Donald Rumsfeld
The 13th and 21st U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld was active in business and government through eight decades of American history. A former naval aviator, Rumsfeld served as a U.S. Congressman, U.S. Ambassador to NATO, White House Chief of Staff under President Gerald Ford, Special Presidential Envoy to the Middle East under President Ronald Reagan, and Chief Executive Officer of two Fortune 500 companies and Chairman of a third.
July 9, 1932
Donald Henry Rumsfeld is born July 9th in Chicago, IL, the second child to George and Jeannette Rumsfeld. His sister, Joan, is 2 years old.
1954
Rumsfeld graduates Princeton University, is commissioned Ensign in the U.S. Navy and marries Joyce Pierson, his highschool sweetheart.
1956
Rumsfeld named All Navy Wrestling Champion.
1962
At age 30, Rumsfeld is elected to the U.S. Congress from the 13th Congressional district of Illinois.
1974
Rumsfeld is named White House Chief of Staff.
1975
Rumsfeld is sworn in as the 13th U.S. Secretary of Defense, the youngest in the country's history.
1977
Rumsfeld becomes President, CEO and Member of the Board of Directors of G.D. Searle & Co.
2001
Rumsfeld is sworn in at the 21st Secretary of Defense and shortly thereafter, leads the Department of Defense in its response to the terrorist attacks of September 11th.
2007
Rumsfeld and his wife, Joyce, establish the Rumsfeld Foundation to support leadership, public service and free political and economic systems at home and abroad.
2011
Rumsfeld authors his #1 New York Times best-selling memoir, Known and Unknown, and launches Rumsfeld.com, an archival site with over 4,000 primary source documents to accompany the book.
2013
- Rumsfeld authors his second book, Rumsfeld's Rules.
2016
Rumsfeld launches an app called Churchill Solitaire.
2018
Rumsfeld publishes his final book titled, “When the Center Held: Gerald Ford and the Rescue of the American Presidency.”