Rummy declined honor as ‘Person of the Year’ - The Time cover that didn’t appear

The Hill (Open Secrets) ^ | 01-07-04

[veronica]

The Time cover that didn’t appear

It isn’t often that someone turns down an offer to be Time magazine’s “Person of the Year,” especially when that someone is as important as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

But that’s what Rumsfeld did when he learned that Time was planning to honor him in its year-end issue last month.

Rumsfeld told guests at a holiday party that in this year of conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. military deserved the honor more than he did, which is why Army Sgts. Marquette Whiteside and Ronald Buxton and Spc. Billie Grimes turned up on Time’s Dec. 29 cover.

Time Managing Editor James Kelly appears to confirm Rumseld’s self-effacing act, if only obliquely, in an editor’s note recounting that when he and several other editors “met with Rumsfeld at the Pentagon in November to talk about the war, [the Defense Secretary] made the pitch, unsolicited by us, that the Person of the Year should be the American soldier. (Or as he put it, the American volunteer.)”

Kelly also noted that Washington bureau chief Michael Duffy and senior correspondent Mark Thompson were working on a profile of Rumsfeld in preparation for the issue, but set it aside to help two fellow Time journalists who were injured in Iraq. (The profile appeared in the Person of the Year issue.)

[ChicagoHebrew]

Yeah, but he's just an evil Neo-con and only did this to cover the fact that he's a Mossad puppet.

How can he be a neo-con? Did he pay a visit to local mohel and mikva when I wasn't looking?

Sarcasm

[doug from upland]

Thank God we have such good people in charge of the War on Terror.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Saw this earlier today, and I'm not surprized. This administration is FULL of humility. They aren't in this for the glory, but to get the job done. (President Bush has done things like this since 9-11 on mulitiple occassions. It has never ceased to amaze us!)

They are MORE than willing to give credit to those doing the work. Like the troops out there giving the ulitmate sacrifice and serving our country.

The only ones surprized by this selfless act by Sec. Rumsfeild are those who can't phanthom it.

This administration is fully cognitive of what is being asked of our brave men and women. Besides being totally aware of what they are asking our troops to do, they feel the sacrifices in their hearts and souls, and honestly appreciate the troops. Of that we have no doubt. A fact not lost on the troops.

This alone is the most vital issue facing America in the upcoming election. The troops matter more than money or taxes or anything for that matter. I'm not saying the other things don't matter, but "WHO" is Commander in Chief is of vital importance.

God willing President Bush will continue to be their Commander in Chief, and Secretary of Defense Rumsfield will continue to serve at the Presidents pleasure.

Thanks for the PING Coop.

FRegards, VH&W

[NormsRevenge]

Rummy Bump!

[Valin]

Yeah, but he's just an evil Neo-con and only did this to cover the fact that he's a Mossad puppet.

It's true! I read it on DU. And we all know they'd never lie.

[Valin]

"It's amazing what you can get done if you don't care who gets credit."
R Reagan

[windchime]

Bump!

[Grampa Dave]

The best leaders know what you posted and Ronald lived by:

"It's amazing what you can get done if you don't care who gets credit." R Reagan

[Coop]

This alone is the most vital issue facing America in the upcoming election. The troops matter more than money or taxes or anything for that matter. I'm not saying the other things don't matter, but "WHO" is Commander in Chief is of vital importance.

Well said.