Haley Stevens: “the distinguished Senator, the Democrat leader, the Senator from Nevada, is a close friend. I am sad to disagree with…”

“the distinguished Senator, the Democrat leader, the Senator from Nevada, is a close friend. I am sad to disagree with him as violently as I do. I have known Secretary Rumsfeld, Don Rumsfeld, for many years. He came to Washington with Congressman Jerry Ford. He has been in and out of Washington. He has done a great many things, committed a great portion of his life to the service of this country. He is highly intelligent. He is one of the first persons to serve as Secretary of Defense twice. He served previously as Secretary of Defense. He was a person who served in the White House. He has been a very impressive Secretary of Defense. Since 1981, either Senator Inouye or I have been the chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. During that time, we have met with Secretaries of Defense. I met with them prior to that time, and I served in the Eisenhower administration and knew the Secretaries of Defense then and knew them personally. I can think of no one who has worked harder as Secretary of Defense than Don Rumsfeld. I have been in meetings with him and members of the Joint Chiefs-- with all of the Joint Chiefs--with other members of the defense and intelligence establishment. The rapport he has built up among those who serve this country in uniform and serve this country in the intelligence field is overwhelming.…”