When he became the 13th Secretary of Defense in 1975, at age 43 the youngest in our country's history, Donald Rumsfeld already had served in the United States government for more than a dozen years.

He was elected to the House of Representatives from Illinois in 1962, at age of 30, and served four terms. Rumsfeld was U. S. ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1973-74 and was Chief of Staff of the White House during President Ford's administration.

Rumsfeld wrestled for New Trier High School in Illinois and was captain of his state championship team. At Princeton, he was team captain and a three-time place winner in the Eastern Intercollegiates.

After leaving government service, he became chief executive officer, president, then chairman of G. D. Searle & Co., worldwide pharmaceutical company, from 1977 to 1985. He was the President's special envoy to the Middle East in 1983 and 1984.

Rumsfeld has been chairman and CEO of General Instrument Corporation, a leader in cable, satellite and broadcast technology, since 1990.

He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, holds honorary doctoral degrees from eight universities, and has been presented the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.

Rumsfeld has been chairman of Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships, chairman of the Institute for Contemporary Studies, and a member of the National Economic Commission and the National Park Foundation board of directors.