Donald Rumsfeld Knows Known Unknowns

FACT CHECK: Yes. Rumsfeld actually said that.  (We have video.) But, before you say, "Move over Kamala Harris! There's a newWord  Salad champion in town," take a closer look at the quote. 

 

The Quote:

"Reports that say something hasn’t happened are always interesting to me because as we know, there are known knowns: there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns: that is to say, we know there are some things [we know] we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don’t know we don’t know. And if one looks throughout the history of our country and other free countries, it is the latter category that tends to be the difficult one. --Former U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld

Context:

At a Department of Defense (DoD) news briefing on February 12, 2002, a reporter asked Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld about the lack of evidence linking Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq to the supply of “weapons of mass destruction” to various terrorist groups.

His response earned Rumsfeld the 2003 Foot in Mouth Award from the British Plain English Campaign.

SOURCE

Is Donald Rumsfeld's Statement Honestly Word Salad?

At first glance, Rumsfeld's words may appear overly complex and disjointed. The first time I read the quote, I thought he was spouting gobbledygook to avoid giving an honest answer.

But an essay written by Paul Austin Murphy opened my eyes.

We owe Rumsfeld an apology. 

Because if you look at it through a different lens (see graphic below,) this infamous quote isn't word salad. It's a thoughtfully crafted response to the reporter's question: 

Watch the Video

Recommended Reading:

Known and Unknown: A Memoir by Donald Rumsfeld

"...heartily recommend it. It is amazing."—Rush Limbaugh

"Let me tell you something, it is absolutely fascinating."—Mark Levin, author of Unfreedom of the Press and American Marxism

"... behind the scenes details that may shock you."—Sean Hannity, host at Fox News

Donald Rumsfeld’s Known and Unknown is a sweeping memoir that offers an insider’s look at decades of American political and military history. Rumsfeld reflects on his career with candor, sharing lessons learned from serving under multiple presidents and navigating the most complex challenges of government and defense. 

The strength of this memoir lies in its combination of personal anecdotes, historical insight, and reflections on leadership. Rumsfeld’s storytelling is sharp and engaging, and his perspective on decision-making at the highest levels provides valuable lessons for leaders in any field. It’s an engrossing book for those interested in politics, history, or the art of leadership.

For web-connected readers, the enhanced e-book edition features more than 500 links to never-before-available original documents from Donald Rumsfeld's personal archive. It includes State Department cables, correspondence, and memoranda on topics such as Vietnam, Watergate, the days following 9/11, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and much more. 

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