Donald Rumsfeld
21st United States Secretary of Defense
In office January 20, 2001 ? December 18, 2006
President	George W. Bush
Deputy	Paul Wolfowitz (2001-2005) Gordon R. England (2005-2007)
Preceded by	William Cohen
Succeeded by	Robert Gates
13th United States Secretary of Defense
In office November 20, 1975 ? January 20, 1977
President	Gerald Ford
Deputy	Bill Clements
Preceded by	James R. Schlesinger
Succeeded by	Harold Brown
6th White House Chief of Staff
In office September 1974 ? November 20, 1975
President	Gerald Ford
Preceded by	Alexander Haig
Succeeded by	Dick Cheney
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois 's 13th Congressional district
In office January 3, 1963 ? March 20, 1969
Preceded by	Marguerite S. Church
Succeeded by	Phil Crane
Personal details
Born	( 1932-07-09 ) July 9, 1932 Chicago , Illinois , U.S.
Died	June 29, 2021 (2021-06-29) (aged 88) Taos , New Mexico , U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Joyce H. Pierson
Children	Valerie J. Rumsfeld Richard Marcy K. Rumsfeld Walczak Donald Nicholas Rumsfeld
Alma mater	Princeton University Georgetown University Law Center
Signature
Military service
Branch/service	United States Navy
Rank	Captain

Donald Henry Rumsfeld (July 9, 1932 – June 29, 2021) was an American businessman and politician . Rumsfeld was the 13th United States Secretary of Defense under President Gerald Ford from 1975 to 1977, and the 21st Secretary of Defense under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2006.

He was both the youngest (43 years old) and the oldest (74 years old) person to have held the position, as well as the only person to have held the position for two non-consecutive terms. Rumsfeld was also the second-longest serving Secretary of Defense, behind Robert McNamara .

Rumsfeld was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois between 1963 until 1969. He was also the Ambassador to NATO from 1973 until 1974. He was also the White House Chief of Staff from 1974 until 1975 during the Gerald Ford presidency.

He ran for President of the United States in the 1988 election , but withdrew before any primary contests were held. He thought about running again in the 1996 election , but did not run and helped Bob Dole 's campaign.

Rumsfeld died of multiple myeloma at his ranch in Taos, New Mexico on June 29, 2021 at the age of 88. ^{[1] [2]}

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