erik lundegaard

 RSS
ARCHIVES
LINKS

Sunday July 26, 2009

Overreacting with Color Coding: 1975

“The biggest bomb at the Pentagon recently was Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's Christmas party for the department's 22,000 employees. The recently appointed secretary decided to introduce himself by throwing a handshaking party. Expecting one of the largest reception lines in history, Rumsfeld had aides devise a three-party, color-coded pass system to prevent congestion and delay. ... There were few takers. Rumsfeld set aside three hours and was prepared to stay longer. Only 200-odd employees showed up, however, and by 4:00 a bewildered Rumsfeld was standing virtually alone with his deputy defense secretary, William Clements.”

New Times magazine, January 23, 1976

Posted at 09:16 AM on Sunday July 26, 2009 in category Politics