Birth of Donald Henry Rumsfeld
Birth of Donald Henry Rumsfeld
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Donald Henry Rumsfeld Biography and Timeline
Follow Donald Henry Rumsfeld through 19 dated historical records for United States of America.
Donald Henry Rumsfeld, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
19Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1932–2006Years on this page
1932
1957
Administrative Assistant
Appointed as Administrative Assistant to David S. Dennison Jr., a Congressman representing the 11th district of Ohio
1962
Election
Elected to the United States House of Representatives for the Thirteenth Congressional District in Illinois in 1962, at the age of 30
1969
Office of Economic Opportunity
Appointed Director of the United States Office of Economic Opportunity, Assistant to the President, and a member of the Presidents Cabinet
1973
Ambassador
Appointed US Ambassador of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
Appointed US Ambassador of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
Appointed US Ambassador of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
1974
Chief of Staff
Appointed White House Chief of Staff
Role range: 1974-1975
1975
Secretary
Appointed United States Secretary of State for Defence, 1st term
Role range: 1975-1977
1977
Presidential Medal of Freedom
Awarded the nations highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Chief Executive Officer
Appointed Chief Executive Officer, President, and then Chairman of G.D. Searle & Company, a worldwide pharmaceutical company based in Skokie, Illinois
1982
Arms Control
Appointed Member of Presidents General Advisery Committee on Arms Control
Role range: 1981-1989 – 1982-1986
Special Envoy
Appointed President Reagans Special Envoy on the Law of the Sea Treaty
Role range: 1981-1989 – 1982-1983
1983
Adviser
Appointed Senior Adviser to President Reagans Panel on Strategic Systems
Role range: 1981-1989 – 1983-1984
Special Envoy-Rumsfeld
Appointed President Reagans Special Envoy to the Middle East
Role range: 1981-1989 – 1983-1984
2001
Secretary of State for Defence
Appointed United States Secretary of State for Defence, 2nd term
Role range: 2001- – 2001-2006
Declaration of War
Rumsfeld says preparations are being made against countries with terrorists
Role range: 2001- – 2001-
2006
Dismissal
Bush dismisses Rumsfeld after losing the Senate & House of Representives elections
Role range: 2001- – 2001-2006
Election
Bush dismisses Rumsfeld after losing the Senate & House of Representives elections
Role range: 2001- – 2001-2006
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.