Rumsfeld, Donald Henry (1932- )

US Republican politician, defense secretary 1975-77 and 2001-2006. A veteran of the Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford Republican administrations of the 1970s, from 2001 he formulated an aggressive US defence doctrine that supports the use of pre-emptive strikes against countries that are perceived as risks to the USA, particularly those supporting international terrorism. In 2003, as part of the George W Bush administration, Rumsfeld oversaw the US-led Iraq War to overthrow Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, based on the assertion that Iraq was developing weapons of mass destruction (a claim subsequently unproven). In 2006 he faced criticism from retired US generals for failing to have a clear strategy for winning the peace in Iraq, where civil war had ensued and US military casualties mounted. In November 2006 he resigned, after the Republican Party suffered reverses in congressional elections.

After a period in investment banking, he was elected to the House of Representatives, in 1962, serving a Chicago constituency.

In 1969 he was appointed to Nixon's cabinet, as director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, and went on to serve as director of the Economic Stabilization Program 1971-72 and US ambassador to NATO 1973-74, before being appointed first chief of staff 1974-75 and then defense secretary 1975-77 during the Gerald Ford administration.

As defense secretary he has given support to the building of a US National Missile Defense system, to provide protection against ballistic missiles.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, into a family of German descent, he studied at Princeton University and served in the US Navy 1954-57. In 1957 he went to Washington, DC to work as a congressional aide. From 1977, he pursued a successful career in business, as chief executive officer and later chair of the pharmaceuticals giant G D Searle & Co 1977-85 and General Instrument Corporation 1990-93, and later chair of Gilead Sciences, Inc. During the 1980s and 1990s he also continued public service in advisory and special envoy positions for presidents Ronald Reagan and George H W Bush.