A man in the history books... for all the wrong reasons?

Donald Rumsfeld, the veteran American politician who served as Secretary of Defense under President Gerald Ford and later George W. Bush, turns 80 today.

In a career in politics spanning over four decades, Rumsfeld is most famous for his role in crafting the United States' response to the September 11, 2011 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

His role in the US invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq saw him lose political support as both wars dragged on for years. His resignation as Secretary of Defense in 2006 came after coming under fire from the media and the military for his handling of the War on Terror. He was succeeded by Robert Gates.