The Unknown Known: The Life And Times Of Donald Rumsfeld
2014 • Feature Film • ReleasedBiopic, Political, DocumentaryThis documentary offers a mesmerizing portrait of Donald Rumsfeld, one of the key architects of the Iraq War, and a larger-than-life character who provoked equal levels of fury and adulation from the American public. Rather than conducting a conventional interview, the director has Rumsfeld expound on his "snowflakes," tens of thousands of memos (many never previously published) that he composed as a congressman, as an advisor to four different presidents and twice as Secretary of Defense. These memos provide a window into history-not history as it actually happened, but history as Rumsfeld wants us to see it. It is made plain that his "snowflakes"-whether intended to elucidate, rationalize, obfuscate or control history-are contradicted by the facts.
This documentary offers a mesmerizing portrait of Donald Rumsfeld, one of the key architects of the Iraq War, and a larger-than-life character who provoked equal levels of fury and adulation from the American public. Rather than conducting a conventional interview, the director has Rumsfeld expound on his "snowflakes," tens of thousands of memos (many never previously published) that he composed as a congressman, as an advisor to four different presidents and twice as Secretary of Defense. These memos provide a window into history-not history as it actually happened, but history as Rumsfeld wants us to see it. It is made plain that his "snowflakes"-whether intended to elucidate, rationalize, obfuscate or control history-are contradicted by the facts.
