Known And Unknown (Enriched Edition): A Memoir (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
Rumsfeld was always smarter than his critics. Smart enough to know getting into a food fight with them probably wouldn't get him anything he wanted or thought was valuable. It's in that spirit that he writes his memoirs. Smart, thoughtful, willing to make his case but realizing he can't win a fair fight against those who are playing by a separate set of rules. As a result, he's merely reporting things as a matter of fact, always giving the due that he might be wrong. Rumsfeld's career was totally fascinating, I had no idea of how many things he accomplished or how early he started. I had no idea, for example that he was:1. Became a Congressman at 29, with no money and few connections, in a district that traditionally had prized both wealth and connections. 2. One of his first acts was to vote for Gerald Ford in a leadership position, unseating an old Republican bull. 3. That he was at the center of the debate over Civil Rights in Congress (voted for it). 4. He challenged LBJ's strategies in Vietnam to his face in a meeting with other waffling Congressman.5. He was chosen by Nixon to head up the Department of Economic Opportunity precisely because he voted against it and disagreed with it. Nixon reasoned if anybody could made it accomplish something useful, it would be someone who was suspicious of its mission and would hold it accountable.6. The French Ambassador to NATO was his closest friend during his time as his American counterpart.6. He wound up as White House Chief of Staff and then Sec Def under Ford, precisely because he was the only one who was A. Trusted by Ford (since his days in the House), and B. Unaffected by Watergate, since he'd been in Europe as Ambassador to NATO. 7. The company he ran after his first stint as Sec Def created Splenda, and it almost got regulated out of existence. 8. He had a poor relationship with George HW Bush, having endorsed Dole in 1988 and otherwise been at odds with him at various times in the Nixon/Ford Administration, which is one of the reasons George W. Bush wanted him. He knew no one could plausibly say he was one of his Dad's old cronies. 9. His adult son Nick was struggling with alcohol and drug abuse in the early 00's, which made his early years very difficult emotionally (his son recovered, and has lived for a decade drug free and is happily married).9. He, and the Defense Department in general, were the ones arguing for a faster transition of sovereignty to the Iraqis, not the other way around. I'd honestly assumed the latter. The details of his discussion on this issue was fascinating. 10. He tried to resign after Abu Greib, but Bush refused it. 11. The "Small footprint" Rumsfeld supposedly favored is essentially wrong. His views are complicated, I'll let him do them justice, but suffice to say the idea that he wanted fewer troops in Iraq from the get go is essentially a media creation. Anyhow, these are just a few of the many fascinating personal, professional, political and historical things you'll learn in this book. And as you'd expect, Rumsfeld gives it to you calmly, rationally, and with the bark off. Beyond that, I don't know what to say about it. It's one of the better political memoirs I've read. Beyond the insights provided into President Nixon, his cabinet, President Ford's administration, and many public leaders, Secretary Rumsfeld's recollection (aided by massive primary source) evidence a brilliant administrator, skilled tactician and all the bonafides of a faithful confidant.As an Washington insider, with ties to a political Who's Who of the last 40 years, Rumsfeld shows loyalty to those he trusted, and unambiguous disappointment for those whom (he suggests) betrayed various administrations.To learn about the challenges and pitfalls of business, government, history, national defense or politics, this book provides all.It receives my strong recommendation.
What do You think about Known And Unknown (Enriched Edition): A Memoir (2011)?
Donald Rumsfeld is incredibly thoughtful in decision making. This is a great book.
—ingriddihle
Great for people who are interested in this sort of thing.
—nos804
Didn't finish. The constant blaming of others got old.
—logan715
