With that surprise announcement, a Rumsfeld reprise after 25 years, Bush filled a vacancy that had been the object of intense speculation since he was reported to be on the verge of choosing a former Indiana senator to take it.

Rumsfeld, 68, is a veteran of four Republican administrations, dating back to Richard Nixon's time. He served as secretary of defense under President Ford.

"He is going to be a great secretary of defense -- again," Bush said.

Bush said he hopes to have the Cabinet completed by the end of the first week in January. "Don't hold me to it, though," he said, answering questions after the Rumsfeld announcement. He said he thought he was making good progress in staffing the new administration, given the five-week postelection contest before his victory over Al Gore was settled.

Rumsfeld headed a bipartisan commission that concluded two years ago that American intelligence officials have been too relaxed. In the waning days of this year's presidential campaign, Rumsfeld signed a letter along with several other former secretaries of defense, critical of Vice President Al Gore for agreeing in 1995 to Russia's sale of military equipment to Iran.

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