Condoleezza Rice Interview: Discovering a Passion for International Politics

Condoleezza Rice recalls growing up in Birmingham, Alabama in the late 1950s and early 1960s during segregation. She describes her parents as extraordinary people that believed firmly in education, who instilled in her that there was nothing she couldn't accomplish. Rice discusses how studying the Soviet Union and military affairs in college was how she got into international politics, and recounts the first time she met Mikhail Gorbachev when advising George H.W. Bush on how to handle the collapse of the Soviet Union. Rice reflects on her time as Secretary of State under George W. Bush from 2005 to 2009.

Rice was born on November 14, 1954, in Birmingham, Alabama. She earned her bachelor of arts in political science in 1974 from the University of Denver, her master's degree in political science from the University of Notre Dame in 1975, and her doctorate in political science from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981. After her graduation, Rice accepted a position at Stanford University as a professor of political science. In 1987 she served as an advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and in 1989 was appointed director of Soviet and East European Affairs on the National Security Council. Rice returned to Stanford in 1991 and from 1993 until 1999 she served as Stanford's Provost. In 2001 she was appointed National Security Advisor by President George W. Bush, and succeeded Colin Powel as Secretary of State in 2005 and served until 2009. As Secretary of State, Rice supported the expansion of democratic governments, and championed the idea of "Transformational Diplomacy," which sought to redistribute U.S. diplomats to areas of severe social and political trouble, address such issues as disease, drug smuggling and human trafficking, and reemphasize aid through the creation of the position of Director of Foreign Assistance. Rice authored - No Higher Honor: A Memoir of My Years in Washington (2011).

From the 2013 PBS Documentary “Makers: Women Who Make America”, examines how women have helped shape America over the past 150 years, striving for a full and fair share of political power and economic opportunity.

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Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State (2005–2009)

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:08 Growing up in the South
05:16 Childhood activities
07:41 Parents
08:56 Sports
10:02 Civil Rights and Women’s Movement
12:52 Interest in politics
14:52 Military affairs
16:51 Public service
18:00 Epiphany
20:28 Extemporaneous speaking
22:20 September 11th
24:18 Criticism
27:28 Secretary of State
29:46 Looking back
32:30 Music
33:22 Q&A

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