You're on the right track. It was a mistake to have used an autopen. The mistake was some staffer's in Rummy's office. Rummy had no idea. He has a lot on his palte, and a brutal schedule. But he stepped up and took responsibility for it..instead of blaming a staffer.. thta's why he's a great leader..
I don't buy it. A good leader doesn't fob responsibility off on a faceless staffer. And in Rumsfeld's defense, he owned up to his mistake and corrected it, an act which restored much of the respect I have for him.