Condoleezza Rice

Date of Birth: November 14, 1954

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Biography

Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist, diplomat, and public servant who served as the 66th United States Secretary of State from 2005 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. She was the first female African-American Secretary of State and the second female Secretary of State after Madeleine Albright. Prior to her tenure as Secretary of State, Rice served as National Security Advisor from 2001 to 2005, making her the first woman to hold that position. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Rice faced the harsh realities of racial segregation in the South but was determined to succeed academically. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Denver, her master’s from the University of Notre Dame, and her Ph.D. from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver. A specialist in Soviet and Eastern European affairs, Rice became a professor at Stanford University, where she later served as Provost. Her tenure as Secretary of State was marked by efforts to promote democratic reform in the Middle East, as well as managing complex relationships with countries such as Russia and China. After leaving office, Rice returned to academia and authored several books on foreign policy and her personal experiences.

5 Interesting Facts about Condoleezza Rice

1. Condoleezza Rice was a concert pianist and considered a career in music before turning to political science.

2. She was a member of the Chevron Corporation’s board of directors, and the company even named an oil tanker after her.

3. Rice is a lifelong football fan and served on the College Football Playoff selection committee.

4. She co-founded the Center for a New Generation, an educational program for underprivileged children.

5. Rice is fluent in Russian and has authored several books, including her autobiography “Extraordinary, Ordinary People.”

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Condoleezza Rice

1. “People who end up as ‘first’ don’t actually set out to be first. They set out to do something they love.”

2. “The essence of America — that which really unites us — is not ethnicity, or nationality, or religion. It is an idea — and what an idea it is: that you can come from humble circumstances and do great things.”

3. “Great leaders never accept the world as it was and always work for the world as it should be.”

4. “Education is transformative. It changes lives.”

5. “We need to move beyond the idea that girls can be leaders and create the expectation that they should be leaders.”