Condoleezza Rice: Jane of All Trades

Although not so prominent in the political sphere anymore, Condoleezza Rice was at one point the most influential woman in global policy. 'Condi' as I will refer to her as at some points, is the former United States national security adviser, as well as the former Secretary of State, serving both positions under the George W. Bush presidency. She also served as a foreign policy assistant to George H.W. Bush prior. Condi was the first woman to serve as national security adviser. These accomplishments are of special note because not only is Condi a woman in these positions, she is African-American. Condoleezza became a well-known and much-loved member of the  sometimes unstable Bush administration. The public adored her, and her intelligence was never underestimated by the Bush family or her colleagues in foreign policy.
Condi is seen as a very likable and insightful woman, as well as ambitious and driven. When she was younger, Condoleezza and her family visited the White House at Washington, DC, where she proceeded to say, "Daddy, I'm barred out of there because of the color of my skin. But one day, I'll be in that house" (Felix 1). Condoleezza went on to attend the University of Denver her undergraduate studies in political science and Russian history, then attended Notre Dame University to earn her master's in government and international studies. After finishing her master's degree, Condi took a break from education after lining up an executive assistant job at an electronics firm. However, the company reorganized, leaving Rice lost and somewhat of a drifter in life. She eventually returned to the University of Denver to earn her Ph.D. Rice then earned a fellowship at Stanford and became a tenured professor there in 1987.
Condoleezza's education and interests display her intelligence, and as the National Review stated, "She is, all agree, an immensely appealing person, poised, gracious, humbly smart, still markedly Southern after all these years in other parts" (Felix 2). These traits explain why Condoleezza is thought of so highly by the Bushes and by the public. As an African-American woman who grew up in the South, Condi could have easily have settled for less and continued to give piano lessons after receiving her master's degree. However, she knew that she wanted more, and she gained the respect and awe of the men around her, including George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. Both were dumbfounded by her talent for clarity and bluntness when discussing anything, but especially in foreign policy, "'One of the things that is appealing to Bush is that she can be very down to earth in cutting right to the heart of matters,' Philip Zelikow, who worked with Condoleezza in the first Bush administration, said. 'People in the foreign policy world are generally not good at that.'" (Felix 10). Rice seems to be a gem in the world of politics, even among men.
Condoleezza's accomplishments in foreign policy are historic because many of them dealt with the War in Iraq and the War on Terror after September 11, 2001. Her intelligence and experience may have been tested and questioned during these tough times for America, but ultimately her strategies and decisions were effective and she performed extremely well under pressure. The aftermath of 9/11 was by far Rice's most difficult job in politics, but as stated above, she handled everything with clarity and grace many had not often seen in politics.

Unlike the other women I have highlighted in this blog, Condoleezza is not married and does not have children. This may have allowed her to focus more on her career in politics and foreign relations, but it has not affected her ability to care and be a leader as a mother would in a negative way. Rice did however, travel with First Lady Laura Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney's wife, Lynne in President Bush's 'W is for Women' campaign. The goal of this campaign by the Bush administration was to steer women voters away from the Democratic Party by convincing them that the GOP cared about women's rights in education and health-"a far cry from the angry, warrior-like tone of the pro-gun, anti-abortion, macho-white-male party of past GOP conventions" (Felix 12). The Republican Party, Bush administration and Bush family clearly saw Condoleezza Rice as a woman that could connect with other women and make them feel important, even though this campaign didn't necessarily relate to her job in foreign policy. Her portrayal and the receptiveness of women to her words and actions was a positive attribute to the administration and Republicans.
Condoleezza still remains an iconic woman in United States history, and many people still hope she makes the decision to run for President of the US in the future. This ongoing love affair between Condoleezza Rice and the public displays just how much has changed in the realm of trust in women holding traditionally male leadership roles in America.
Here is a wonderful video of Condoleezza Rice speaking on foreign relations at this year's Republican National Convention; it shows why she is so respected as a woman among members of both major political parties and why she is such a great role model for future generations of women. I have included the highlights video from ABC News (The first video), as well as the whole speech from the GOP Convention's Youtube account (bottom video).