When he describes his ascent from a lowly congressional aide in the 1950s to. Known and unknown by donald rumsfeld is good and if someone was not following along during the iraq war or afghanistan war then this book is required. Rumsfelds recollection of his political career, mixes the policy and the personal. Early leaks of the books defiant take on his life, times, and conduct of the iraq war drew howls from some of the targets of his scoresettlingbut rumsfeld battles on, taking his unapologetic account to the public. From his unromantic wedding proposal to his assessment of the mishandling of hurricane katrina, the.
But the book places the reader in rumsfelds chair and is. I want to thank former secretary of defense, donald rumsfeld for spending so much time with us talking about his memoir, known and unknown. Rumsfeld named his autobiography known and unknown. Rumsfelds new memoir, known and unknown, comes from a remark he made about whether iraq had supplied or was willing to supply terrorists.
In an authors note at the start of the book, he expressly acknowledged the source of his memoirs title and mentioned a few examples of his statements prominence, including a wikipedia article. For webconnected readers, it features more than 500 links to neverbeforeavailable original documents from donald rumsfelds extensive personal archive. Former united states secretary of defense, donald rumsfeld, discusses his career in washington d. Oct 23, 2017 in the parlance of donald rumsfeld, the former u. In february 2002, donald rumsfeld, the then us secretary of state for defence, stated at a defence department briefing. Feb 01, 2011 known and unknown by donald rumsfeld is good and if someone was not following along during the iraq war or afghanistan war then this book is required reading. It is a memoir of the secretary of defense donald rumsfeld and his view of things. The existential poetry of donald rumsfeld, and later set to music by. A memoir is an autobiographical book by donald rumsfeld, an american politician and businessman who served as secretary of. It shows how the ideas, the fears, and the certainties of one man, written out on paper, transformed america, changed the course of history and led to war. Feb 08, 2011 donald rumsfeld has served as white house chief of staff and twice as secretary of defense, the youngest and the oldest man ever to hold the post. At the beginning of the documentary, rumsfeld argues that a major purpose of the department of defense is to evaluate unknown knowns, or. And before you ask why would that be a good thing, let me fill you in on what it felt like, in those days, to be american.
Rumsfeld during a pentagon news briefing in february 2002. Now he has written an unflinching memoir of his halfcentury career, sharing previously undisclosed details that will fascinate readers and force historians to rethink many controversies. Rumsfeld, in his memoir, known and unknown, says he learned about the known and unknown from william r. Secretary of defense donald rumsfeld is an accomplished man. We found one unknown unknown in this book of great interest. Mar 17, 2011 the early parts of known and unknown continue to reveal an enormous lack of selfawareness on rumsfelds part. Known knowns, known unknowns, unknown unknowns and the.
Donald henry rumsfeld is a united states businessman, retired navy fighter pilot, diplomat, and politician who served as the th. His weird foray into the previously known unknown of metaphysical epistemology, much mocked by the british, suited. Rumsfelds defense of known decisions the new york times. Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Rumsfelds memoir plays a fast and loose game of dodge ball with what are now known knowns and known unknowns about the wars in iraq and. Donald henry rumsfeld born july 9, 1932 is an american politician and businessman. While those traits are much in evidence in known and unknown. Early leaks of the books defiant take on his life, times, and conduct of the iraq war drew howls from some of the targets of his scoresettling. Those looking for mea culpas in known and unknown over the handling of iraq or afghanistan or abu ghraib will no doubt be disappointed. Like donald rumsfeld, known and unknown pulls no punches. Donald rumsfelds maddening confession in the unknown known. Known and unknown is a remarkable and compelling book that reveals how much we dont know about donald rumsfeld whom we may know only know through the often critical media coverage his years as seceretary of defense has received.
It includes state department cables, correspondence. Rumsfelds new memoir, known and unknown, comes from a remark he made about whether iraq. He was a known known in a world of unknown unknowns. Representative from illinois 19631969, rumsfeld born in 1932 was the youngest u. It is a book that suffers from many of the same flaws that led the. After all, it was set to verse in the poem the unknown, part of columnist hart seelys collection, pieces of intelligence. The unknown known is a timely reflection on the failures of american foreign policy this century. His weird foray into the previously known unknown of metaphysical epistemology, much mocked by. Former defense secretary donald rumsfeld talked about his new book. Donald rumsfeld has served as white house chief of staff and twice as secretary of defense, the youngest and the oldest man ever to hold the. Nov 09, 2006 after all, it was set to verse in the poem the unknown, part of columnist hart seelys collection, pieces of intelligence. Not only is he guiding the war in iraq, he has been a pilot, a congressman, an ambassador, a businessman, and a civil servant. Known and unknown, by donald rumsfeld, dated 201102, excerpts by donald rumsfeld and milton friedman and others, tired of media reports of fundraising and poll results instead of policy issues. Known and unknown, a nod to his bestknown quotation.
The event has been used in multiple books to discuss risk assessment. Early leaks of the book s defiant take on his life, times, and conduct of the iraq war drew howls from some of the targets of his scoresettling. The right man at the right time ed bradley the washington times. That is to say, there are things that we now know we dont know. Graham, who served with him in the late 1990s on the ballistic missile threat commission an attempt to undermine or at least question the c. Donald rumsfelds colourful and controversial public career is bookended by two big appointments.
With the same directness that defined his career in public service, rumsfelds memoir is filled with previously undisclosed details and insights about the bush administration, 911, and the wars in afghanistan and iraq. A memoir is an autobiographical book by donald rumsfeld, an american politician and businessman who served as secretary of defense from 1975 to 1977 and again from 2001 to 2006 among many other positions. Feb 07, 2011 secretary of defense donald rumsfeld talks about working on his memoir, known and unknown, and his work during his years in the nixon administration. Donald rumsfeld on known and unknown the hugh hewitt show. Known and unknown delivers both a fascinating narrative for todays readers and an unprecedented resource for tomorrows historians. Former defense secretary donald rumsfeld announced the title of his memoir. After a long silence, donald rumsfeld opened both barrels tuesday, releasing his memoir, known and unknown. With the same directness that defined his career in public service, rumsfeld s memoir is filled with previously undisclosed details and insights about the bush administration, 911, and the wars in afghanistan and iraq. Known and unknown, which he spent four years writing after leaving the george w. There are known knowns is a phrase from a response united states secretary of defense donald rumsfeld gave to a question at a u.
Sep 20, 2010 former defense secretary donald rumsfeld announced the title of his memoir. It includes state department cables, correspondence, and memoranda on. Discover the enhanced e book edition of known and unknown offering an unprecedented reading experience for a memoir by a major public figure. Known and unknown few americans have spent more time near the center of power than donald rumsfeld. The certainty of donald rumsfeld part 2 the new york times. The rumsfeld foundation encourages leadership, public service and free political and economic systems at home and abroad. See also known unknowns tv episode and the unknown known film. Some have defended rumsfeld s 2002 statement as brilliant rather than mocking, so perhaps rummy is just pointing out with the title known and unknown that most of us are just too dumb to get it. For webconnected readers, it features more than 500 links to neverbeforeavailable original documents from donald rumsfeld s extensive personal archive. Known and unknown, former defense secretary donald h. A memoir by donald rumsfeld and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Discover the enhanced ebook edition of known and unknown offering an unprecedented reading.
But rumsfeld battles on, taking his unapologetic account to the public. Discover the enhanced ebook edition of known and unknown offering an unprecedented reading experience for a memoir by a major public figure. For webconnected readers, it features more than 500 links to neverbeforeavailable original documents from donald rumsfelds extensive. Ill be right back, one more segment with donald rumsfeld on his book, known and unknown. Known and unknown is a remarkable and compelling book that reveals how much we dont know about donald rumsfeld whom we may know only know.
Reports that say that something hasnt happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns. Feb 03, 2011 known and unknown, former defense secretary donald h. Few americans have spent more time near the center of power than donald rumsfeld, whose widely commentedon memoir offers many previously undisclosed. The unknown known presents history from the inside out. Donald rumsfeld his memoir, known and unknown, signed on the title page. Rumsfeld finishes the book on a selfsatisfied note, saying that president obama has largely kept in place the most contentious and widely derided bush administration policies terrorists are still not accorded pow status, gitmo remains open, terrorist suspects are still being tried in military commissions rather than civilian courts. After i finished my masters degree, for instance, i. He published it through penguin group usa in february 2011. After i finished my masters degree, for instance, i was planning on a career in academia. The early parts of known and unknown continue to reveal an enormous lack of selfawareness on rumsfelds part. Known and unknown by donald rumsfeld is good and if someone was not following along during the iraq war or afghanistan war then this book is required reading. In book, donald rumsfeld recalls bushs early focus on.
In book, donald rumsfeld recalls bushs early focus on iraq. At, you can see the view of every candidate on every issue. Whether or not rumsfeld admits that he made mistakes is almost beside the point. Feb 04, 2011 the title of former defense secretary donald h. May 05, 2014 the unknown known is a timely reflection on the failures of american foreign policy this century. Feb 17, 2016 at the beginning of the documentary, rumsfeld argues that a major purpose of the department of defense is to evaluate unknown knowns, or the things you think you know, that it turns out you did. Morris takes us where few have ever been beyond the web of words into the unfamiliar terrain of rumsfelds mind. Discover known and unknown deluxe offering an unprecedented reading experience for a memoir by a major public figure. Department of defense dod news briefing on february 12, 2002 about the lack of. During his tenure as secretary of defense, donald rumsfeld came across as a decisive, if occasionally imperious leader who might not always have been right, but was rarely in doubt. Secretary of defense donald rumsfeld talks about working on his memoir, known and unknown, and his work during his years in the nixon administration. It covers a variety of his experiences such as working as a.