Statement from the Andrew W. Marshall Foundation on the Passing of Donald Rumsfeld
We mourn the passing of Donald Rumsfeld and offer our deepest condolences to his family. From the Navy to Capitol Hill, from NATO to the White House, in the halls of the Pentagon, and as co-founder of the Rumsfeld Foundation with his wife Joyce, Secretary Rumsfeld was a man with unwavering convictions and a dedicated public servant passionate about the long-term national security of the United States.
When Secretary Rumsfeld entered the Pentagon in 1975 and again in 2001, Andy Marshall, as the director of the Office of Net Assessment, was one of the first people he called to his office. In 1975, Secretary Rumsfeld was interested in understanding the U.S. long-term competitive position vis a vis the Soviet Union. In 2001, he was interested in what had changed, and what the nation should be concerned with over the next several decades. Throughout his life, Secretary Rumsfeld demonstrated great curiosity, refreshing candor, and recognition of the need for long-term, diagnostic thinking. He was a great friend to Andy and an ardent supporter of his work.
When the Andrew W. Marshall Foundation was in its nascent stages, Secretary Rumsfeld provided indispensable guidance to us from his own experiences in philanthropy. He believed in our mission, and we will ever-appreciate his kindness.