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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name             = Condoleezza Rice
| name = Condoleezza Rice
| birth_name      = Condoleezza Rice
| image = Condoleezza Rice cropped.jpg
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1954|11|14}}
| caption = Official portrait, 2005
| birth_place     = [[Birmingham, Alabama]], U.S.
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|11|14}}
| nationality     = American
| birth_place = Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
| occupation       = Political scientist, diplomat, academic administrator
| nationality = American
| known_for       = 66th U.S. Secretary of State; 19th U.S. National Security Advisor; Director of the Hoover Institution
| occupation = Political scientist, diplomat, academic administrator
| education       = University of Denver (BA, PhD)<br>University of Notre Dame (MA)
| known_for = 66th United States Secretary of State, 19th United States National Security Advisor
| title           = Director of the Hoover Institution
| education = University of Denver (BA, PhD)<br>University of Notre Dame (MA)
| awards           = [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] (proposed but declined to list without sourcing)
| title = Director of the Hoover Institution
| employer = Stanford University
| awards = National Security Medal
}}
}}


'''Condoleezza Rice''' (born November 14, 1954) is an American political scientist, diplomat, and academic administrator who served as the 66th [[United States Secretary of State]] from 2005 to 2009 and as the 19th [[United States National Security Advisor]] from 2001 to 2005, both under President [[George W. Bush]]. She was the first African-American woman to serve as Secretary of State and the first woman to hold the position of National Security Advisor.<ref name="britannica">{{cite web |title=Condoleezza Rice |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Condoleezza-Rice |publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Born and raised in [[Birmingham, Alabama]], during the era of [[racial segregation in the United States|racial segregation]], Rice rose through the worlds of academia and government to become one of the most prominent figures in American foreign policy during the early 21st century. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] since 1982, she served on the [[National Security Council (United States)|National Security Council]] under President [[George H. W. Bush]] during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and later became provost of [[Stanford University]] before entering the administration of George W. Bush. Until the election of [[Barack Obama]] in 2008, Rice and her predecessor as Secretary of State, [[Colin Powell]], were the highest-ranking African Americans in the history of the federal executive branch, by virtue of the Secretary of State standing fourth in the [[presidential line of succession]].<ref name="cnnfastfacts">{{cite news |date=November 7, 2025 |title=Condoleezza Rice Fast Facts |url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/condoleezza-rice-fast-facts |work=CNN |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Since September 2020, Rice has served as the director of Stanford University's [[Hoover Institution]].<ref name="hoover">{{cite web |title=Around The World With Condoleezza Rice |url=https://www.hoover.org/research/around-world-condoleezza-rice |publisher=Hoover Institution |date=August 8, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Condoleezza Rice (born November 14, 1954) is an American political scientist, diplomat, and academic administrator who served as the 66th [[United States Secretary of State]] from 2005 to 2009 and as the 19th [[United States National Security Advisor]] from 2001 to 2005 under President [[George W. Bush]]. Born in racially segregated [[Birmingham, Alabama]], Rice rose through the worlds of academia and government to become the first female African-American secretary of state and the first woman to serve as national security advisor.<ref name="britannica">{{cite web |title=Condoleezza Rice |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Condoleezza-Rice |publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] since 1982, she held a central role in shaping American foreign policy during a period defined by the [[September 11 attacks]], the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]], and the [[Iraq War]]. Before entering the upper reaches of government, Rice served as provost of [[Stanford University]] from 1993 to 1999, and she returned to Stanford after leaving the Bush administration, eventually becoming the director of the [[Hoover Institution]] in 2020.<ref name="cnnfast">{{cite news |date=November 7, 2025 |title=Condoleezza Rice Fast Facts |url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/condoleezza-rice-fast-facts |work=CNN |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> At the time of her appointment as Secretary of State, Rice was the highest-ranking woman in the history of the United States to be in the presidential line of succession. Until the election of [[Barack Obama]] as president in 2008, she and her predecessor, [[Colin Powell]], were the highest-ranking African Americans in the history of the federal executive branch by virtue of the Secretary of State standing fourth in the presidential line of succession.<ref name="britannica" />


== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==


Condoleezza Rice was born on November 14, 1954, in Birmingham, Alabama, a city that was at that time one of the most racially segregated in the United States.<ref name="britannica" /> She grew up during a turbulent period in the American [[Civil Rights Movement]], in a community where African Americans faced systemic discrimination and violence. The name "Condoleezza" derives from the Italian musical term ''con dolcezza'', meaning "with sweetness," reflecting her family's deep connection to music.<ref name="cnnprofile">{{cite web |title=Condoleezza Rice |url=http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/people/shows/rice/profile.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Condoleezza Rice was born on November 14, 1954, in Birmingham, Alabama, during the era of [[racial segregation in the American South]].<ref name="britannica" /> Her father, John Wesley Rice Jr., was a Presbyterian minister and high school guidance counselor, and her mother, Angelena Rice, was a science, music, and oratory teacher.<ref name="cnnprofile">{{cite web |title=Condoleezza Rice |url=http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/people/shows/rice/profile.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Her unusual first name is derived from the Italian musical term ''con dolcezza'', meaning "with sweetness," reflecting her mother's background in music.<ref name="cnnprofile" />


Rice's father, John Wesley Rice Jr., was a Presbyterian minister and guidance counselor, and her mother, Angelena Rice, was a science, music, and oratory teacher.<ref name="cnnprofile" /> The family placed a strong emphasis on education and cultural achievement as tools for advancement in a segregated society. Rice began learning piano at the age of three and became an accomplished pianist, a pursuit that would remain a lifelong interest.<ref name="britannica" />
Rice grew up in the Titusville neighborhood of Birmingham, a middle-class African-American enclave that, despite the relative economic stability of its residents, was subject to the pervasive racial oppression of the Jim Crow South. Birmingham in the 1950s and 1960s was one of the most racially divided cities in the United States, and Rice's childhood was marked by the violent events of the [[civil rights movement]]. In 1963, when Rice was eight years old, the [[16th Street Baptist Church bombing]] killed four young African-American girls, one of whom—Denise McNair—was a playmate and schoolmate of Rice's.<ref name="cnnfast" /> The bombing and the broader climate of racial violence in Birmingham left a lasting impression on Rice and would later inform her views on the importance of democratic institutions and individual liberty.


Growing up in Birmingham during the 1950s and 1960s, Rice was exposed firsthand to the racial violence that permeated the city. Birmingham was known at the time as "Bombingham" due to the frequency of racially motivated bombings targeting the African-American community. The 1963 [[16th Street Baptist Church bombing]], which killed four young African-American girls, occurred when Rice was eight years old. One of the victims, Denise McNair, was a schoolmate and acquaintance of Rice.<ref name="cnnfastfacts" /> These early experiences in a segregated South had a formative influence on Rice's worldview and her later perspectives on democracy, freedom, and the importance of institutions.
Despite the constraints imposed by segregation, Rice's parents emphasized education and personal achievement. Her family encouraged her to pursue a range of intellectual and artistic interests from an early age. She began learning to play the piano at age three and developed a serious interest in music that would continue throughout her life, initially aspiring to become a concert pianist.<ref name="cnnprofile" /> Her parents instilled in her the belief that she could accomplish anything if she was "twice as good" as her peers, a philosophy that guided her through subsequent decades of academic and professional achievement.<ref name="brownlecture">{{cite web |title=At Brown, Condoleezza Rice discusses foreign policy, research universities and an accomplished career |url=https://www.brown.edu/news/2025-11-05/ogden-lecture-condoleezza-rice |publisher=Brown University |date=November 5, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
Despite the constraints imposed by segregation, Rice's parents cultivated an environment that encouraged intellectual curiosity and excellence. The family eventually moved to Denver, Colorado, where Rice would continue her education and begin to develop the academic interests that would define her career.<ref name="britannica" />


== Education ==
== Education ==


Rice was a precocious student who initially aspired to become a professional concert pianist. She enrolled at the [[University of Denver]] at the age of fifteen, initially studying music. However, she shifted her academic focus to political science after attending a course on international politics taught by Josef Korbel, a Czech-born diplomat who was the father of future Secretary of State [[Madeleine Albright]].<ref name="britannica" /> Rice earned her [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in political science from the University of Denver in 1974, at the age of nineteen.
Rice's academic trajectory took her far from Birmingham at a young age. She enrolled at the [[University of Denver]] at the age of fifteen, initially intending to major in music and pursue a career as a concert pianist.<ref name="britannica" /> After attending a music festival during her sophomore year, she concluded that she lacked the talent to succeed as a professional pianist and shifted her academic focus. She discovered political science through a course on international relations, which sparked what would become her lifelong career in the field.<ref name="cnnprofile" />


She subsequently pursued graduate studies at the [[University of Notre Dame]], where she received her [[Master of Arts]] degree in political science in 1975.<ref name="cnnfastfacts" /> Rice then returned to the University of Denver's Graduate School of International Studies, where she completed her [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] in 1981. Her doctoral dissertation, titled ''The Politics of Client Command: Party-Military Relations in Czechoslovakia, 1948–1975'', focused on the relationship between the [[Communist Party of Czechoslovakia|Czechoslovak Communist Party]] and the military, a subject that reflected her growing expertise in Soviet and Eastern European affairs.<ref name="britannica" />
Rice earned her [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in political science from the University of Denver in 1974, at the age of nineteen. She then pursued graduate study at the [[University of Notre Dame]], where she received a [[Master of Arts]] degree in political science in 1975.<ref name="cnnfast" /> She returned to the University of Denver for her doctoral work at the Graduate School of International Studies (now the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, named after the father of future Secretary of State [[Madeleine Albright]]). Rice completed her [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] in 1981 with a dissertation titled ''The Politics of Client Command: Party-Military Relations in Czechoslovakia, 1948–1975'', which examined the intersection of military and political structures in communist Eastern Europe.<ref name="britannica" /> Her doctoral research reflected a deep engagement with Soviet and Eastern European affairs that would define her early career in government and academia.
 
Rice's educational trajectory — from aspiring concert pianist to Soviet affairs specialist — was shaped in significant part by the mentorship of Josef Korbel, who introduced her to the study of international relations and the politics of the Soviet bloc. This academic grounding would prove instrumental in her later government career during and after the [[Cold War]].


== Career ==
== Career ==


=== Early Academic Career and Government Service ===
=== Early Academic and Government Career ===
 
After completing her doctorate, Rice joined the faculty of [[Stanford University]] in 1981 as an assistant professor of political science, specializing in Soviet and Eastern European studies. Her scholarship on Soviet military affairs and Cold War politics quickly earned her recognition within academic and policy circles.<ref name="britannica" />


In 1986, Rice served as a special assistant to the Director of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] at the [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]], gaining her first significant exposure to national security policymaking. Her expertise in Soviet affairs drew the attention of [[Brent Scowcroft]], who served as National Security Advisor under President [[George H. W. Bush]]. In 1989, Rice joined the Bush administration's [[National Security Council (United States)|National Security Council]] staff as the director for Soviet and East European affairs.<ref name="britannica" />
After completing her doctorate, Rice joined the faculty of [[Stanford University]] as an assistant professor of political science in 1981.<ref name="britannica" /> Her expertise in Soviet military affairs and Eastern European politics quickly established her reputation in academic and policy circles. At Stanford, she became known as an effective and engaging lecturer, and she developed a network of contacts within the foreign policy establishment.


During her tenure on the NSC from 1989 to 1991, Rice served as an advisor on Soviet and Eastern European policy during one of the most consequential periods in modern geopolitics. She played a role in the administration's response to the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]], and the [[German reunification]]. Her work during this period established her reputation as a knowledgeable and capable national security professional.<ref name="cnnfastfacts" />
Rice's first foray into government service came in 1986, when she served as an international affairs fellow of the [[Council on Foreign Relations]] and was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This position allowed her to apply her academic expertise in Soviet military policy to practical defense and strategic planning questions within the federal government. Her competence in this role brought her to the attention of [[Brent Scowcroft]], who would become [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]] under President [[George H. W. Bush]].<ref name="britannica" />


=== Provost of Stanford University ===
In 1989, Scowcroft recruited Rice to serve on the [[National Security Council]] staff as the director of Soviet and Eastern European affairs. She served in this capacity from 1989 to 1991, a period that encompassed some of the most consequential events of the late twentieth century, including the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]], the [[Revolutions of 1989|collapse of communist regimes across Eastern Europe]], the [[reunification of Germany]], and the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]].<ref name="cnnfast" /> Rice's role as a specialist on Soviet affairs placed her at the center of American policymaking during these transformative events. She advised President Bush directly on matters related to U.S.-Soviet relations and played a role in the diplomatic efforts surrounding German reunification.


Rice returned to Stanford University following her government service and resumed her academic career. In September 1993, she was appointed the provost of Stanford University, becoming the youngest person, the first woman, and the first African American to hold that position at the institution.<ref name="britannica" /> As provost — the university's chief budget and academic officer — Rice was responsible for overseeing a $1.5 billion annual budget and the academic operations of one of the nation's leading research universities.
=== Stanford Provost ===


During her tenure as provost, which lasted until June 1999, Rice managed significant budgetary challenges and implemented administrative restructuring. Her leadership at Stanford demonstrated her capacity for executive management outside of the foreign policy sphere, and she was widely recognized within the university community for her organizational skills and decisive management style.<ref name="britannica" />
After leaving the National Security Council in 1991, Rice returned to Stanford University, where she resumed her academic career. In 1993, she was appointed provost of Stanford, the university's chief academic and budget officer, making her the youngest person, the first woman, and the first African American to hold that position at the institution.<ref name="britannica" /> As provost, Rice was responsible for a $1.5 billion annual budget and oversaw the academic programs of the university's seven schools.


Her predecessor as provost was Gerald Lieberman, and she was succeeded by [[John L. Hennessy]], who would later become president of Stanford University.
Her tenure as provost, which lasted from September 1993 to June 1999, was marked by efforts to address a significant budget deficit that Stanford faced at the time. Rice implemented a number of fiscal reforms and made difficult decisions regarding departmental budgets, which earned her both praise for her managerial competence and criticism from some faculty members who objected to the cuts.<ref name="cnnprofile" /> Her time as provost demonstrated her capacity for executive leadership and administration, skills that would serve her in her subsequent roles in the federal government.


=== National Security Advisor (2001–2005) ===
=== National Security Advisor (2001–2005) ===


Following the contested [[2000 United States presidential election|2000 presidential election]], President-elect George W. Bush appointed Rice as his National Security Advisor on December 17, 2000. She assumed office on January 20, 2001, becoming the first woman to serve in that role.<ref name="britannica" /> In this capacity, Rice was responsible for coordinating the national security policy process across the various departments and agencies of the executive branch, and she served as a principal advisor to the president on matters of foreign policy and national security.
In the period following her departure from the provost's office, Rice became a key foreign policy advisor to then-Governor [[George W. Bush]] of Texas during his 2000 presidential campaign. She led Bush's foreign policy advisory team, known informally as "the Vulcans," which helped shape the candidate's positions on international affairs. Following Bush's election, Rice was appointed National Security Advisor on December 17, 2000, becoming the first woman to hold the position.<ref name="britannica" />
 
The defining event of Rice's tenure as National Security Advisor was the [[September 11 attacks]] of 2001. In the aftermath of the attacks, Rice played a central role in the administration's formulation of the [[War on Terror]], including the decision to launch military operations in [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|Afghanistan]]. She was also a key figure in the lead-up to the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], where she publicly supported the administration's claims regarding [[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction programs]]. In a January 2003 opinion piece, Rice invoked the potential danger posed by Iraq's purported weapons programs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why We Know Iraq is Lying |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2003/US/01/10/wbr.smoking.gun/ |publisher=CNN |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Rice testified before the [[9/11 Commission]] on April 8, 2004, becoming the first sitting National Security Advisor to testify publicly before a congressional investigatory body regarding matters that occurred during her tenure. Her testimony addressed the administration's actions prior to and following the September 11 attacks, and it drew significant public and media attention.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rice's opening statement before the 9/11 commission |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/08/rice.transcript/ |publisher=CNN |date=2004 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Rice's tenure as National Security Advisor was defined above all by the [[September 11 attacks]] of 2001 and their aftermath. In the months before the attacks, Rice and the National Security Council received intelligence briefings regarding the threat posed by [[al-Qaeda]], including a now-famous [[President's Daily Brief]] of August 6, 2001, titled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US."<ref>{{cite web |title=Rice testimony transcript |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/08/rice.transcript/ |publisher=CNN |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The question of what actions were or could have been taken in response to these warnings became a subject of intense scrutiny and public debate, particularly during Rice's testimony before the [[9/11 Commission]] in April 2004, where she defended the administration's pre-September 11 counterterrorism policies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rice testimony transcript |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/08/rice.transcript/ |publisher=CNN |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


During her time as National Security Advisor, Rice worked closely with her deputy, [[Stephen Hadley]], who would succeed her in the role when she moved to the State Department.
Following the September 11 attacks, Rice was central to the formulation and execution of the Bush administration's [[War on Terror]], including the decision to launch military operations in Afghanistan in October 2001. She also played a significant role in the lead-up to the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]]. In January 2003, Rice authored an opinion piece arguing the case for confronting Iraq over its alleged weapons of mass destruction programs, stating that the United States should not wait for definitive proof of Iraq's weapons capabilities—or, as she phrased it, wait for a "smoking gun" that could come "in the form of a mushroom cloud."<ref>{{cite web |title=Top Bush officials push case against Saddam |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2003/US/01/10/wbr.smoking.gun/ |publisher=CNN |date=January 10, 2003 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The subsequent failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq generated widespread criticism of the intelligence assessments and policy arguments that had been used to justify the war.


=== United States Secretary of State (2005–2009) ===
As National Security Advisor, Rice coordinated the interagency process that brought together the State Department, the Defense Department, the intelligence community, and other agencies in the formulation of national security policy. Her relationship with Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]] was closely watched, as the two Cabinet officials frequently clashed over the direction of Iraq policy, with Rice serving as an intermediary and coordinator between the competing camps within the administration.


On January 26, 2005, Rice was confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] as the 66th Secretary of State, succeeding Colin Powell. She became the first African-American woman and the second African American (after Powell) to serve in that position, as well as the second woman (after Madeleine Albright).<ref name="britannica" /> At the time of her appointment, Rice was the highest-ranking woman in the history of the United States to be in the presidential line of succession, as the Secretary of State stands fourth in that line.<ref name="bbcsecretary">{{cite news |date=2005 |title=Rice sworn in as secretary of state |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4302605.stm |work=BBC News |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
=== Secretary of State (2005–2009) ===


As Secretary of State, Rice articulated and pursued a policy she termed "Transformational Diplomacy," which aimed to expand the number of democratic governments in the world, with particular emphasis on the [[Greater Middle East]]. This policy framework sought to move American diplomacy beyond traditional state-to-state engagement and toward efforts to promote democratic governance and civil society in regions considered strategically significant.<ref name="britannica" />
On November 16, 2004, President Bush nominated Rice to succeed Colin Powell as Secretary of State. She was confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] on January 26, 2005, by a vote of 85 to 13, making her the first African-American woman and the second African American (after Powell) to serve as the nation's chief diplomat. She was also the second woman to hold the position, after [[Madeleine Albright]].<ref name="bbc2005">{{cite news |date=January 26, 2005 |title=Rice sworn in as secretary of state |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4302605.stm |work=BBC News |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


The policy of Transformational Diplomacy faced significant practical challenges. The victory of [[Hamas]] in the [[2006 Palestinian legislative election]] demonstrated the complexities of promoting democratic elections in regions where anti-American or Islamist movements enjoyed popular support. Additionally, key American allies in the Middle East, including [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Egypt]], maintained authoritarian systems of governance, often with continued U.S. backing, which created tensions with the stated goals of the democratization agenda.
As Secretary of State, Rice articulated a foreign policy framework she called "Transformational Diplomacy," which sought to expand the number of responsible democratic governments in the world, with particular focus on the [[Greater Middle East]].<ref name="britannica" /> This policy reflected the broader Bush administration goal of promoting democratic governance as a means of enhancing global security, but it faced significant practical challenges. The victory of [[Hamas]] in Palestinian parliamentary elections in January 2006 presented a dilemma for the administration, as the democratic process had produced a result at odds with American strategic preferences. Additionally, key U.S. allies in the region, including [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Egypt]], maintained authoritarian systems of governance, complicating the administration's democracy promotion agenda.


Rice was actively engaged in diplomacy across multiple fronts during her tenure. She worked on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, traveled extensively throughout the Middle East and Europe, and engaged with rising powers such as [[China]] and [[India]]. She also managed U.S. diplomatic responses to crises including the [[2006 Lebanon War]] and the [[2008 South Ossetia war|2008 Russia-Georgia conflict]].
Rice's diplomatic efforts encompassed a wide range of issues during her four years as Secretary of State. She engaged extensively with the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]], worked to manage the U.S. relationship with an increasingly assertive Russia—including during the [[Russo-Georgian War]] of August 2008—and sought to address [[North Korea]]'s nuclear weapons program through the [[six-party talks]]. She also oversaw American diplomacy regarding [[Iran]]'s nuclear program, working to build international support for [[United Nations Security Council]] sanctions against Tehran.


While serving as Secretary of State, Rice also chaired the board of directors of the [[Millennium Challenge Corporation]], a U.S. government agency established to provide development assistance to countries that met certain criteria related to governance, economic policy, and investment in citizens.<ref>{{cite web |title=Board of Directors |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607012010/http://www.mcc.gov/about/boardofdirectors/index.php |publisher=Millennium Challenge Corporation |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
During her tenure, Rice chaired the board of directors of the [[Millennium Challenge Corporation]], a U.S. government agency established to provide aid to developing countries that demonstrated commitments to good governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizens.<ref>{{cite web |title=Board of Directors |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607012010/http://www.mcc.gov/about/boardofdirectors/index.php |publisher=Millennium Challenge Corporation |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Rice left office on January 20, 2009, and was succeeded by [[Hillary Clinton]].
Rice left office on January 20, 2009, at the conclusion of the Bush administration, and was succeeded by [[Hillary Clinton]].


=== Return to Stanford and the Hoover Institution ===
=== Return to Stanford and the Hoover Institution ===


In March 2009, Rice returned to Stanford University, where she resumed her position as a professor of political science and took on the role of Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the [[Hoover Institution]].<ref name="britannica" />
In March 2009, Rice returned to Stanford University as a professor of political science and the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the [[Hoover Institution]].<ref name="britannica" /> In September 2010, she became a faculty member of the [[Stanford Graduate School of Business]] and a director of its Global Center for Business and the Economy, expanding her academic portfolio to encompass issues at the intersection of politics, economics, and global business strategy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Condoleezza Rice to Join Stanford GSB Faculty in September |url=http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/blogs/mba_admissions/archives/2010/08/condoleezza_rice_to_join_stanford_gsb_faculty_in_september.html |work=BusinessWeek |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In September 2010, Rice expanded her academic portfolio by joining the faculty of the [[Stanford Graduate School of Business]] and becoming a director of its Global Center for Business and the Economy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Condoleezza Rice to join Stanford GSB faculty in September |url=http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/blogs/mba_admissions/archives/2010/08/condoleezza_rice_to_join_stanford_gsb_faculty_in_september.html |publisher=BusinessWeek |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In this capacity, she has contributed to executive education programs and research at the intersection of business, economics, and public policy.
In January 2020, it was announced that Rice would succeed Thomas W. Gilligan as the director of the Hoover Institution, becoming the eighth person to lead the prominent public policy research center. She formally assumed the position on September 1, 2020.<ref name="cnnfast" /> In this role, Rice has overseen the Hoover Institution's extensive program of policy research and public engagement. In 2025, she participated in a conversation at the Hoover Institution discussing global affairs and American foreign policy with historian Andrew Roberts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Around The World With Condoleezza Rice |url=https://www.hoover.org/research/around-world-condoleezza-rice |publisher=Hoover Institution |date=August 8, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In January 2020, it was announced that Rice would succeed Thomas W. Gilligan as the director of the Hoover Institution, and she formally assumed the position on September 1, 2020.<ref name="hoover" /> As director, Rice oversees one of the most prominent public policy think tanks in the United States, which is housed at Stanford University and focuses on research related to domestic policy, international affairs, and economic policy.
Rice has remained an active figure in public discourse following her return to academia. In November 2025, she delivered an Ogden Lecture at [[Brown University]], where she discussed foreign policy, the role of research universities, and her career in public service, in conversation with Brown President Christina H. Paxson.<ref name="brownlecture" /> She was featured alongside former Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] as part of the Brown lecture series, with both women speaking on their experiences in American diplomacy and public life.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hillary Rodham Clinton and Condoleezza Rice to speak at Brown University in fall Ogden lectures |url=https://www.brown.edu/news/2025-10-09/clinton-rice-ogden-lectures |publisher=Brown University |date=October 9, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In February 2026, Rice was announced as a speaker for [[Auburn University]]'s 250th Commemoration event, participating in a dialogue on democracy and American democratic values.<ref>{{cite web |title=Democracy in dialogue: The 66th Secretary of State, Sec. Condoleezza Rice, and commentator and author Margaret Hoover to join Auburn University's 250th Commemoration |url=https://wire.auburn.edu/content/ocm/2026/02/021200-america-250.php |publisher=Auburn University |date=February 2026 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Rice has remained an active public intellectual and speaker in her post-government career. In November 2025, she participated in a conversation at [[Brown University]] with President Christina H. Paxson, where she discussed foreign policy, the role of research universities, and her career in public service.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 5, 2025 |title=At Brown, Condoleezza Rice discusses foreign policy, research universities and an accomplished career |url=https://www.brown.edu/news/2025-11-05/ogden-lecture-condoleezza-rice |work=Brown University News |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In February 2026, she was announced as a featured speaker at [[Auburn University]]'s 250th Commemoration of the United States, joining commentator Margaret Hoover in a program focused on democratic values and the nation's founding principles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Democracy in dialogue: The 66th Secretary of State, Sec. Condoleezza Rice, and commentator and author Margaret Hoover to join Auburn University's 250th Commemoration |url=https://wire.auburn.edu/content/ocm/2026/02/021200-america-250.php |publisher=Auburn University |date=February 2026 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Rice has also expressed interest in the implications of emerging technologies for global affairs. In public remarks, she has described the current period as a "hinge-of-history" moment with respect to artificial intelligence and other transformative technologies, arguing that these developments carry profound implications for governance, security, and society.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why Condi Rice believes AI and other emerging technologies have our world in a 'hinge-of-history' moment |url=https://healthexec.com/topics/artificial-intelligence/condoleezza-rice-marc-benioff-wolters-kluwer |publisher=HealthExec |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
Rice has also engaged with topics related to emerging technology, including [[artificial intelligence]], and has spoken publicly about what she has described as a "hinge-of-history" moment driven by AI and other technological developments.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why Condi Rice believes AI and other emerging technologies have our world in a 'hinge-of-history' moment |url=https://healthexec.com/topics/artificial-intelligence/condoleezza-rice-marc-benioff-wolters-kluwer |publisher=HealthExec |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
In addition to her academic and institutional roles, Rice has maintained an interest in athletics. She has hosted the Stanford Intercollegiate women's golf tournament, reflecting her well-known enthusiasm for golf and sports more broadly.<ref>{{cite web |title=Women's Golf Heads North for Stanford Intercollegiate Hosted by Condoleezza Rice |url=https://pepperdinewaves.com/news/2025/10/16/womens-golf-heads-north-for-stanford-intercollegiate-hosted-by-condoleezza-rice.aspx |publisher=Pepperdine University Athletics |date=October 16, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Personal Life ==
== Personal Life ==


Condoleezza Rice has never married and has no children.<ref name="cnnfastfacts" /> She has maintained a relatively private personal life throughout her public career.
Condoleezza Rice has never married and has no children.<ref name="cnnfast" /> She is a devout [[Presbyterian]], a faith rooted in her upbringing as the daughter of a Presbyterian minister.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Spiritual Life of Condoleezza Rice |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109235721/http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2002/005/1.18.html |publisher=Christianity Today |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Rice is a lifelong Presbyterian, reflecting the religious tradition in which she was raised by her minister father.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Spiritual Life of Condoleezza Rice |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109235721/http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2002/005/1.18.html |publisher=Christianity Today |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Her faith has been a consistent element of her public identity, and she has spoken about its influence on her life and career.
Rice is an accomplished classical pianist who began playing at the age of three. Although she abandoned her early aspiration to become a concert pianist while an undergraduate at the University of Denver, music has remained an important part of her life. She has performed chamber music publicly on numerous occasions and has cited music as a source of discipline and creative expression.<ref name="cnnprofile" />


An accomplished pianist, Rice has performed publicly on multiple occasions and has cited music as a central part of her identity. She originally planned to pursue a career as a concert pianist before shifting to political science during her undergraduate years at the University of Denver.<ref name="britannica" />
An avid sports fan, Rice is known for her enthusiasm for football and has been a longtime supporter of the [[Cleveland Browns]]. She has also been involved with collegiate athletics and has hosted the Stanford Intercollegiate women's golf tournament.<ref>{{cite web |title=Women's Golf Heads North for Stanford Intercollegiate Hosted by Condoleezza Rice |url=https://pepperdinewaves.com/news/2025/10/16/womens-golf-heads-north-for-stanford-intercollegiate-hosted-by-condoleezza-rice.aspx |publisher=Pepperdine University Athletics |date=October 16, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Rice is also an avid sports fan with particular interests in football and golf. She was a member of the [[College Football Playoff]] selection committee and has been involved in various sports-related activities. Her hosting of the Stanford Intercollegiate golf tournament is one example of her continued engagement with collegiate athletics.<ref>{{cite web |title=Women's Golf Heads North for Stanford Intercollegiate Hosted by Condoleezza Rice |url=https://pepperdinewaves.com/news/2025/10/16/womens-golf-heads-north-for-stanford-intercollegiate-hosted-by-condoleezza-rice.aspx |publisher=Pepperdine University Athletics |date=October 16, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Rice was originally a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] but changed her party affiliation to [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] in 1982, a decision she has attributed to her disagreement with the foreign policy positions of President [[Jimmy Carter]] and her alignment with the views of the Republican Party on issues of national defense and individual liberty.<ref name="cnnprofile" />
 
Rice was a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] before 1982, when she switched her affiliation to the Republican Party. She has stated that her political realignment was influenced by her views on foreign policy, particularly her opposition to the [[Carter administration]]'s approach to the Soviet Union.<ref name="britannica" />


== Recognition ==
== Recognition ==


Rice's career in government and academia has resulted in significant recognition. As the first African-American woman to serve as Secretary of State and the first woman to serve as National Security Advisor, she holds a unique place in the history of American governance.<ref name="britannica" /> Her appointment as Secretary of State in 2005 made her the highest-ranking woman to that point in the presidential line of succession.
Rice has received numerous honors and awards throughout her career in government and academia. Her appointment as National Security Advisor in January 2001 made her the first woman to serve in that role, and her subsequent appointment as Secretary of State made her the first African-American woman and the highest-ranking woman in the presidential line of succession at that time.<ref name="britannica" />


Rice has received numerous honorary degrees and has been invited to speak at major universities and institutions across the country. Her 2025 appearances at Brown University and the announced 2026 lecture at Auburn University reflect her continued prominence as a public figure and commentator on foreign affairs, democracy, and American institutions.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 9, 2025 |title=Hillary Rodham Clinton and Condoleezza Rice to speak at Brown University in fall Ogden lectures |url=https://www.brown.edu/news/2025-10-09/clinton-rice-ogden-lectures |work=Brown University News |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
She has been recognized by academic institutions worldwide. In 2008, she received an honorary degree from the University of London's [[School of Oriental and African Studies]].<ref>{{cite news |date=November 2008 |title=Rice receives honorary degree |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7759872.stm |work=BBC News |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> She has been invited to deliver major lectures at leading universities, including the Ogden Lecture at Brown University in 2025.<ref name="brownlecture" />


She has authored and co-authored several books on foreign policy, political science, and American democracy, contributing to public discourse on the challenges facing U.S. foreign policy in the post-Cold War era. Her scholarly work on Soviet and Eastern European military-political relations, beginning with her doctoral dissertation, established her academic credentials, while her later publications have addressed broader themes of democratic governance and international security.
Rice has appeared on numerous lists of influential and powerful women. Her career trajectory—from the segregated South to the highest levels of American government—has been cited as an example of achievement in the face of significant social and institutional barriers. Her role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during a transformative period in world affairs has ensured her place as a subject of extensive scholarly and journalistic analysis.
 
Rice's profile as a public intellectual has extended to media appearances and advisory roles in the private sector. She has served on the boards of several major corporations and has been a regular participant in policy discussions at leading think tanks and academic institutions.


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==


Condoleezza Rice's career spans the fields of academia, national security, and diplomacy, making her one of the most prominent American political figures of the early 21st century. Her service as both National Security Advisor and Secretary of State placed her at the center of U.S. foreign policy during a period that encompassed the September 11 attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and significant realignments in America's relationships with both allies and adversaries.<ref name="britannica" />
Condoleezza Rice's career spans academia, government service, and institutional leadership in ways that have made her one of the most prominent American political figures of the early twenty-first century. As the first woman to serve as National Security Advisor and the first African-American woman to serve as Secretary of State, Rice broke barriers in two of the most senior national security positions in the United States government.<ref name="britannica" />


As the first woman to serve as National Security Advisor and the first African-American woman to serve as Secretary of State, Rice broke barriers in positions that had historically been held by white men. Her ascent from the segregated South to the highest levels of American government is a notable chapter in the history of African Americans in public service. Until the election of Barack Obama in 2008, Rice and Colin Powell represented the highest level of achievement by African Americans in the executive branch of the federal government.<ref name="cnnfastfacts" />
Her tenure in the Bush administration coincided with a period of extraordinary consequence in American foreign policy. The September 11 attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the broader War on Terror defined the era in which Rice served, and her role in these events has been the subject of both praise and criticism. Supporters have credited her with helping to manage the United States' response to unprecedented security challenges, while critics have questioned the intelligence assessments and policy decisions that led to the Iraq War and the subsequent instability in the region.


Rice's policy of Transformational Diplomacy, while meeting with mixed results in practice, represented an attempt to reorient American foreign policy toward the promotion of democratic governance as a strategic objective. The tensions inherent in this approach — particularly the challenge of promoting democracy while maintaining alliances with authoritarian governments — continue to be debated by scholars and policymakers.
In academia, Rice's career at Stanford University has been equally consequential. Her service as provost demonstrated her administrative capabilities, and her return to the university after government service, culminating in her appointment as director of the Hoover Institution in 2020, has cemented her influence in the world of public policy research.<ref name="cnnfast" /> Through the Hoover Institution, Rice continues to shape discussions on American foreign policy, governance, and the implications of emerging technologies for global affairs.


Her post-government career as director of the Hoover Institution and as a professor at Stanford University has allowed her to remain engaged in policy debates and to mentor a new generation of scholars and policymakers. Her public engagements on topics ranging from foreign policy to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies indicate the breadth of her continued involvement in public discourse.<ref name="hoover" />
Rice's life story—from her childhood in segregated Birmingham to the highest corridors of American power—remains a significant chapter in the history of African Americans in government and the broader narrative of the United States in the post–Cold War and post–September 11 eras. Her continued engagement in public life through lectures, policy analysis, and institutional leadership at Stanford ensures that her influence on American political thought and foreign policy discourse persists well beyond her years in government.<ref name="brownlecture" />
 
Rice's trajectory — from a young girl growing up under segregation in Birmingham, Alabama, to one of the most influential foreign policy figures of her era — continues to be cited as a significant narrative in American political history.


== References ==
== References ==
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Latest revision as of 04:31, 24 February 2026


Condoleezza Rice
Official portrait, 2005
Condoleezza Rice
Born14 11, 1954
BirthplaceBirmingham, Alabama, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPolitical scientist, diplomat, academic administrator
TitleDirector of the Hoover Institution
EmployerStanford University
Known for66th United States Secretary of State, 19th United States National Security Advisor
EducationUniversity of Denver (BA, PhD)
University of Notre Dame (MA)
AwardsNational Security Medal

Condoleezza Rice (born November 14, 1954) is an American political scientist, diplomat, and academic administrator who served as the 66th United States Secretary of State from 2005 to 2009 and as the 19th United States National Security Advisor from 2001 to 2005 under President George W. Bush. Born in racially segregated Birmingham, Alabama, Rice rose through the worlds of academia and government to become the first female African-American secretary of state and the first woman to serve as national security advisor.[1] A member of the Republican Party since 1982, she held a central role in shaping American foreign policy during a period defined by the September 11 attacks, the War in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War. Before entering the upper reaches of government, Rice served as provost of Stanford University from 1993 to 1999, and she returned to Stanford after leaving the Bush administration, eventually becoming the director of the Hoover Institution in 2020.[2] At the time of her appointment as Secretary of State, Rice was the highest-ranking woman in the history of the United States to be in the presidential line of succession. Until the election of Barack Obama as president in 2008, she and her predecessor, Colin Powell, were the highest-ranking African Americans in the history of the federal executive branch by virtue of the Secretary of State standing fourth in the presidential line of succession.[1]

Early Life

Condoleezza Rice was born on November 14, 1954, in Birmingham, Alabama, during the era of racial segregation in the American South.[1] Her father, John Wesley Rice Jr., was a Presbyterian minister and high school guidance counselor, and her mother, Angelena Rice, was a science, music, and oratory teacher.[3] Her unusual first name is derived from the Italian musical term con dolcezza, meaning "with sweetness," reflecting her mother's background in music.[3]

Rice grew up in the Titusville neighborhood of Birmingham, a middle-class African-American enclave that, despite the relative economic stability of its residents, was subject to the pervasive racial oppression of the Jim Crow South. Birmingham in the 1950s and 1960s was one of the most racially divided cities in the United States, and Rice's childhood was marked by the violent events of the civil rights movement. In 1963, when Rice was eight years old, the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing killed four young African-American girls, one of whom—Denise McNair—was a playmate and schoolmate of Rice's.[2] The bombing and the broader climate of racial violence in Birmingham left a lasting impression on Rice and would later inform her views on the importance of democratic institutions and individual liberty.

Despite the constraints imposed by segregation, Rice's parents emphasized education and personal achievement. Her family encouraged her to pursue a range of intellectual and artistic interests from an early age. She began learning to play the piano at age three and developed a serious interest in music that would continue throughout her life, initially aspiring to become a concert pianist.[3] Her parents instilled in her the belief that she could accomplish anything if she was "twice as good" as her peers, a philosophy that guided her through subsequent decades of academic and professional achievement.[4]

Education

Rice's academic trajectory took her far from Birmingham at a young age. She enrolled at the University of Denver at the age of fifteen, initially intending to major in music and pursue a career as a concert pianist.[1] After attending a music festival during her sophomore year, she concluded that she lacked the talent to succeed as a professional pianist and shifted her academic focus. She discovered political science through a course on international relations, which sparked what would become her lifelong career in the field.[3]

Rice earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Denver in 1974, at the age of nineteen. She then pursued graduate study at the University of Notre Dame, where she received a Master of Arts degree in political science in 1975.[2] She returned to the University of Denver for her doctoral work at the Graduate School of International Studies (now the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, named after the father of future Secretary of State Madeleine Albright). Rice completed her PhD in 1981 with a dissertation titled The Politics of Client Command: Party-Military Relations in Czechoslovakia, 1948–1975, which examined the intersection of military and political structures in communist Eastern Europe.[1] Her doctoral research reflected a deep engagement with Soviet and Eastern European affairs that would define her early career in government and academia.

Career

Early Academic and Government Career

After completing her doctorate, Rice joined the faculty of Stanford University as an assistant professor of political science in 1981.[1] Her expertise in Soviet military affairs and Eastern European politics quickly established her reputation in academic and policy circles. At Stanford, she became known as an effective and engaging lecturer, and she developed a network of contacts within the foreign policy establishment.

Rice's first foray into government service came in 1986, when she served as an international affairs fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations and was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This position allowed her to apply her academic expertise in Soviet military policy to practical defense and strategic planning questions within the federal government. Her competence in this role brought her to the attention of Brent Scowcroft, who would become National Security Advisor under President George H. W. Bush.[1]

In 1989, Scowcroft recruited Rice to serve on the National Security Council staff as the director of Soviet and Eastern European affairs. She served in this capacity from 1989 to 1991, a period that encompassed some of the most consequential events of the late twentieth century, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, the collapse of communist regimes across Eastern Europe, the reunification of Germany, and the dissolution of the Soviet Union.[2] Rice's role as a specialist on Soviet affairs placed her at the center of American policymaking during these transformative events. She advised President Bush directly on matters related to U.S.-Soviet relations and played a role in the diplomatic efforts surrounding German reunification.

Stanford Provost

After leaving the National Security Council in 1991, Rice returned to Stanford University, where she resumed her academic career. In 1993, she was appointed provost of Stanford, the university's chief academic and budget officer, making her the youngest person, the first woman, and the first African American to hold that position at the institution.[1] As provost, Rice was responsible for a $1.5 billion annual budget and oversaw the academic programs of the university's seven schools.

Her tenure as provost, which lasted from September 1993 to June 1999, was marked by efforts to address a significant budget deficit that Stanford faced at the time. Rice implemented a number of fiscal reforms and made difficult decisions regarding departmental budgets, which earned her both praise for her managerial competence and criticism from some faculty members who objected to the cuts.[3] Her time as provost demonstrated her capacity for executive leadership and administration, skills that would serve her in her subsequent roles in the federal government.

National Security Advisor (2001–2005)

In the period following her departure from the provost's office, Rice became a key foreign policy advisor to then-Governor George W. Bush of Texas during his 2000 presidential campaign. She led Bush's foreign policy advisory team, known informally as "the Vulcans," which helped shape the candidate's positions on international affairs. Following Bush's election, Rice was appointed National Security Advisor on December 17, 2000, becoming the first woman to hold the position.[1]

Rice's tenure as National Security Advisor was defined above all by the September 11 attacks of 2001 and their aftermath. In the months before the attacks, Rice and the National Security Council received intelligence briefings regarding the threat posed by al-Qaeda, including a now-famous President's Daily Brief of August 6, 2001, titled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US."[5] The question of what actions were or could have been taken in response to these warnings became a subject of intense scrutiny and public debate, particularly during Rice's testimony before the 9/11 Commission in April 2004, where she defended the administration's pre-September 11 counterterrorism policies.[6]

Following the September 11 attacks, Rice was central to the formulation and execution of the Bush administration's War on Terror, including the decision to launch military operations in Afghanistan in October 2001. She also played a significant role in the lead-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In January 2003, Rice authored an opinion piece arguing the case for confronting Iraq over its alleged weapons of mass destruction programs, stating that the United States should not wait for definitive proof of Iraq's weapons capabilities—or, as she phrased it, wait for a "smoking gun" that could come "in the form of a mushroom cloud."[7] The subsequent failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq generated widespread criticism of the intelligence assessments and policy arguments that had been used to justify the war.

As National Security Advisor, Rice coordinated the interagency process that brought together the State Department, the Defense Department, the intelligence community, and other agencies in the formulation of national security policy. Her relationship with Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was closely watched, as the two Cabinet officials frequently clashed over the direction of Iraq policy, with Rice serving as an intermediary and coordinator between the competing camps within the administration.

Secretary of State (2005–2009)

On November 16, 2004, President Bush nominated Rice to succeed Colin Powell as Secretary of State. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 26, 2005, by a vote of 85 to 13, making her the first African-American woman and the second African American (after Powell) to serve as the nation's chief diplomat. She was also the second woman to hold the position, after Madeleine Albright.[8]

As Secretary of State, Rice articulated a foreign policy framework she called "Transformational Diplomacy," which sought to expand the number of responsible democratic governments in the world, with particular focus on the Greater Middle East.[1] This policy reflected the broader Bush administration goal of promoting democratic governance as a means of enhancing global security, but it faced significant practical challenges. The victory of Hamas in Palestinian parliamentary elections in January 2006 presented a dilemma for the administration, as the democratic process had produced a result at odds with American strategic preferences. Additionally, key U.S. allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, maintained authoritarian systems of governance, complicating the administration's democracy promotion agenda.

Rice's diplomatic efforts encompassed a wide range of issues during her four years as Secretary of State. She engaged extensively with the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, worked to manage the U.S. relationship with an increasingly assertive Russia—including during the Russo-Georgian War of August 2008—and sought to address North Korea's nuclear weapons program through the six-party talks. She also oversaw American diplomacy regarding Iran's nuclear program, working to build international support for United Nations Security Council sanctions against Tehran.

During her tenure, Rice chaired the board of directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S. government agency established to provide aid to developing countries that demonstrated commitments to good governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizens.[9]

Rice left office on January 20, 2009, at the conclusion of the Bush administration, and was succeeded by Hillary Clinton.

Return to Stanford and the Hoover Institution

In March 2009, Rice returned to Stanford University as a professor of political science and the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution.[1] In September 2010, she became a faculty member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a director of its Global Center for Business and the Economy, expanding her academic portfolio to encompass issues at the intersection of politics, economics, and global business strategy.[10]

In January 2020, it was announced that Rice would succeed Thomas W. Gilligan as the director of the Hoover Institution, becoming the eighth person to lead the prominent public policy research center. She formally assumed the position on September 1, 2020.[2] In this role, Rice has overseen the Hoover Institution's extensive program of policy research and public engagement. In 2025, she participated in a conversation at the Hoover Institution discussing global affairs and American foreign policy with historian Andrew Roberts.[11]

Rice has remained an active figure in public discourse following her return to academia. In November 2025, she delivered an Ogden Lecture at Brown University, where she discussed foreign policy, the role of research universities, and her career in public service, in conversation with Brown President Christina H. Paxson.[4] She was featured alongside former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as part of the Brown lecture series, with both women speaking on their experiences in American diplomacy and public life.[12] In February 2026, Rice was announced as a speaker for Auburn University's 250th Commemoration event, participating in a dialogue on democracy and American democratic values.[13]

Rice has also expressed interest in the implications of emerging technologies for global affairs. In public remarks, she has described the current period as a "hinge-of-history" moment with respect to artificial intelligence and other transformative technologies, arguing that these developments carry profound implications for governance, security, and society.[14]

Personal Life

Condoleezza Rice has never married and has no children.[2] She is a devout Presbyterian, a faith rooted in her upbringing as the daughter of a Presbyterian minister.[15]

Rice is an accomplished classical pianist who began playing at the age of three. Although she abandoned her early aspiration to become a concert pianist while an undergraduate at the University of Denver, music has remained an important part of her life. She has performed chamber music publicly on numerous occasions and has cited music as a source of discipline and creative expression.[3]

An avid sports fan, Rice is known for her enthusiasm for football and has been a longtime supporter of the Cleveland Browns. She has also been involved with collegiate athletics and has hosted the Stanford Intercollegiate women's golf tournament.[16]

Rice was originally a member of the Democratic Party but changed her party affiliation to Republican in 1982, a decision she has attributed to her disagreement with the foreign policy positions of President Jimmy Carter and her alignment with the views of the Republican Party on issues of national defense and individual liberty.[3]

Recognition

Rice has received numerous honors and awards throughout her career in government and academia. Her appointment as National Security Advisor in January 2001 made her the first woman to serve in that role, and her subsequent appointment as Secretary of State made her the first African-American woman and the highest-ranking woman in the presidential line of succession at that time.[1]

She has been recognized by academic institutions worldwide. In 2008, she received an honorary degree from the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies.[17] She has been invited to deliver major lectures at leading universities, including the Ogden Lecture at Brown University in 2025.[4]

Rice has appeared on numerous lists of influential and powerful women. Her career trajectory—from the segregated South to the highest levels of American government—has been cited as an example of achievement in the face of significant social and institutional barriers. Her role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during a transformative period in world affairs has ensured her place as a subject of extensive scholarly and journalistic analysis.

Legacy

Condoleezza Rice's career spans academia, government service, and institutional leadership in ways that have made her one of the most prominent American political figures of the early twenty-first century. As the first woman to serve as National Security Advisor and the first African-American woman to serve as Secretary of State, Rice broke barriers in two of the most senior national security positions in the United States government.[1]

Her tenure in the Bush administration coincided with a period of extraordinary consequence in American foreign policy. The September 11 attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the broader War on Terror defined the era in which Rice served, and her role in these events has been the subject of both praise and criticism. Supporters have credited her with helping to manage the United States' response to unprecedented security challenges, while critics have questioned the intelligence assessments and policy decisions that led to the Iraq War and the subsequent instability in the region.

In academia, Rice's career at Stanford University has been equally consequential. Her service as provost demonstrated her administrative capabilities, and her return to the university after government service, culminating in her appointment as director of the Hoover Institution in 2020, has cemented her influence in the world of public policy research.[2] Through the Hoover Institution, Rice continues to shape discussions on American foreign policy, governance, and the implications of emerging technologies for global affairs.

Rice's life story—from her childhood in segregated Birmingham to the highest corridors of American power—remains a significant chapter in the history of African Americans in government and the broader narrative of the United States in the post–Cold War and post–September 11 eras. Her continued engagement in public life through lectures, policy analysis, and institutional leadership at Stanford ensures that her influence on American political thought and foreign policy discourse persists well beyond her years in government.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 "Condoleezza Rice".Encyclopedia Britannica.https://www.britannica.com/biography/Condoleezza-Rice.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Condoleezza Rice Fast Facts".CNN.November 7, 2025.https://www.cnn.com/politics/condoleezza-rice-fast-facts.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "Condoleezza Rice".CNN.http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/people/shows/rice/profile.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "At Brown, Condoleezza Rice discusses foreign policy, research universities and an accomplished career".Brown University.November 5, 2025.https://www.brown.edu/news/2025-11-05/ogden-lecture-condoleezza-rice.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  5. ↑ "Rice testimony transcript".CNN.http://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/08/rice.transcript/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  6. ↑ "Rice testimony transcript".CNN.http://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/08/rice.transcript/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  7. ↑ "Top Bush officials push case against Saddam".CNN.January 10, 2003.http://edition.cnn.com/2003/US/01/10/wbr.smoking.gun/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  8. ↑ "Rice sworn in as secretary of state".BBC News.January 26, 2005.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4302605.stm.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  9. ↑ "Board of Directors".Millennium Challenge Corporation.https://web.archive.org/web/20080607012010/http://www.mcc.gov/about/boardofdirectors/index.php.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  10. ↑ "Condoleezza Rice to Join Stanford GSB Faculty in September".BusinessWeek.http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/blogs/mba_admissions/archives/2010/08/condoleezza_rice_to_join_stanford_gsb_faculty_in_september.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  11. ↑ "Around The World With Condoleezza Rice".Hoover Institution.August 8, 2025.https://www.hoover.org/research/around-world-condoleezza-rice.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  12. ↑ "Hillary Rodham Clinton and Condoleezza Rice to speak at Brown University in fall Ogden lectures".Brown University.October 9, 2025.https://www.brown.edu/news/2025-10-09/clinton-rice-ogden-lectures.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  13. ↑ "Democracy in dialogue: The 66th Secretary of State, Sec. Condoleezza Rice, and commentator and author Margaret Hoover to join Auburn University's 250th Commemoration".Auburn University.February 2026.https://wire.auburn.edu/content/ocm/2026/02/021200-america-250.php.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  14. ↑ "Why Condi Rice believes AI and other emerging technologies have our world in a 'hinge-of-history' moment".HealthExec.https://healthexec.com/topics/artificial-intelligence/condoleezza-rice-marc-benioff-wolters-kluwer.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  15. ↑ "The Spiritual Life of Condoleezza Rice".Christianity Today.https://web.archive.org/web/20080109235721/http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2002/005/1.18.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  16. ↑ "Women's Golf Heads North for Stanford Intercollegiate Hosted by Condoleezza Rice".Pepperdine University Athletics.October 16, 2025.https://pepperdinewaves.com/news/2025/10/16/womens-golf-heads-north-for-stanford-intercollegiate-hosted-by-condoleezza-rice.aspx.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  17. ↑ "Rice receives honorary degree".BBC News.November 2008.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7759872.stm.Retrieved 2026-02-23.

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