Donald Rumsfeld, Former Two-Time Defense Secretary, Dead At 88
Donald Rumsfeld, the former defense secretary who ran the Pentagon when the U.S. launched wars against Iraq and Afghanistan, has died at the age of 88. His family announced the news a few minutes ago.
Rumsfeld served as Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under Gerald Ford, and again from 2001 to 2006 under George W. Bush. He is 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 (1963–69), director of the Office of Economic Opportunity (1969–70), counselor to the president (1969–73), the United States Permanent Representative to NATO (1973–74), and White House Chief of Staff (1974–75).
Between his terms as Secretary of Defense, he served as the CEO and chairman of several companies. He died surrounded by his family in New Mexico. His family released a statement that said: “It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Donald Rumsfeld, an American statesman and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.
“At 88, he was surrounded by family in his beloved Taos, New Mexico.
“History may remember him for his extraordinary accomplishments over six decades of public service.
“But for those who knew him best and whose lives were forever changed as a result, we will remember his unwavering love for his wife Joyce, his family and friends, and the integrity he brought to a life dedicated to country.”
From Fox News:
Donald Rumsfeld, who charted an impressive Washington career serving under four presidents but whose legacy largely was defined by his controversial tenure as defense secretary during the Iraq war, has died, his family announced Wednesday. He was 88.
Rumsfeld, a confident adviser to power with a trenchant style that made him admirers as well as enemies, had a long and winding career in public life that spanned five decades.
He had been a congressman and a White House chief of staff, and had a successful corporate career, too. But it was his second term as secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 – during the most tumultuous period of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars – for which he is most known.
A statement from the family of Donald Rumsfeld: pic.twitter.com/AlKYxVvqgF
— Donald Rumsfeld (@RumsfeldOffice) June 30, 2021
"When I was a Navy pilot, the rule if you're lost is to climb, conserve, and confess. Get some altitude. Take a deep breath, and get on the radio and say you're lost.”
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 30, 2021
— Donald Rumsfeld
BREAKING: Donald Rumsfeld, who served as secretary of Defense under Presidents Gerald Ford and George W. Bush, has died, according to his family. He was 88. https://t.co/jf1lLcR331
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 30, 2021