Donald Rumsfeld
1932 – 2021

Donald Rumsfeld

American politician and diplomat (1932–2021)

authorcivil servantmilitary officerdiplomatpolitician
Born
1932-07-09, St. Luke's Hospital
Died
2021-06-29
Birthplace state
Illinois

Biography

Donald Henry Rumsfeld was an American politician, businessman, naval officer, and diplomat who served as the 13th United States secretary of defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and again as the 21st secretary of defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He was both the youngest and the oldest secretary of defense. Additionally, Rumsfeld was a four-term U.S. Congressman from Illinois (1963–1969), director of the Office of Economic Opportunity (1969–1970), counselor to the president (1969–1973), the U.S. Representative to NATO (1973–1974), and the White House chief of staff (1974–1975). Between his terms as secretary of defense, he served as the CEO and chairman of several companies.

Occupation

Donald Rumsfeld is recorded as a author, a civil servant, a military officer, a diplomat, a politician and a businessperson, born in Illinois (1932–2021).

Connections to Illinois

Donald Rumsfeld was born in St. Luke's Hospital, Illinois in 1932. Explore other notable figures from Illinois, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from IllinoisIllinoishistory ›Historic sites in Illinois
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Everything a full report reveals about St. Luke's Hospital

Donald Rumsfeld came from St. Luke's Hospital. A full Aubrey report on St. Luke's Hospital pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from Illinois

Other historical figures born in Illinois, ranked by historical prominence.

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president of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and actor (1911-2004)
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Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
American author and journalist (1899–1961)
Robin Williams
Robin Williams
American actor and comedian (1951–2014)
Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury
American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)
Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer
American chess player (1943–2008)
James Watson
James Watson
American molecular biologist, geneticist, zoologist and Nobel Laureate (1928–2025)

Frequently asked about Donald Rumsfeld

Who was Donald Rumsfeld?
Donald Rumsfeld was American politician and diplomat (1932–2021), born in Illinois (1932 – 2021).
When and where was Donald Rumsfeld born?
Donald Rumsfeld was born on 1932-07-09 in St. Luke's Hospital.
When did Donald Rumsfeld die?
Donald died on 2021-06-29.
What was Donald Rumsfeld known for?
Donald Rumsfeld is recorded as a author, a civil servant, a military officer, a diplomat, a politician and a businessperson.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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