Donald Rumsfeld: Top Gun
Episode 16 · 2002-01-09

- Documentary
Episode overview
When appointed to Secretary of Defense at age 68, many critics claimed he was too old. Opinions changed after 9/11 when the tough‑minded leader directed the nation’s war on terror. Biography offers an intimate portrait of Donald Rumsfeld, from his childhood in Winnetka to his high‑powered position today. Trace his political life, from his election to Chicago congressman at 29 to “Rumsfeld’s Raiders,” an ambassadorship for NATO, and a spot as Gerald Ford’s trusted advisor. In the mid‑’70s, Rumsfeld tackled the corporate realm, making millions before returning to politics. His personal life is as interesting as his professional accomplishments, from running with the bulls in Pamplona to the courtship of his wife. Through rare footage, photographs, and candid interviews with friends and family—including Henry Kissinger and Donald himself—Donald Rumsfeld: Top Gun profiles one of the most powerful men in politics.
60 minutes
Season 10 episodes
1. Larry Flynt: Fighting Dirty1997-01-15
2. Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa2000-01-06
3. Jimmy Hoffa: The Man Behind the Mystery2000-01-12
4. John J. Pershing: The Iron General2000-01-13
5. John Steinbeck: An American Writer2000-01-19
6. Mary Magdalene: The Hidden Apostle2000-01-20
7. Pol Pot: Secret Killer2000-01-26
8. Sally Hemings: Redefining History2000-01-27
9. Stonewall Jackson2000-02-02
10. Yvonne De Carlo: Gilded Lily2000-02-03
11. Enzo Ferrari: Passion for Speed2001-01-04
12. Genovese: Portrait of a Crime Family2001-01-10
13. George Lucas: Creating an Empire2001-01-11
14. Henry Hill: Goodfella2001-01-17
15. Calamity Jane2002-01-03
16. Donald Rumsfeld: Top Gun2002-01-09
17. General George Patton: A Genius for War2002-01-10
18. Hitler and Stalin: Roots of Evil2002-01-16
19. Home Improvement: A Half-Hour of Power2002-01-17
20. John & Abigail Adams: Love and Liberty2002-01-23
21. Joseph Stalin: Red Terror2002-01-24
22. Lewis & Clark: Explorers of the New Frontier2002-01-30
23. Mahatma Gandhi: Pilgrim of Peace2002-01-31
24. Mark Twain: His Amazing Adventures2002-02-06
25. Osama Bin Laden: In the Name of Allah2002-02-07
26. Pablo Escobar: The Terror of Columbia2002-02-13
27. RFK: His Many Sides2002-02-14
28. Ronald Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime2002-02-20
29. The Extraordinary Voyages of Jules Verne2002-02-21
30. The Manson Women: An American Nightmare2002-02-27
31. Saturday Night Live2002-04-22