Donald Rumsfeld Quotes

• We don’t seek empires. We’re not imperialistic.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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• Answering the question as to whether we are winning-that is a very difficult one.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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• They seem to be a country that disagrees with a lot of other countries.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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• You’re thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don’t. I think that’s old Europe.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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• Our task, your task… is to try to connect the dots before something happens. People say, ‘Well, where’s the smoking gun?’ Well, we don’t want to see a smoking gun from a weapon of mass destruction.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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  Tags in Weapons, Destruction

• Work continuously to trim the White House staff from your first day to your last. All the pressures are to the contrary.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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  Tags in Pressures, Continuously

• You’re thinking of Eurpoe as Germany and France. I don’t. I think that’s old Europe.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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  Tags in France, Thinking

• With the press there is no ‘off the record.’

  Donald Rumsfeld

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  Tags in Press

• When you raise issues with the President, try to come away with both that decision and also a precedent. Pose issues so as to evoke broader policy guidance. This can help to answer a range of similar issues likely to arise later.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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  Tags in Precedent, Evoke

• When cutting staff at the Pentagon, don’t eliminate the thin layer that assures civilian control.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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  Tags in Pentagon, Civilians

• When asked for your views, by the press or others, remember that what they really want to know is the President’s views.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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  Tags in Views, President

• Visit with your predecessors from previous Administrations. They know the ropes and can help you see around some corners. Try to make original mistakes, rather than needlessly repeating theirs.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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  Tags in Repeating, Corners

• The way to do well is to do well.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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  Tags in Well, Good

• The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to exercise civilian control over the Department for the Commander-in-Chief and the country.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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  Tags in Professionals, Control

• The price of being close to the President is delivering bad news. You fail him if you don’t tell him the truth. Others won’t do it.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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  Tags in Bad News, News

• Test ideas in the marketplace. You learn from hearing a range of perspectives. Consultation helps engender the support decisions need to be successfully implemented.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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  Tags in Range, Successfully

• See that the President, the Cabinet and staff are informed. If cut out of the information flow, their decisions may be poor, not made, or not confidently or persuasively implemented.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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  Tags in Presidency, Information

• Secretary Powell and I agree on every single issue that has ever been before this administration except for those instances where Colin’s still learning.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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  Tags in Secretary, Learning

• Remember where you came from.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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  Tags in Nations

• Reduce the number of lawyers. They are like beavers – they get in the middle of the stream and dam it up.

  Donald Rumsfeld

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  Tags in Lawyers, Stream

Donald Rumsfeld (78)

Birth:	9th July, 1932
Nationality:	American
Profession:	Businessman, Politician

About

Donald Henry Rumsfeld was born in Chicago, Illinois. He is an American politician and businessman. He served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He was a four-term U.S. Congressman from Illinois and  White House Chief of Staff. He served as Chief Executive Officer, President, and then Chairman of G. D. Searle & Company. He served as Chief Executive Officer in the Pharmaceutical Industry from the Wall Street Transcript and Financial World. He served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Instrument Corporation from 1990 to 1993. He attended Princeton University, graduating in 1954 with a degree in political science.

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