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7341645
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Text of Remarks by the President to Be Delivered at the Swearing-In Ceremony of Donald Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense [Ford Speech or Statement]
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7341645
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Text of Remarks by the President to Be Delivered at the Swearing-In Ceremony of Donald Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense [Ford Speech or Statement]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
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1975-11-20
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1975
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FOR RELEAS, UPON DELIVERY
NOVEMBER 20, 1975
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
TEXT OF REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
TO BE DELIVERED AT
THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY OF
DONALD RUMSFELD AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
We are assembled here today to swear in as Secretary of Defense one of the most
dedicated, talented and capable public servants it has been my privilege to know
in twenty-seven years of public life.
A friend was once asked to give a thumb-nail description of Don Rumsfeld's work
pattern and he said it could be summed up in two simple statements: One, Don
works at a stand-up desk. And two, his staff doès not work at stand-up desks
but they do very little sitting down.
Donald Rumsfeld, in a series of challenging legislative and administrative capaci-
ties, has demonstrated beyond question his ability to grasp the complexities of
issues and organizations, to work tirelessly and effectively at whatever task may
engage him, and to serve his country faithfully and well.
As a Member of Congress from Illinois, he demonstrated a talent for staying in
tune with the willof the people he served, for representing their interests with
fidelity and courage, and for winning the confidence and respect of his fellow
Members of Congress.
As head of the Office of Economic Opportunity and later as Director of the Cost
of Living Council, he exhibited the organizational and leadership abilities which
have characterized his career in public service.
In these varied positions, he also showed great awareness of and compassion for
the social and economic needs of our nation. That awareness and compassion
accompany him here.
As the United States' Ambassador to NATO, he demonstrated his strong commit-
ment to a strong defense for America and our allies in Western Europe.
(MORE)
Digitized from Box 18 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
- 2 -
His service as Ambassador was distinguished by a strengthening of the
commitment to Atlantic security and by his own diplomatic skills which
he successfully employed in a very sensitive and important post.
As my Assistant at the White House, he has shown that he is a man of
near-inexhaustible energy, a man who takes charge of a situation quickly,
forcefully and efficiently, a man with a wide variety of gifts and interests and
expertise.
Don Rumsfeld knows, as I know, that a strong national defense for America
is the surest guardian of our nation's independence and of peace in the world.
He knows, as I know, as everyone in this Administration knows, that it is
the certainty of America's military strength that makes possible our
negotiations for peaceful cooperation with other great powers of the world.
He knows, as I know, that the price of that strength and security is high,
but it is a price that must be paid, for the price is never greater than the
worth of a strong defense.
You all know where I stand on defense. All those who say they are for a strong
defense and a strong foreign policy should join me, the Secretary of Defense
and the Secretary of State to maintain adequate defense budgets in the Congress.
As I have said before, a military capability second to none permits us to act
firmly in foreign policy around the world in defense of the national interest.
As Don begins his new duties and assumes this new challenge, he does so
with my personal best wishes and my thanks for accepting a very difficult and
demanding assignment.
Don Rumsfeld has my complete confidence and trust; he will earn that of the
nation and the Department of Defense because he will do a superb job as our new
Secretary of Defense.
It is my pleasure to introduce for swearing in by Mr. Justice Stewart, the
thirteenth Secretary of Defense-designate, the Honorable Donald H. Rumsfeld.
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