Blog post

The Unknown Known: Donald Rumsfeld and his legacy

Huw Lemmey11 March 2014

Donald Rumsfeld's political career, and unique management style, comes under close scrutiny in a new film from Errol Morris, director of The Fog of War. At the centre of the film is a powerful interview with Rumsfeld by the director which focuses specifically on the pivotal role the former Secretary of Defense played in the provocations and untruths that lead up to the invasion of Iraq. The film is structured around tens of thousands of snowflakes — memos and missives fired off by Rumsfeld over the course of his political career, which shed light on the political manouverings that steered him through the Nixon administration and Watergate all the way to the Pentagon. Peering straight down the camera lens, Rumsfeld recites key "snowflakes" relating to his career and the drive to war with Iraq.

To mark the launch of The Unknown Known, Verso has two tickets to the film's UK premiere in London up for grabs, alongside copies of Andrew Cockburn's Rumsfeld and Tariq Ali's Bush in Babylon. To win, simply answer the following question:

Donald Rumsfeld served as Secretary of Defense for 2,585 days. Which U.S. politician served as Secretary of Defense for longer than Rumsfeld?

E-mail your answer to james@verso.co.uk by 5pm GMT on Friday 14th March for your chance to win.

The premiere, which includes a Q&A with director Errol Morris, is at the Curzon Cinema, Soho at 6:20pm, Monday 17th March.