Donald Rumsfeld, former defense secretary, dies at 88

Washington — Donald Rumsfeld, the former secretary of defense who oversaw the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq and a longtime Republican foreign policy hand, has died at the age of 88, his family said in a statement Wednesday.

"It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Donald Rumsfeld, an American statesman and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather," the statement said. "At 88, he was surrounded by family in his beloved Taos, New Mexico." Rumsfeld first served as defense secretary from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford before entering the private sector. He served a second time from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush.