlucci, who would also later hold the position of Secretary of Defense. Rumsfeld attended classes at Georgetown University Law Center, but he didn't finish his law degree.
In 1954, Rumsfeld began a career as a naval aviator and instructor, serving in several bases and flying fighters. He transferred to the reserve in 1957, then to the Individual Ready Reserve when President Ford named him to his cabinet in 1975. Rumsfeld retired from the Navy in 1989 with the rank of Captain. While in the Navy reserve, Rumsfeld began his political career. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Representative from the thirteen district in Illinois in 1962 and re-elected for three more terms. During this time, he served on various committees and was the co-founder of the Japanese-American Inter-Parliamentary Council. He resigned during his fourth term to serve as a member of Nixon's cabinet in the position of Director of the United States Office of Economic Opportunity.
After his years working with President Nixon, Rumsfeld was asked to serve as transition chairman for President Ford, whom he had been close friends with during his time in the House. Ford later named him his Chief of Staff (1974-75) and his Secretary of Defense (1975-77). At the end of his term, Rumsfeld received the highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Rumsfeld then returned to private life, serving as the CEO, President, and finally Chairman of G.D. Searle & Company, a pharmaceutical company that produces Dramamine and Metamucil. Rumsfeld revived the company financially, even getting the official stamp of approval to market their controversial artificial sweetener, NutraSweet. Following his retirement from Searle in 1985, Rumsfeld continued in private business while holding several posts in the Reagan Administration.
Today, Rumsfeld is most known for serving as President George W. Bush's Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006, during which he would be called upon to deal with the September 11 terrorist attacks, North Korea's nuclear capabilities, and the War on Terror. Rumsfeld was often a target for those criticizing the Bush administration, and despite the President's support, Rumsfeld resigned his position on November 8, 2006. Now retired, Rumsfeld lives with his wife in Maryland.
Rumsfeld was born in Chicago in 1932 and grew up in Winnetka, Illinois. During his youth, he was an Eagle Scout and later put this experience to use as a ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch. He graduated from Princeton in 1954, and during his time there, Rumsfeld shared a room with Frank Carlucci, who would also later hold the position of Secretary of Defense. Rumsfeld attended classes at Georgetown University Law Center, but he didn't finish his law degree.
In 1954, Rumsfeld began a career as a naval aviator and instructor, serving in several bases and flying fighters. He transferred to the reserve in 1957, then to the Individual Ready Reserve when President Ford named him to his cabinet in 1975. Rumsfeld retired from the Navy in 1989 with the rank of Captain. While in the Navy reserve, Rumsfeld began his political career. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Representative from the thirteen district in Illinois in 1962 and re-elected for three more terms. During this time, he served on various committees and was the co-founder of the Japanese-American Inter-Parliamentary Council. He resigned during his fourth term to serve as a member of Nixon's cabinet in the position of Director of the United States Office of Economic Opportunity.
After his years working with President Nixon, Rumsfeld was asked to serve as transition chairman for President Ford, whom he had been close friends with during his time in the House. Ford later named him his Chief of Staff (1974-75) and his Secretary of Defense (1975-77). At the end of his term, Rumsfeld received the highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Rumsfeld then returned to private life, serving as the CEO, President, and finally Chairman of G.D. Searle & Company, a pharmaceutical company that produces Dramamine and Metamucil. Rumsfeld revived the company financially, even getting the official stamp of approval to market their controversial artificial sweetener, NutraSweet. Following his retirement from Searle in 1985, Rumsfeld continued in private business while holding several posts in the Reagan Administration.
Today, Rumsfeld is most known for serving as President George W. Bush's Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006, during which he would be called upon to deal with the September 11 terrorist attacks, North Korea's nuclear capabilities, and the War on Terror. Rumsfeld was often a target for those criticizing the Bush administration, and despite the President's support, Rumsfeld resigned his position on November 8, 2006. Now retired, Rumsfeld lives with his wife in Maryland.