Donald Rumsfeld's biography:
After completing his education at Princeton University, Rumsfeld served in the US Navy from 1954 to 1957. He then pursued a career in politics, representing the Republican Party in the US Congress on several occasions. In 1954, he married Joyce Pierson and had three children with her.
Rumsfeld's political career continued to rise, with him serving as economic advisor to President Richard Nixon in 1969/70 and 1971/72. He also served as US envoy to NATO from 1973/74 and was elevated to White House chief of staff by President Gerald Ford in 1974/75. He then served as Secretary of Defense under Ford from 1975 to 1977.
After Ford left office, Rumsfeld lost his political office in 1977 and turned to business. He held senior positions at G. D. Searle and Company from 1977 to 1985 and later served as a senior advisor to William Blair and Company from 1985 to 1990.
Rumsfeld received 11 academic honorary degrees and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and the Eisenhower Medal in 1993. He made a political comeback in 2001 when George W. Bush became president and was once again appointed as Defense Minister.
As Secretary of Defense, Rumsfeld was at the center of global attention, particularly following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the US military strike against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. He was a strong supporter of his president's war policy, which led to increasing public criticism and allegations of torture against American soldiers.
Despite this, Rumsfeld was able to retain his office during President Bush's second term in office. After the Iraq War, he emerged as a warning about Iran's terrorist potential and China's growing military power. He also made several trips to Latin America to ensure the support of local governments in the US dispute with Venezuela.
Following the Republican defeat in the 2006 congressional elections, Bush announced Rumsfeld's resignation as Secretary of Defense on November 8, 2006. He was succeeded by Robert Gates. Rumsfeld's memoirs were published in February 2011 under the title "Known and Unknown: A Memoir".
Donald Rumsfeld passed away on June 29, 2021, in Taos, New Mexico.
