Word: rumsfeld
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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While Ford insisted that his personnel shake-up did not reflect "any weakness" on national defense, U.S. allies and adversaries were confused about what the changes would mean. Though the Soviets have often criticized Schlesinger as an ugly American, Moscow reacted cautiously to his ouster, because Rumsfeld is virtually unknown to them. In contrast, the Chinese officials feared that Schlesinger's firing could produce closer ties between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. Now they may want to assess the impact of the Cabinet shuffle before confirming that Ford's China trip will take place as scheduled in early December...
South Koreans were shaken by the loss of Schlesinger, who had been extremely popular because of his recommendation that the U.S. use "nuclear weapons if necessary" to repel any attack from the North. Schlesinger's replacement by Rumsfeld dismayed many European defense officials, who are afraid that the new man will pay more attention to the winds of American politics than the needs of facing up to the Russians. NATO officials got a good look at Rumsfeld while he was the U.S. Ambassador to the alliance, and while they became used to his crisp style, they rank him far behind...
Some Pentagon officials who have worked with Rumsfeld admire his quick mind; others find him shallow. Said a retired general who knew Rumsfeld at NATO: "You had the feeling that he was propped up reading someone else's position paper." Other generals and admirals worried that he would be running for the vice-presidential nomination from the Pentagon's E-Ring. On the other hand, many hoped that Rumsfeld's political savvy would make him more successful than Schlesinger in pressing Pentagon programs on Congress...
DEFENSE, four-Melvin Laird, Richardson, Schlesinger, Donald Rumsfeld (nominated...
Ford told Schlesinger that he wanted Rumsfeld to replace him but that Rumsfeld had not yet agreed. Schlesinger was offered the presidency of the Export-Import Bank and, alternatively, the ambassadorship to NATO. He turned down both and left after 30 minutes ?stunned. (Learning later that his job had been offered to others, NATO Ambassador David Bruce, 77, a distinguished career diplomat who has no plans to retire, was outraged...