The Unknown Known

The Unknown Known, by Errol Morris, chronicles the political career of former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. The title refers to a phrase Rumsfeld used to describe the work of the Department of Defense.

The interviewer poses a series of challenging questions about decisions made during Rumsfeld’s time in office. Rumsfeld answers some of them candidly, but dodges and deflects others. He defends the actions taken during the Iraq War and claims ignorance of the existence of torture memos relating to detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

Rumsfeld reads aloud some of the memos issued by the Department of Defense while he was in charge. The film serves as a reflection on the career of a congressman and presidential adviser to four different commanders-in-chief. It sheds light on the nature of political power and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the workings of Rumsfeld’s mind.