Donald Rumsfeld, R.I.P.

A wonderful public servant and patriot, Donald Rumsfeld, 

has been given his final reward for a life of devoted service  

to his fellow citizens, both in times of war and peace. 

Passing on June 29, he was 88 years old. 

A skilled cabinet member for four presidents, Secretary of

Defense for two, President George W. Bush (whom Rums-

feld served in this capacity) said of him that he carried out 

his "duty ... with strength, skill, and honor." He also enjoyed

a good scrap, having been a successful wrestler while in college

and had crossed verbal swords with many in Washington,

including with other members of the Bush cabinet. Rumsfeld

was regarded by those with whom he had served as being equally

smart and combative, very patriotic and politically savvy.

In addition to his many years in Washington he spent nearly a 

quarter of a century in corporate America, giving him an 

appreciation of both the public and private sectors. 

After retiring from government in 2008 Rumsfeld founded 

the Rumsfeld Foundation to promote public service and to 

work with charities that provide support for military families

and wounded veterans. Called "Rummy" by those who knew

him and those that never met him but certainly were familiar

with him and his work he was ambitious, energetic, witty,

and exuded personal warmth while also irritating some with

his brusque style; he employed biting humor to put his 

verbal opponents off guard. He did, however, build a network

of people loyal to him who admired his work ethic, intelligence,

and impatience with those who didn't share his vision and ideas,

constantly arguing against them and his sense of urgency.

Although the Iraq War went on longer than Rumsfeld thought it

would and wanted it to, dealing him a painful setback, he scored

many more pluses than minuses during his time in Washington. 

Rumsfeld was Secretary of Defense when the World Trade Center

and the Pentagon were attacked by suicide hijackers from the 
Middle East on September 11, 2001. He oversaw the U.S. invasion

of Afghanistan and the toppling of the Taliban regime following 

that fateful day. A solid fixture on television briefings during the 

war, Rumsfeld was praised for his blunt, no-nonsense talk and

uncompromising style. 

Thank you, Secretary Rumsfeld for your service. America was made 

stronger for your having been in the right place at the right time. 

Requiescat in Pace. 

MEM