
Condoleezza Rice
diplomat | professor
Condoleezza Rice grew up in one of the most segregated cities in the US. But her parents ~ teachers who believed in the transformative power of education ~ convinced her she could be anything she wanted to be. Though Condi's early ambition was to be a pro pianist, in college she discovered a passion for political science that set her on a path to becoming a celebrated scholar + top diplomat.
During her time as a national security adviser and the 66th US secretary of state, Condoleezza was a key player in the US response to major international conflicts...from the fall of the Soviet Union to the reunification of Germany, the 9/11 attacks to the Iraq War. Today, she shares her expertise in the classroom, at the podium and in bestselling books.
being a leading academic + policymaker
manners + assertiveness | the complementary traits that saw her nicknamed the "Warrior Princess"
precociousness | graduated from high school by 16, from college by 19
1993 | appointed Provost of Stanford University
2000 | became the first female National Security Adviser
2005 | confirmed as the 66th secretary of state
from | to
aspiring concert pianist | top diplomat + academic
born on
November 14, 1954
born in
Birmingham, Alabama
~ one the most segregated cities in the US ~
birth name
Condoleezza Rice
~ her Italian first name roughly translates to "with sweetness" ~
nickname | also known as
Condi
Madam Secretary
Warrior Princess
citizen of
The United States of America
daughter of
Angelena Rice
~ high school teacher ~
John Wesley Rice
~ teacher, Presbyterian minister + football coach ~
sister of
only child
educated at | studied with
St. Mary's Academy
~ an all-girls Catholic high school in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado | graduated in 1971 {at 16} ~
University of Denver
~ BA in political science | 1974 ~
University of Notre Dame
~ MA in political science | 1975 ~
Joseph Korbel School of International Studies at University of Denver
~ PhD in political science | 1981 ~
loved studying
music
French
ballet
political science
influenced by | worked alongside
Josef Korbel
~ the international politics professor {+ Madeleine Albright's father} who sparked Condoleezza's interest in Soviet politics ~
Colin Powell
~ who preceded her as secretary of state ~
Presidents George Bush
~ both of them ~
in her spare time
shopping
avid football fan
golfs
~ was one of the first two women admitted to Augusta National ~
playing music
~ including public piano performances with the Denver Symphony, Yo-Yo Ma + Aretha Franklin ~
tweets
@CondoleezzaRice
image credits
Condoleezza Rice | Washington Speakers Bureau
"America is proof that pluralism and tolerance are the foundations of true national greatness."
A Balance of Power that Favors Freedom | october 2002
"There is an old argument between the so-called 'realistic' school of foreign affairs and the 'idealistic' school . . . As a policymaker, I can tell you that these categories obscure reality. In real life, power and values are married completely."
A Balance of Power that Favors Freedom | october 2002
"For those of us in positions of authority, every day after September 11th was September 12th."
interview | january 2005
"Education is transformational. It literally changes lives. That is why people work so hard to become educated, and that is why education has always been the key to the American Dream—the force that erases arbitrary divisions of race and class and culture and unlocks every person's God-given potential."
Boston College commencement address | may 2006
"Daddy told me that the first time he saw me in the nursery, the other babies were just lying still, but I was trying to lift myself up . . . From that day on he was a ‘feminist’—there was nothing that his little girl couldn’t do, including learning to love football."
Ordinary, Extraordinary People | january 2010
"When I went to college, I was going to be a concert pianist. And, after a little time at the Aspen Music Festival School and the realization I was going to end up teaching kids to murder Beethoven or maybe playing at a piano bar someplace, I had to find another line of work."
10 Questions for Condoleezza Rice | october 2010
"My father was a feminist from the day I was born; there was nothing his little girl couldn’t do. And he modeled that in his relationship with my mother."
MAKERS profile | april 2012
"My parents had me absolutely convinced that even if I couldn’t have a hamburger at the Woolworth’s lunch counter, I could be president of the United States of America if I wanted to be."
MAKERS profile | april 2012
"Prejudice and bigotry are brought down...by the sheer force of determination of individuals to succeed and the refusal of a human being to let prejudice define the parameters of the possible."
Shabbat at Chabad of Stanford University | april 2013
"Life is full of surprises and serendipity. Being open to unexpected turns in the road is an important part of success."
Shabbat at Chabad of Stanford University | april 2013
"When you’re helping someone who has less, you don’t think about not having enough, you think ‘why do I have so much’?"
Shabbat at Chabad of Stanford University | april 2013
"My love of football started with my father...He had wanted me to be his 'All-American linebacker,' and had I been a son instead of a daughter, I think I might have done it."
Condoleezza Rice on her father and football | february 2015
for further reading about Condoleezza Rice:
curated with care by Alicia Williamson {june 2015}
the 66th US secretary of state
When President George W. Bush appointed Condoleezza as his top diplomat, she became the second woman {after Madeleine Albright} and second African American {after Colin Powell} to hold the high-profile gig. An expert in Soviet politics who taught at Stanford before being serving in the federal government's security council, she was secretary of state for 4 eventful years from 2005-2009.
US State Department | public domain
at the American Embassy in Baghdad
Condoleezza is warmly surrounded by diplomatic and military personnel serving in Iraq soon after her promotion to secretary of state. As national security adviser, she publicly supported the Iraq War and the Bush Administration's controversial policy of preemptive military action to address threats in the Middle East.
US Air Force
an accomplished pianist {+ Brahms lover}
Condoleezza began playing piano at an early age, initially planning to make a career of it. Though her professional aims took a very different turn towards political science, she still shares her talent with the public. She has performed high-profile charity gigs with everyone from cellist Yo-Yo Ma to soul singer Aretha Franklin. Condi even showed off her skills on a hilarious guest spot for the NBC sitcom 30 Rock.
Condoleezza Rice | MAKERS