The provided text is comprised of excerpts from the memoir of Donald Rumsfeld, offering a chronological and thematic overview of his public and private life, including his time as a congressman, an ambassador, a business executive, and his multiple appointments as Secretary of Defense. The passages cover significant historical events such as the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Vietnam War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Watergate scandal, and the 9/11 attacks, discussing his involvement with several presidential administrations, including those of Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and George W. Bush. Key themes include the challenges of incomplete intelligence and surprise, his efforts at military transformation and reform within the Pentagon, and detailed recollections of complex foreign policy and political issues, such as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as his personal experiences and relationships with other major political figures.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.