Colin Powell

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• Born: 5 April 1937
• Birthplace: New York, New York
• Best Known As: U.S. Secretary of State, 2001-2004

Name at birth: Colin Luther Powell

Colin Powell became the first African-American Secretary of State in U.S. history when he took office in 2001. Powell was a career soldier who fought in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He rose through the ranks to become a general, then became national security adviser to President Ronald Reagan. Powell became chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George Bush the elder, directing U.S. forces during the first Gulf War. Powell retired in 1993 and published his autobiography, My American Journey, in 1995. After years on the lecture circuit, he was chosen by George W. Bush to be Secretary of State in 2001. Powell was often perceived to be a moderate among more conservative voices in the administration. He submitted his resignation to Bush in November of 2004, shortly after Bush won election to a second term. He was succeeded as Secretary of State by Condoleezza Rice, the first African-American woman to hold the job.

Powell's son, Michael, was Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission from 2001-2005.

For more information on Colin Luther Powell, visit Britannica.com.

Powell, Gen Colin (b. 1937), African-American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Gulf crisis and war. His family was from Jamaica but moved to the USA when he was a child. By his own admission he was the beneficiary of ‘affirmative action’ (positive discrimination) and rose to the highest command without any combat experience. A born diplomat, he held the line between his irascible theatre commander Schwarzkopf and the other politicians outside and in the armed forces. His economically expressed war strategy was to ‘cut off and kill’ the Iraqi forces in the Kuwait theatre of operations and to reduce their overall strength so that they were no longer a threat to the region. From 2001 to 2005, he served as secretary of state to Pres George W. Bush.

— Christopher Bellamy

Born 5 April 1937 in the Harlem section of New York City and raised in the South Bronx, Colin L. Powell, the son of Jamaican immigrants, rose to become the first African American chairman of the JCS. After his 1958 graduation from City College, New York, where he had been a member of the ROTC, Powell received a commission in the regular army.

As a young officer in the recently integrated army, he had opportunities for leadership not then generally available to blacks in segregated civilian society. He received accelerated promotions to major and colonel, and in 1979 became at forty‐two the youngest general then in the army.

A turning point in Powell's career was his 1972 selection as a White House Fellow. Assigned to the Office of Management and Budget, he learned firsthand the workings of the federal bureaucracy and met individuals who later played key roles in his career. He served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense during both Democratic and Republican administrations, and in 1983 became military assistant to the secretary. Appointed President Ronald Reagan's deputy national security adviser in 1987, he soon became national security adviser.

Selected by President George Bush, Powell became chairman of the JCS on 1 October 1989. In addition to being the first African American, he was the first ROTC graduate and the youngest man to hold the position. Powell was also the first chairman to serve his entire tenure under the 1986 Goldwater‐Nichols Act that made the chairman, rather than the corporate chiefs, the nation's principal military adviser.

During his four years in office, Powell made full and unprecedented use of the chairman's enhanced authority. He directed the reorientation of U.S. military strategy at the end of the Cold War and introduced the concept of a “base force” that reduced the size of the armed forces while maintaining U.S. superpower status. He played a central role during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. The army's experience in Vietnam, where he served two tours, profoundly affected Powell's approach to the use of military force. He advocated deploying U.S. forces in combat only for clear political objectives, and then applying overwhelming force to achieve quick victory.

Powell's active exercise of the chairman's authority greatly strengthened the position. As a result, his tenure became the subject of press and scholarly debate about the proper role of the military in policy formulation.

[See also African Americans in the Military.]

Bibliography

• Colin L. Powell with JosephE. Persico, My American Journey, 1995

Powell, Colin L. (1937-) U.S. army officer, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. Secretary of State, born in New York City to Jamaican immigrant parents. Powell served in the Reserve Officer Training Corps while a student at the City College of New York. He served in Vietnam (1962-63, 1968-69). After studying at George Washington University, he joined the White House staff, soon becoming an aide to the director of the Office of Management and Budget. Powell held several positions at the Pentagon and in 1983 became a senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. In 1987 he became assistant to the president for national security affairs, and in 1989 he headed the Army Forces Command. In April 1989 he became a four-star general, and in August of that year President George H. Bush nominated him to head the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In that position he helped plan the 1989 invasion of Panama and the 1991 Persian Gulf War. He retired from the military in 1993. In the years since his retirement he was widely mentioned as a possible presidential candidate or secretary of defense. From 2001 to 2005 he served as Secretary of State to President George W. Bush.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

American Army officer Colin Luther Powell (born 1937) served as national security adviser to President Ronald Reagan, and under President George Bush became the first African American to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989-1993).

Colin Luther Powell was born in Harlem, New York City on April 5, 1937, the son of a shipping clerk and a seamstress, both of whom were immigrants from Jamaica. Powell spent most of his childhood in the South Bronx, then regarded as a step up from Harlem. Despite the urgings of his parents that he should "strive for a good education" in order to "make something" of his life, Powell remained an ordinary student throughout high school. At City College of New York, Powell discovered himself; his retentive mind and leadership abilities made him a conspicuous success in the Army's Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). He graduated from the program in 1958 with the rank of cadet colonel, the highest awarded, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He was then assigned to duty in West Germany. In 1962, while stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, Powell met and married Alma Vivian Johnson. The couple had three children.

Powell's next overseas assignment was in South Vietnam, where he was wounded in action. He then studied at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, finishing second in a class of more than twelve hundred officers. During a second tour in Vietnam he received the Soldier's Medal for pulling several men from a burning helicopter.

The army then provided Powell the time to study for a Master's degree in business administration at George Washington University. He received the degree in 1971, after which he worked as an analyst at the Pentagon before securing what he called a "dream job": an appointment as a prestigious White House fellow in the Office of Management and Budget under the director, Caspar Weinberger, and his deputy, Frank Carlucci, two men of rising influence in Washington who perceived Powell's uncommon abilities and who would help shape his career.

A man of commanding presence at six feet one inch and 200 pounds, Powell was assigned to South Korea in 1973 to command a battalion troubled by racial animosities. "I threw the bums out of the army and put the drug users in jail, " he recalled. "The rest, we ran four miles every morning, and by night they were too tired to get into trouble." Powell's prescription worked, and the tensions that had led to race riots before his arrival abated.

After additional service in Washington and an assignment as a brigade commander in the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Powell returned to Washington in the late 1970s, attaining the rank of major general and holding advisory posts in the Pentagon and briefly in the Department of Energy. He next served at Fort Carson, Colorado, and at Fort Leavenworth before becoming military assistant to Weinberger, then secretary of defense in the Reagan administration, in 1983. While Powell was assisting Weinberger, the National Security Council (NSC) began looking at the possibility of sending American missiles to Iran in the hope of expediting the release of American hostages in the Middle East and turned to Powell to provide certain information about the missiles desired by Iran. Powell complied but subsequently questioned the scheme in writing, reminding the NSC leadership that there was a legal obligation to inform Congress of the proposed arms transfer. When it was pointed out that the plan had presidential authorization, Powell did what was requested of him. The illegal missile transfer was later exposed as a key element in the controversial Iran-Contra scandal. Powell's demonstrated record of opposition to the illegality of the transfer and his excellent demeanor in testifying before congressional investigating committees served him well. In June 1986 Powell received a choice corps command in West Germany but left it after six months at President Reagan's request to become Frank Carlucci's deputy on the National Security Council. Carlucci was endeavoring to rebuild the NSC after the Iran-Contra debacle.

In 1987 Powell replaced Carlucci as national security adviser, a post he held for the duration of the Reagan administration. Arms control and attempts to topple the Sandanista government of Nicaragua ranked high on the agendas of Powell and of other key policy-makers during this period. When President-elect George Bush advised Powell that he wished to name his own national security adviser, Powell could have chosen to leave the army to earn a substantial income on the lecture circuit or perhaps in the business world. Money, however, was not sufficient inducement for Powell to retire; promoted to full (four star) general, he took over the army's Forces Command, which had responsibility for overseeing the readiness of over a million regular, reserve, and National Guard personnel based in the United States. Selected over three dozen more senior generals, Powell was nominated by President Bush in 1989 to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the nation's most prestigious military position. Powell was the first black officer to hold this post.

As chairman of the JCS, Powell held a key role in formulating and refining plans for the December 1989 operation that eliminated the corrupt Manuel Noriega regime in Panama. Television appearances in which Powell explained the purpose of the operation brought him to the favorable attention of the American public. "In a performance that left politicians and viewers marveling, " observed a Wall Street Journal reporter, "he laid out the details in tough but carefully measured tones that may have done more than anything else to reassure lawmakers and the public about the predawn invasion."

Powell became similarly conspicuous during the first stages of Operation Desert Shield, the joint effort by the United States and several other nations through blockade and the mobilization of substantial forces in and near Saudi Arabia to pressure Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein into removing his forces from neighboring Kuwait. This small, oilrich nation had been occupied by Iraqi troops in August 1990. It soon became apparent that this operation, unlike the earlier one in Panama, would take months to decide and involved the risk of substantial casualties if and when hostilities broke out between the Iraqis and the international forces, the bulk of them American. It was thus uncertain whether Powell's largely unblemished record for excellent judgment and leadership would remain intact.

When Desert Shield turned into Desert Storm on January 16, 1991, Powell again demonstrated his successful leadership. Six weeks later the Iraqi army was crushed; the multinational forces stood completely victorious. For his part in this Persian Gulf War, General Powell, as well as field commander General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, was awarded a congressional gold medal.

When Powell was named to head the JCS, a former White House colleague remarked of his appointment: "No one ever thinks of Colin as being Black; they think of him as being good." Powell, however, never ignored his background in New York City or the prejudice he encountered in the 1960s when off base at various army posts in the South, "I've made myself very accessible to the Black press, " he once told an Ebony reporter, "and I do that as a way of just showing people, 'Hey, look at that dude. He came out of the South Bronx. If he got out, why can't I." Powell believed that his position as the nation's foremost military leader and spokesman provided a unique opportunity to deliver a positive message to African American youth.

As the youngest man to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Powell would have ample opportunity to accomplish even more should he choose to remain in public service. His name had even been mentioned in connection with the vice presidency by both liberals and conservatives.

Powell remains an active figure in government. During the 1996 presidential race, it was announced that Powell would run. He declined, citing various reasons. The withdrawal was disappointing to many Americans. Powell spends his time lecturing, writing and speaking.

Further Reading

In the absence of a full biography of Colin Powell, those seeking further information can consult several articles about him, including Simeon Booker, "Colin L. Powell: Black General at the Summit of U.S. Power" in Ebony (July 1988); Thomas M. DeFrank, "The Ultimate No. 2' for NSC" in Newsweek (November 16, 1987); Carl T. Rowan, "Called to Service: The Colin Powell Story" in Reader's Digest (December 1989); Marshall Brown, "Powell Reaches the Pinnacle of Pentagon Power" in Black Enterprise (October 1989); Barrett Seaman with Dan Goodgame, "A 'Complete Soldier' Makes It" in Time (August 21, 1989); Lou Cannon, "Antidote Ollie North" in Washington Post Magazine (August 7, 1988); and Laura B. Randolph, "Gen. Colin L. Powell: The World's Most Powerful Soldier" in Ebony (February 1990). Information regarding Powell's political career can be read in an article by J.F.O. Mcallister entitled "The Candidate of Dreams" Time (March 13, 1995).

secretary of state; government official; general; army officer

Personal Information

Born on April 5, 1937, in Harlem, NY; son of Luther (a shipping clerk) and Maud Arlel (a seamstress) Powell; married Alma Vivian Johnson (a speech pathologist), August 25, 1962; children: Michael, Linda, Annemarie.
Education: City College of the City University of New York, B.S., 1958; George Washington University, M.B.A., 1971; National War College, 1976.
Religion: Episcopalian.

Career

U.S. Army career officer, 1958-; commissioned second lieutenant, 1958; served in West Germany, beginning 1958, and in the United States at Fort Benning, GA and Fort Owens, MA; served in South Vietnam, as a military adviser, 1962-63, as a battalion executive officer and division operations officer, 1968-69; served in South Korea as a battalion commander, 1973; commander of the Second Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY, 1976-77; assistant commander of the Fourth Infantry Division, Fort Carson, CO, 1981-83; deputy commander, Fort Leavenworth, KS, 1983; commanding general of the Fifth Corps, Frankfurt, West Germany, 1986-87; promoted to the rank of general, 1989; commander-in-chief of the U.S. Forces Command, Fort McPherson, GA, 1989; chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., 1989-93; political appointments, Assistant to the Deputy Director, Office of Management and Budget, 1972-73; executive assistant to the Secretary of Energy, 1979; senior military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, 1979-81; military assistant to the Secretary of Defense, 1983-86; deputy assistant for the Assistant to the President, National Security Affairs, 1987; Assistant to the President, National Security Affairs, 1987-89; Secretary of State, 2001-2005.

Life's Work

Already highly regarded by political and military leaders in the White House, Congress, and the Pentagon, U.S. Army General Colin Powell first achieved national and international prominence in 1990 and 1991. Powell, as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was one of the key leaders of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the military campaigns to protect Saudi Arabia and liberate Kuwait from Iraqi control. During the Persian Gulf War, he was credited with skillfully balancing the political objectives of President George Bush and the strategy needs of General Norman Schwarzkopf and other military commanders in the field.

After the war in the Gulf, Powell was considered for the vice-presidency or even the presidency, but he resisted suggestions that he should run for America's highest office. However, when George W. Bush was elected president in 2000, Powell did not decline Bush's request that the retired general take on the position of Secretary of State. So, when the Bush administration took office in January of 2001, Powell became the first African American Secretary of State in U.S. history.

Colin Luther Powell was born in 1937 in Harlem, the son of Jamaican immigrants who had both gone to work in New York City's garment district. The young Powell grew up in the South Bronx, where he enjoyed a secure childhood, looked after by a closely knit family and a multi-ethnic community. He graduated from Morris High School in 1954 and received his B.A. in geology from the City College of New York in 1958. He was undistinguished as a student, but he excelled in the college's Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC), leading the precision drill team and attaining the top rank offered by the corps--cadet colonel. He was not West Point trained, but his achievements in the ROTC won him a commission as second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

Served in Vietnam

His first assignment was at the Fulda Gap in West Germany, where American and allied troops stood as an obstacle on the Soviet Union's most likely invasion route of Western Europe. In the 1960s, Powell served two tours of duty in South Vietnam. As an adviser to South Vietnamese troops, he was wounded in 1963 when he fell victim to a Vietcong booby trap. His second tour, from 1968 to 1969, as an Army Infantry officer, also ended when Powell was injured, this time in a helicopter crash from which he rescued two of his fellow soldiers. For his valor in Vietnam, he received two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, a Soldier's Medal, and the Legion of Merit.

Back on the home front, Powell pursued an M.B.A. at George Washington University. After completing his graduate studies in 1971, he was awarded a prestigious White House fellowship, which gave him the opportunity to get his first taste of politics. From 1972 to 1973, he worked for Frank Carlucci, then-Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget under Caspar Weinberger. It was the beginning of Powell's education in the dynamics of the Washington bureaucracy. Over the next 15 years he returned to the political arena from time to time to continue that education.

From 1979 to 1981, Powell served the Carter administration as an executive assistant to Charles Duncan, Jr., the Secretary of Energy, and as senior military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense. When the Reagan administration came to Washington, Powell worked with Carlucci on the Defense Department's transition team, and then from 1983 to 1986 he joined Weinberger again, this time as military assistant to the Defense Secretary. While there, Powell contributed to the department's involvement in the invasion of Grenada and the bombing raid on Libya.

Between stints in the political arena, Powell continued to advance his military career. In 1973, he traveled to South Korea to take command of a battalion and then a year later he returned to Washington as a staff officer at the Pentagon. He completed his military education at the National War College in 1976 and took command of the Second Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky that same year. In the early 1980s, he completed assignments as the assistant commander of the Fourth Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, and as the deputy director at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was in West Germany again in 1987, this time as commanding general of the Fifth Corps in Frankfurt, when he was called back to Washington to work again with Frank Carlucci, the new National Security Adviser.

Began Working for National Security Council

Carlucci had been chosen to head the troubled National Security Council (NSC) in the aftermath of the Iran-Contra scandal. Powell was not a stranger to the NSC's dealings under Admiral John Poindexter and Oliver North; he had first confronted the issue of arms sales to Iran while working under Weinberger at the Defense Department. Yet, even though he had been aware of the covert activities, he remained above reproach because he had always acted according to law and had not become involved until after presidential approval had been given.

Together Carlucci and Powell reorganized the NSC to reduce the possibility for freelance foreign policy. When in 1987 Carlucci took over as Secretary of Defense for the departing Weinberger, Powell was called upon to take over leadership of the NSC. The move earned widespread approval in Washington because, as Fred Barnes wrote in the New Republic, Powell is "a national security adviser strong enough to settle policy disputes but without a personal agenda."

During his tenure at the NSC, Powell did speak out on a number of issues he felt were important to national security, including economic strength, control of technology exchanges, protection of the environment, a stable defense budget, free trade and foreign investment, research and development, and education. He also expressed his opposition to plans for the overthrow of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega and to heavy spending on the Strategic Defense Initiative ("Star Wars"). Even so, as he told Barnes, "I'm principally a broker. I have strong views on things, but my job is to make sure the president gets the best information available to make an informed decision."

Appointed Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff

In 1989, President George H.W. Bush rewarded Powell for the knowledge and skills he had acquired in the military and political arenas by naming him to the military's top post--Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell was the youngest man and first black to hold that position. In peacetime, the chairman's responsibilities have included overseeing the prioritization of Pentagon spending and keeping the channels of communication open between the military and the White House. They have also included drawing up plans for military action, first in Panama and then in the Middle East.

Because of a 1986 law redefining his role, the general had more influence than any Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since World War II. The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990, obliged Powell to exercise that authority. The day after the invasion, Powell advised the president that a number of options were open, including economic and diplomatic sanctions, as well as the use of military force; the Bush administration decided that decisive force was the necessary response. Operation Desert Shield, requiring the massive movement of troops and supplies to Saudi Arabia, was soon initiated as a show of force and to serve as a deterrent to further Iraqi aggression. After touring the Middle East, the general recommended increasing the number of troops to assure the success of an isolate and destroy strategy if it proved necessary. He told U.S. News and World Report: "You go in to win, and you go in to win decisively."

In the early stages of the operation, Powell again demonstrated his ability to manage people and bureaucracies. As European and Middle Eastern troops joined in a coalition against Iraq, Powell directed the quick integration of communications, operations, and authority into a command network under the direction of General Norman Schwarzkopf. During the planning of the air and land campaigns, he aided the president in making political decisions and kept him informed of military plans, but he also convinced the Washington warriors to leave the commanders in Saudi Arabia the space needed to carry out their missions.

He, too, avoided involvement in the minute details of day-to-day operations, exerting his authority only on major issues. He oversaw bombing missions on Baghdad only after the destruction of a suburban Baghdad bunker killed 400 civilians. He rejected Marine requests to launch a true amphibious assault on Kuwait instead of the feint scheduled to aid Schwarzkopf's encirclement of Kuwait by an end run through Iraq. He also convinced President Bush to respond to the February 21, 1991 Iraqi peace proposal with an ultimatum: the Iraqis must pull out of Kuwait by noon Washington time, February 23. When the deadline passed, the coalition began its land campaign later that night as scheduled.

Thrown Into the Spotlight

With the success of Operation Desert Storm, Powell was hurled into the spotlight of media and public attention. Powell found himself the target of public scrutiny and criticism. Some black leaders labeled him a servant of the white establishment and peace activists considered him a trigger-happy hawk. Such criticisms, however, were tempered by praise of him as a positive role model for young African Americans and as a committed defender of liberty.

Because of his leadership during the war effort and his experience as an insider in the Washington bureaucracy, Powell political analysts suggested him as a promising candidate for future political office, either as vice-president or president. But Powell shied away from such notions, and met with Vice-President Dan Quayle to assure him that the general had no designs on the nation's number two executive post. Powell also requested a second tour as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Bruce B. Auster reported in U.S. News and World Report: "Powell is able to transfer his unquestioned personal integrity to the institution he leads in part because, while he wields more power than almost any of his Pentagon predecessors, he is not addicted to it."

As a black military leader, Powell has demonstrated his commitment to helping young black men and women succeed in the armed services. He has long contended that the military should not be criticized for putting a disproportionate number of young black men and women in harm's way, but rather praised for its history of providing opportunities to minorities. Powell was quoted in Black Enterprise as saying, "What we are dealing with now is a changing of hearts, changing of perspectives and of minds. We need to start to erase the cultural filter with respect to minorities."

America's Promise

After his retirement from his position as chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1993, Powell shied from politics and pressure to run for high office, directing his energies instead toward helping America's youth. In 1997, Powell, along with Presidents Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, and Gerald Ford, attended the President's Summit for America's Future. The Summit, which took place in Philadelphia, called upon Americans to make youth a national priority and challenged citizens to dedicate their time to volunteer efforts that would improve the lives of America's 15 million impoverished children. Inspired by the Summit, Powell founded America's Promise, an organization which acts to mobilize the nation to provide America's children with five fundamental resources, or Five Promises. These Five Promises, according to the America's Promise website include: "ongoing relationships with caring adults--parents, mentors, tutors, or coaches; safe places with structured activities during nonschool hours; healthy start and future; marketable skills through effective education; and opportunities to give back through community service."

Although the organization focuses heavily on promoting volunteerism, Powell often preferred to emphasize the importance of youth development. In 1997, he spoke about the unparalleled importance of a loving adult in a child's life, saying that the only alternative, as quoted by U.S. News & World Report, is to "keep building more jails." The organization has a presence in over 500 communities and in all 50 states. Powell, as quoted on the America's Promise website, said, "America's Promise is pulling together the might of this nation to strengthen the character and competence of youth. And it's working."

Secretary of State

In 2000, after nearly 7 years out of the political arena, Powell found himself again solicited to serve a President Bush. But this time it was George Bush's son, George W. Bush, who, after being elected to the nation's highest office, called upon Powell to join his Cabinet of advisors. Bush asked Powell to become his Secretary of State. Powell agreed, and became the first African American ever to hold the office. Powell settled into his new job quickly. When Powell reported to work, State Department employees lined up just to shake hands with him. Some of them even wept for joy when they met the new Secretary.

But although Powell remained popular within the State Department, the high esteem in which he was held by much of the rest of the country soon began to fade. Powell was in an uncomfortable position in Bush's administration. He was nearly the only firm believer in the power of diplomacy and the inadvisability of using military force to solve international problems. The rest of the administration, particularly Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, were hawks by nature and became even more so after the September 11 terrorist attacks. The largest divisions between Powell and the rest of the administration were seen on the issue of Iraq. Powell questioned the value of forcibly removing banned weapons from Iraq through an invasion. However, Powell felt that it was his duty to carry out the orders of his superior, so despite his private reservations, once the administration had decided to go this route he worked advance the Bush administration's policy. Although some suggested that Powell should resign, he refused to do so, saying that he had made a commitment and had to fulfill it. However, his commitment only extended to one term; Powell stepped down as Secretary of State only days after Bush's reelection in November 2004.

But Powell’s retirement to the private sector was not an idle one. He kept active with a variety of projects, from the serious to the whimsical. Among these were maintaining a busy public speaking schedule, continuing his charitable work with America’s Promise, becoming a strategic limited partner with a Silicon Valley venture capital firm, and driving the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 auto race in 2005. Nor was Powell’s new life without accolades – his 1995 memoir, My American Journey, won the 2005 Alexis de Tocqueville Prize. Indeed, he appeared to be vigorous as ever and adjusting to his latest roles with ease.

Colin Powell dedicated his life to the service his country. As a soldier, Powell demonstrated a firm commitment to protecting his country and securing a world where democratic values can flourish. Although he preferred to avoid limelight of high office, Powell became a prominent figure in U.S. politics, advising several American presidents. He also dedicated himself to America's future--her children. Powell became an American success story, but unlike the typical rags-to-riches story, Powell's success stems, not from monetary accumulation, but rather, from all that he has given in service to his fellow Americans.

Awards

Several military honors, including Purple Heart, 1963, Bronze Star, 1963, Soldier's Medal, 1969, and Legion of Merit, 1972; White House fellow, 1972-73; Secretary's Award, 1988; Spingarn Medal, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 1991; Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1993.

Further Reading

Periodicals

• Black Enterprise, October 1989.
• Ebony, July 1988.
• Financial Times, November 16, 2004.
• Los Angeles Times, February 17, 1991.
• Nation's Cities Weekly, June 5, 2000.
• New Republic, May 30, 1988.
• Newsweek, August 21, 1989; March 18, 1990, May 24, 1999; March 5, 2001.
• New York Times, October 15, 1987; September 16, 1988; December 2, 1988; August 15, 1989; October 4, 2005.
• Time, November 16, 1987; August 21, 1989; April 14, 2003.
• U.S. News and World Report, April 25, 1988; December 24, 1990; February 4, 1991; March 18, 1991; December 8, 1997; October 31, 2005.
• Washington Post, March 23, 1987; August 7, 1988; August 10, 1989; August 11, 1989.

• CNN Money, July 13, 2005, http://money.cnn.com/2005/07/13/news/newsmakers/powell_kleiner.reut/index.htm (July 14, 2005).
• “Former Secretary Colin Powell Named Strategic Limited Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers,” Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers, July 13, 2005, http://www.kpcb.com/news/article.php?frm_id=55 (December 6, 2005).
• My American Journey, Amazon.com, http://www.amazon.com, (December 6, 2005).
• ”Our Founder,” America’s Promise, http://www.americaspromise.org/about/founder.cfm (December 6, 2005).
• SI.com, April 16, 2005, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/racing/04/16/powell.indy.ap/index.html (April 16, 2005).

• Additional material was obtained online at the America's Promise website, http://www.americaspromise.org.

— Bryan Ryan and Jennifer M. York

1937 -

U.S. army officer, diplomat.

Born in New York City to Jamaican immigrant parents, Colin Luther Powell received his B.S. in geology from the City College of New York in 1958, and later received an M.B.A. from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Powell was commissioned as an officer in the United States army in 1958. He was sent as an adviser to the army of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) in 1962, returning for a second tour of combat in 1968 to 1969 after the U.S. military entered the conflict in force. His Vietnam service left him with eleven military decorations.

Powell rose thereafter through the army to the rank of general. From October 1989 to September 1993 he was the first African American to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - the highest military officer in the nation. During that period Powell oversaw the massive deployment of U.S. forces in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, during the 1991 Gulf War and the intervention in Somalia in 1992. He was the author of the Powell Doctrine, which advocates committing U.S. forces to war only if massive force is used in conjunction with carefully articulated political goals and a defined exit strategy.

After several years of retirement from the military, Powell was appointed secretary of state beginning in January 2001. During his tenure he again was involved with momentous U.S. policy decisions regarding the Middle East and Southwest Asia. While he was secretary of state U.S. forces invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 and Iraq in March 2003. Powell was also active in pushing Israelis and Palestinians to resume negotiations in accordance with the Road Map for peace created by the United States, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations.

Bibliography

Atkinson, Rick. Crusade: The Untold Story of the Persian Gulf War. New York: Mariner Books, 1994.

Powell, Colin. My American Journey. New York: Random House, 1995.

Trainor, Bernard, and Gordon, Michael R. The Generals'War: The Inside Story of the Conflict in the Gulf. New York: Back Bay Books, 1995.

— MICHAEL R. FISCHBACH

An American military leader and statesman. After serving with distinction in the Vietnam War, Powell rose through the military to become the first African-American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and played a key role in the Persian Gulf War. In 2001 he was appointed secretary of state, the first African-American to hold that position.

Quotes:

"The healthiest competition occurs when average people win by putting above average effort."

"Experts often possess more data than judgment."

"Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier."

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, learning from failure."

"Either move or be moved."

This article is about the American politician. For the English football (soccer) player, see Colin Powell (footballer).

General  Colin Luther Powell 65th United States Secretary of State In office January 20, 2001 – January 26, 2005 President George W. Bush Deputy Richard Armitage Preceded by Madeleine Albright Succeeded by Condoleezza Rice 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff In office October 1, 1989 – September 30, 1993 President George H. W. Bush Bill Clinton Deputy Robert T. Herres (1989) David E. Jeremiah (1989-1993) Preceded by William J. Crowe Succeeded by David E. Jeremiah 16th National Security Advisor In office November 23, 1987 – January 20, 1989 President Ronald Reagan Deputy John Negroponte Preceded by Frank Carlucci Succeeded by Brent Scowcroft Born April 5, 1937 (1937-04-05) (age 72) New York City, New York, U.S.A. Political party Republican Spouse(s) Alma Vivian Johnson Powell Alma mater City College of New York (B.S.) George Washington University (M.B.A.) Profession Soldier Statesman Religion Episcopalian Signature Military service Allegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Army Years of service 1958-1993 Rank General Unit 3rd Armored Division 23rd Infantry Division Commands V Corps Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army Forces Command Battles/wars Vietnam War Invasion of Panama Gulf War Awards Defense DSM (4) Army DSM (2) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Soldier's Medal Bronze Star Purple Heart

Colin Luther Powell (born April 5, 1937) is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State (2001-2005), serving under President George W. Bush. He was the first African American appointed to that position.^[1][2][3][4] During his military career, Powell also served as National Security Advisor (1987–1989), as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Army Forces Command (1989) and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989–1993), holding the latter position during the Gulf War. He was the first, and so far the only, African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Military career 2.1 Dates of ranks 2.2 Awards and decorations 2.2.1 Badges 2.2.2 Military medals and ribbons 2.2.3 Foreign decorations 3 National Security Advisor 4 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 5 Potential candidate 6 Secretary of State 7 Life after diplomatic service 8 Political views 8.1 View of the U.S. war in Iraq 8.2 Role in presidential election of 2008 9 Personal life 10 Civilian awards and honors 11 See also 12 References 13 Further reading 14 Video 15 External links

Early life

Colin Luther Powell was born on April 5, 1937^[5] in Harlem, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan to Jamaican immigrant parents Luther Theophilus Powell and Maud Arial McKoy and was raised in the South Bronx. He also has Scottish and Irish ancestry.^[6][7] Powell attended Morris High School, a former public school in The Bronx, from which he graduated in 1954. While at school, he worked at a local baby furniture store where he picked up Yiddish from the shopkeepers and some of the customers.^[8] He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from the City College of New York in 1958, attaining a C average, according to his 2006 graduation address at Marymount University. He later earned a Master of Business Administration degree from The George Washington University, after his second tour in Vietnam in 1971.

Despite his parents' pronunciation of his name as /'kɑlɪn/, Powell has pronounced his name /'koʊlɪn/ since childhood, after the heroic World War II flyer Colin P. Kelly Jr.^[9] Public officials and radio and television reporters have used Powell's preferred pronunciation.

Military career

Powell joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps at City College and later described it as one of the happiest experiences of his life; discovering something he loved and could do well, he felt he had "found himself." Cadet Powell joined the Pershing Rifles, the ROTC fraternal organization and drill team begun by General John Pershing. Even after he had become a General, Powell kept on his desk a pen set he had won for a drill team competition. Graduating from City College, he received a commission as an Army second lieutenant.^[10] He was a professional soldier for 35 years, holding a variety of command and staff positions and rising to the rank of General.^[11]

Powell was a captain during the Vietnam War, serving as a South Vietnamese Army adviser from 1962 to 1963. While on patrol in a Viet Cong-held area, he was wounded by stepping on a punji stake.^[12] He returned to Vietnam as a major in 1968, serving in the Americal Division (23rd Infantry Division), then as assistant chief of staff of operations for the Americal Division. He was charged with investigating a detailed letter by Tom Glen (a soldier from the 11th Light Infantry Brigade), which backed up rumored allegations of the My Lai Massacre. Powell wrote: "In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between American soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent." Later, Powell's assessment would be described as whitewashing the news of the massacre, and questions would continue to remain undisclosed to the public. In May 2004 Powell said to Larry King, "I mean, I was in a unit that was responsible for My Lai. I got there after My Lai happened. So, in war, these sorts of horrible things happen every now and again, but they are still to be deplored." ^[13]

Powell served a White House fellowship, a highly selective and prestigious position, under President Richard Nixon from 1972 to 1973.

In his autobiography, My American Journey, Powell named several officers he served under that inspired and mentored him. As a lieutenant colonel serving in South Korea, Powell was very close to General Henry "Gunfighter" Emerson. Powell said he regarded Emerson as one of the most caring officers he ever met. Emerson was reputedly eccentric; he insisted his troops train only at night and made them repeatedly watch the television film Brian's Song to promote racial harmony. Powell always professed, however, that what set Emerson apart, was his great love of his soldiers and concern for their welfare.

In the early 1980s, Powell served at Fort Carson, Colorado. There, he had a major clash with General John Hudachek, his commander, who said in an efficiency evaluation that Powell was a poor leader who should not be promoted. Powell's rising military career was unhindered by Hudachek's evaluation report. After he left Fort Carson, Powell became senior military assistant to Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, whom he assisted during the 1983 invasion of Grenada and the 1986 airstrike on Libya.

In 1986, he took over the command of V Corps in Frankfurt, Germany, from Robert Lewis "Sam" Wetzel. Following the Iran Contra scandal, Powell became Ronald Reagan's National Security Advisor, serving from 1987 to 1989. In 1989, Powell was promoted to General and briefly served as the Commander in Chief, Forces Command headquartered at Fort McPherson, Georgia. Later that year, Reagan selected him as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Dates of ranks

• Second Lieutenant: June 9, 1958
• First Lieutenant: December 30, 1959
• Captain: June 2, 1962
• Major: May 24, 1966
• Lieutenant Colonel: July 9, 1970
• Colonel: February 1, 1976
• Brigadier General: June 1, 1979
• Major General: August 1, 1983
• Lieutenant General: March 26, 1986
• General: April 4, 1989

Promotions

Insignia	Rank	Date
	GEN	1989
	LTG	1986
	MG	1983
	BG	1979
	COL	1976
	LTC	1970
	MAJ	1966
	CPT	1962
	1LT	1959
	2LT	1958

Awards and decorations

Badges

• Combat Infantryman Badge
• Expert Infantryman Badge
• Ranger Tab
• Parachutist Badge
• Pathfinder Badge
• Air Assault Badge
• Presidential Service Badge
• Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
• Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
• Army Staff Identification Badge

Military medals and ribbons

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
	Distinguished Service Medal, Army (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
	Defense Superior Service Medal
	Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
	Soldier's Medal
	Bronze Star
	Purple Heart
	Air Medal
	Joint Service Commendation Medal
	Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
	Presidential Medal of Freedom (order of precedence, if worn)
	Presidential Citizens Medal (order of precedence, if worn)
	National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
	Vietnam Service Medal (with 1 Silver Service Star)
	Army Service Ribbon
	Army Overseas Service Ribbon (with numeral 3)

Foreign decorations

• Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
• Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
• Honorary Order of the Bath (KCB) (United Kingdom)
• Légion d'honneur (France)
• Meritorious Service Cross (M.S.C.) (Canada)
• Order of Stara Planina in the First Order (Bulgaria)^[14][15]

National Security Advisor

President Ronald Reagan and National Security Advisor Powell in 1988

At the age of 49, Powell became Ronald Reagan's National Security Advisor, serving from 1987 to 1989 while retaining his Army commission as a lieutenant general. After his tenure with the National Security Council, Powell was promoted to a full general under President George H.W. Bush and briefly served as Commander-in-Chief (CINC) of the Army's Forces Command (FORSCOM), overseeing all Army, Army Reserve, and National Guard units in the Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Official Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff portrait

His last military assignment, from October 1, 1989 to September 30, 1993, was as the 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest military position in the Department of Defense. At age 52, he became the youngest officer, and first Afro-Caribbean American, to serve in this position. In 1989, he joined Dwight D. Eisenhower and Alexander Haig as the third general since World War II to reach four-star rank without ever being a divisional commander.^[16] During this time, he oversaw 28 crises, including the invasion of Panama in 1989 to remove General Manuel Noriega from power and Operation Desert Storm in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. During these events, Powell earned his nickname, "the reluctant warrior." He rarely advocated military intervention as the first solution to an international crisis, and instead usually prescribed diplomacy and containment.

In his autobiography, Powell said he is haunted by the nightmare of the Vietnam War and felt that the leadership was very ineffective. Powell served a tour in Vietnam as a military adviser, and was mildly injured when he stepped on a bamboo "punji stick." The large infection made it difficult for him to walk, and caused his foot to swell for a short time, shortening his first tour. It was also during his Vietnam service, his second tour, that Powell was decorated for bravery. He single-handedly rescued several men from a burning helicopter, one of them being Maj. Gen. Charles Gettys, the commander of the Americal Division.

General Colin Powell, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, waves from his motorcade during the Persian Gulf War Welcome Home Parade in New York City.

Additionally, Powell has been critical of other instances of U.S. foreign policy in the past, such as its support for the 1973 Chilean coup d'état. From two separate interviews in 2003, Powell stated in one about the 1973 event "I can't justify or explain the actions and decisions that were made at that time. It was a different time. There was a great deal of concern about communism in this part of the world. Communism was a threat to the democracies in this part of the world. It was a threat to the United States."^[17] In another interview, however, he also simply stated "With respect to your earlier comment about Chile in the 1970s and what happened with Mr. Allende, it is not a part of American history that we're proud of."^[18]

As a military strategist, Powell has advocated an approach to military conflicts that maximizes the potential for success and minimizes casualties. A component of this approach is the use of overwhelming force, which he applied to Operation Desert Storm in 1991. His approach has been dubbed the "Powell Doctrine."

Potential candidate

Powell's experience in military matters made him a very popular figure with both American political parties. Many Democrats admired his moderate stance on military matters, while many Republicans saw him as a great asset associated with the successes of past Republican administrations. Put forth as a potential Democratic Vice Presidential nominee in the 1992 U.S. Presidential Election^[19] or even potentially replacing Vice President Dan Quayle as the Republican Vice Presidential nominee,^[20] Powell eventually declared himself a Republican and began to campaign for Republican candidates in 1995.^{[citation needed]} He was touted as a possible opponent of Bill Clinton in the 1996 U.S. Presidential Election, possibly capitalizing on a split conservative vote in Iowa^[21] and even leading New Hampshire polls for the GOP nomination,^[22] but Powell declined, citing a lack of passion for politics.^[23] Powell defeated Clinton 50-38 in a hypothetical match-up proposed to voters in the exit polls conducted on Election Day.^[24] Despite not standing in the race, Powell won the New Hampshire Vice-Presidential primary on write-in votes.^[25]

In 1997 Powell founded America's Promise with the objective of helping children from all socioeconomic sectors. Powell often wears the organization's logo in the form of a red wagon pin on his lapel.^{[citation needed]}

In the 2000 U.S. Presidential Election Powell campaigned for Senator John McCain and later Texas Governor George W. Bush after the latter secured the Republican nomination.^{[citation needed]} Bush eventually won, and Powell was appointed Secretary of State.

Secretary of State

Powell, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld listen to President George W. Bush speak.

As Secretary of State in the Bush administration, Powell was perceived as moderate. Powell was unanimously voted in by the United States Senate. Over the course of his tenure he traveled less than any other U.S. Secretary of State in 30 years.

On September 11, 2001, Powell was in Lima, Peru, meeting with President Alejandro Toledo and US Ambassador John Hamilton, and attending the special session of the OAS General Assembly that subsequently adopted the Inter-American Democratic Charter. After the terrorist attacks, Powell's job became of critical importance in managing America's relationships with foreign countries in order to secure a stable coalition in the War on Terrorism.

Powell came under fire for his role in building the case for the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. In a press statement on February 24, 2001 he had said that sanctions against Iraq had prevented the development of any weapons of mass destruction by Saddam Hussein. As was the case in the days leading up to the Persian Gulf War, Powell was initially opposed to a forcible overthrow of Hussein, preferring to continue a policy of containment. However, Powell eventually agreed to go along with the Bush administration's determination to remove Hussein. He had often clashed with others in the administration, who were reportedly planning an Iraq invasion even before the September 11 attacks, an insight supported by testimony by former terrorism czar Richard Clarke in front of the 9/11 Commission. The main concession Powell wanted before he would offer his full support for the Iraq War was the involvement of the international community in the invasion, as opposed to a unilateral approach. He was also successful in persuading Bush to take the case of Iraq to the United Nations, and in moderating other initiatives. Powell was placed at the forefront of this diplomatic campaign.

Computer-generated image of an alleged mobile production facility for biological weapons, presented by Powell at the UN Security Council. On May 27, 2003, US and UK experts examined the trailers and declared they had nothing to do with biological weapons.^[26]

Powell's chief role was to garner international support for a multi-national coalition to mount the invasion. To this end, Powell addressed a plenary session of the United Nations Security Council on February 5, 2003 to argue in favor of military action. Citing numerous anonymous Iraqi defectors, Powell asserted that "there can be no doubt that Saddam Hussein has biological weapons and the capability to rapidly produce more, many more."^[27] Powell also stated that there was "no doubt in my mind" that Hussein was working to obtain key components to produce nuclear weapons.^[27]

Most observers praised Powell's oratorical skills. However, Britain's Channel 4 News reported soon afterwards that a UK intelligence dossier that Powell had referred to as a "fine paper" during his presentation had been based on old material and plagiarized an essay by American graduate student Ibrahim al-Marashi.^[28][29] A 2004 report by the Iraq Survey Group concluded that the evidence that Powell offered to support the allegation that the Iraqi government possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) was inaccurate.

A Senate report on intelligence failures would later detail the intense debate that went on behind the scenes on what to include in Powell's speech. State Department analysts had found dozens of factual problems in drafts of the speech. Some of the claims were taken out, but others were left in, such as claims based on the yellowcake forgery.^[30] The administration came under fire for having acted on faulty intelligence. Reports have indicated that Powell himself was skeptical of the evidence presented to him.^{[citation needed]} Powell later recounted how Vice President Dick Cheney had joked with him before he gave the speech, telling him, "You've got high poll ratings; you can afford to lose a few points." Powell's longtime aide-de-camp, Colonel Lawrence B. Wilkerson, later characterized Cheney's view of Powell's mission as to "go up there and sell it, and we'll have moved forward a peg or two. Fall on your damn sword and kill yourself, and I'll be happy, too."^[31]

In September 2005, Powell was asked about the speech during an interview with Barbara Walters and responded that it was a "blot" on his record. He went on to say, "It will always be a part of my record. It was painful. It's painful now."^[32]

Wilkerson said that he participated in a hoax on the American people in preparing Powell's erroneous testimony before the United Nations Security Council.^[33]

Because Powell was seen as more moderate than most figures in the administration, he was spared many of the attacks that have been leveled at more controversial advocates of the invasion, such as Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz. At times, infighting among the Powell-led State Department, the Rumsfeld-led Defense Department, and Cheney's office had the effect of polarizing the administration on crucial issues, such as what actions to take regarding Iran and North Korea.

Secretary Powell with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

After Saddam Hussein had been deposed, Powell's new role was to once again establish a working international coalition, this time to assist in the rebuilding of post-war Iraq. On September 13, 2004, Powell testified before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee,^[34] acknowledging that the sources who provided much of the information in his February 2003 UN presentation were "wrong" and that it was "unlikely" that any stockpiles of WMDs would be found. Claiming that he was unaware that some intelligence officials questioned the information prior to his presentation, Powell pushed for reform in the intelligence community, including the creation of a national intelligence director who would assure that "what one person knew, everyone else knew."

Colin Powell holding a model vial of anthrax while giving a presentation to the United Nations Security Council

Powell announced his resignation as Secretary of State on November 15, 2004. According to the Washington Post, he had been asked to resign by the president's chief of staff, Andrew Card.^[31] Powell announced that he would stay on until the end of Bush's first term or until his replacement's confirmation by Congress. The following day, Bush nominated National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice as Powell's successor. News of Powell's leaving the Administration spurred mixed reactions from politicians around the world — some upset at the loss of a statesman seen as a moderating factor within the Bush administration, but others hoping for Powell's successor to wield more influence within the cabinet.

In mid-November, Powell stated that he had seen new evidence suggesting that Iran was adapting missiles for a nuclear delivery system.^[35] The accusation came at the same time as the settlement of an agreement between Iran, the IAEA, and the European Union.

On December 31, 2004, Powell rang in the New Year by throwing the ball in Times Square with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, ushering in the year 2005. He appeared on the networks that were broadcasting New Year's Eve specials and talked about this honor, as well as being a native of New York City.^[36]

Life after diplomatic service

After retiring from the role of Secretary of State, Powell returned to private life. In April 2005, he was privately telephoned by Republican senators Lincoln Chafee and Chuck Hagel,^[37] at which time Powell expressed reservations and mixed reviews about the nomination of John R. Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations, but refrained from advising the senators to oppose Bolton (Powell had clashed with Bolton during Bush's first term).^[38] The decision was viewed as potentially dealing significant damage to Bolton's chances of confirmation. Bolton was put into the position via a recess appointment because of the strong opposition in the Senate.

Powell with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

On April 28, 2005, an opinion piece in the The Guardian by Sidney Blumenthal (a former top aide to President Bill Clinton) claimed that Powell was in fact "conducting a campaign" against Bolton because of the acrimonious battles they had had while working together, which among other things had resulted in Powell cutting Bolton out of talks with Iran and Libya after complaints about Bolton's involvement from the British. Blumenthal added that "The foreign relations committee has discovered that Bolton made a highly unusual request and gained access to 10 intercepts by the National Security Agency. Staff members on the committee believe that Bolton was probably spying on Powell, his senior advisors and other officials reporting to him on diplomatic initiatives that Bolton opposed."^[39]

In July 2005, Powell joined Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers, a well-known Silicon Valley venture capital firm, with the title of "strategic limited partner."

In September 2005, Powell criticized the response to Hurricane Katrina.^[40] Powell said that thousands of people were not properly protected, but because they were poor rather than because they were black.

On January 5, 2006, he participated in a meeting at the White House of former Secretaries of Defense and State to discuss United States foreign policy with Bush administration officials. In September 2006, Powell sided with more moderate Senate Republicans in supporting more rights for detainees and opposing President Bush's terrorism bill. He backed Senators John Warner, John McCain and Lindsey Graham in their statement that U.S. military and intelligence personnel in future wars will suffer for abuses committed in 2006 by the U.S. in the name of fighting terrorism. Powell stated that "The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of [America's] fight against terrorism."^[41]

Also in 2006, Powell began appearing as a speaker at a series of motivational events called Get Motivated, along with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. In his speeches for the tour, he openly criticized the Bush Administration on a number of issues. Powell has been the recipient of mild criticism for his role with Get Motivated which has been called a "get-rich-quick-without-much-effort, feel-good schemology."^[42]

Most recently he joined the Board of Directors of Steve Case's new company Revolution Health. Powell also serves on the Council on Foreign Relations Board of directors.^[43]

Powell, in honor of Martin Luther King Day, dropped the ceremonial first puck at a New York Islanders hockey game at Nassau Coliseum on January 21, 2008. On November 11, 2008, Powell again dropped the puck in recognition of Military Appreciation Day and Veterans Day.[1][2]

Recently, Powell has encouraged young people to continue to use new technologies to their advantage in the future. In a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies to a room of young professionals, he said, "That’s your generation…a generation that is hard-wired digital, a generation that understands the power of the information revolution and how it is transforming the world. A generation that you represent, and you’re coming together to share; to debate; to decide; to connect with each other."^[44] At this event, he encouraged the next generation to involve themselves politically on the upcoming Next America Project, which uses online debate to provide policy recommendations for the upcoming administration.

In 2008, Powell served as a spokesperson for National Mentoring Month, a campaign held each January to recruit volunteer mentors for at-risk youth.^[45]

Soon after Barack Obama's 2008 election, Powell began being mentioned as a possible cabinet member.^[46]

Political views

A moderate Republican, Powell is well known for his willingness to support liberal or centrist causes.^[47] He is pro-choice regarding abortion, and in favor of "reasonable" gun control.^[47] He stated in his autobiography that he supports affirmative action that levels the playing field, without giving a leg up to undeserving persons because of racial issues. Powell was also instrumental in the implementation of the military's Don't ask, don't tell policy.^[47]

The Vietnam War had a profound effect on Powell's views of the proper use of military force. These views are described in detail in the autobiography My American Journey. The Powell Doctrine, as the views became known, was a central component of US policy in the Gulf War (the first U.S. war in Iraq) and U.S. invasion of Afghanistan (the overthrow of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks). The hallmark of both operations was strong international cooperation, and the use of overwhelming military force.

Powell was the subject of controversy in 2004 when, in a conversation with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, he reportedly referred to neoconservatives within the Bush administration as "fucking crazies."^[48] In addition to being reported in the press (though generally, the expletive was censored in the U.S. press), the quote was used by James Naughtie in his book, The Accidental American: Tony Blair and the Presidency, and by Chris Patten in his book, Cousins and Strangers: America, Britain, and Europe in a New Century.

In a letter to Sen. John McCain, General Powell expressed opposition to President Bush's push for military tribunals of those formerly and currently classified as enemy combatants. Specifically, he expressed concern of Bush's plan to "amend the interpretation of Article III of the Geneva Conventions." He also pointed out that perception of the War on Terror may be losing moral support saying, "The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism."^[49]

View of the U.S. war in Iraq

In an interview in July 2007, Powell revealed that he had spent two and a half hours trying to persuade Bush not to invade Iraq, but that he did not prevail. At the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado^[50] Powell stated, "I tried to avoid this war. I took him [Bush] through the consequences of going into an Arab country and becoming the occupiers."^[51]

Powell went on to say that he believed Iraq was in a state of civil war. "The civil war will ultimately be resolved by a test of arms. It's not going to be pretty to watch, but I don't know any way to avoid it. It is happening now." He further noted, "It is not a civil war that can be put down or solved by the armed forces of the United States," and suggested that all the U.S. military could do was put "a heavier lid on this pot of boiling sectarian stew."^[52]

Role in presidential election of 2008

Powell donated the maximum amount to John McCain's campaign in the summer of 2007^[53] and in early 2008, his name was listed as a possible running mate for Republican nominee McCain's bid during the 2008 U.S. presidential election.^[54] However, on October 19, 2008, Powell announced his endorsement of Barack Obama during a Meet the Press interview, citing "his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities," in addition to his "style and substance." He additionally referred to Obama as a "transformational figure."^[55][56] Powell further questioned McCain's judgment in appointing Sarah Palin as the vice presidential candidate, stating that despite the fact that she is admired, "now that we have had a chance to watch her for some seven weeks, I don't believe she's ready to be president of the United States, which is the job of the vice president." He pointed out how he thought Obama's choice for vice-president, Joe Biden, was ready to be president. He also added that he was "troubled" by the "false intimations that Obama was Muslim." Powell stated that "[Obama] is a Christian — he's always been a Christian... But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America." Powell then referenced Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, a Muslim American soldier in the U.S. Army who served and died in the Iraq War. He later stated, "Over the last seven weeks, the approach of the Republican Party has become narrower and narrower [...] I look at these kind of approaches to the campaign, and they trouble me."^[55][56] Powell concluded his Sunday morning talk show comments, "It isn't easy for me to disappoint Sen. McCain in the way that I have this morning, and I regret that [...] I think we need a transformational figure. I think we need a president who is a generational change and that's why I'm supporting Barack Obama, not out of any lack of respect or admiration for Sen. John McCain."^[57] Later in a December 12, 2008 CNN interview with Fareed Zakaria, Powell reiterated his belief that during the last few months of the campaign, Palin pushed the Republican party further to the right and had a polarizing impact on it.^[58]

Personal life

Powell married Alma Johnson on August 25, 1962. Their son, Michael Powell, was the chairman of the FCC from 2001 to 2005. As a hobby, Powell restores old Volvo and Saab cars.^[59][60]

Civilian awards and honors

Powell's civilian awards include two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President's Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal, the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal, and the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award. Several schools and other institutions have been named in his honor and he holds honorary degrees from universities and colleges across the country.

• In 1991, Powell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H. W. Bush.

• In 1991, Powell was inducted into the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans,^[61] which "honors the achievements of outstanding individuals in U.S. society who have succeeded in spite of adversity and of encouraging young people to pursue their dreams through higher education."

• On September 30, 1993, Powell was awarded his second Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton.

• On November 9, 1993, Powell was awarded the second Ronald Reagan Freedom Award, by President Ronald Reagan. Powell served as Reagan's National Security Advisor from 1987-1989.^[62]
• On December 15, 1993, Colin Powell was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
• In 1998, he was awarded the prestigious Sylvanus Thayer Award by the United States Military Academy for his commitment to the ideals of "Duty, Honor, Country."
• The 2002 Liberty Medal was awarded to Colin Powell on July 4 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In his acceptance speech, Powell reminded Americans that "It is for America, the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, to help freedom ring across the globe, unto all the peoples thereof. That is our solemn obligation, and we will not fail."^[63]
• The Coat of Arms of Colin Powell was granted by the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh on February 4, 2004. Technically the grant was to Powell's father (a British subject) to be passed on by descent. Scotland's King of Arms is traditionally responsible for granting arms to Commonwealth citizens. Blazoned as:

  Azure, two swords in saltire points downwards between four mullets Argent, on a chief of the Second a lion passant Gules. On a wreath of the Liveries is set for Crest the head of an American bald-headed eagle erased Proper. And in an escrol over the same this motto, "DEVOTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE."

  The swords and stars refer to the former general's career, as does the crest, which is the badge of the 101st Airborne (which he served as a brigade commander in the mid-1970s). The lion may be an allusion to Scotland. The shield can be shown surrounded by the insignia of an honorary Knight Commander of the Most honorable Order of the Bath (KCB), an award the General received after the first Gulf War.
• In 2005 Powell received the Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award for his contributions to Africa.
• AARP honored Powell with the 2006 AARP Andrus Award, the Association’s highest honor. This award, named in honor of AARP’s founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, is presented biennially to distinguished individuals who have generated positive social change in the world, and whose work and achievements reflect AARP’s vision of bringing lifetimes of experience and leadership to serve all generations.
• In 2005 Colin and Alma Powell were awarded the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution.
• Colin Powell was initiated as an honorary brother in Sigma Phi Epsilon.
• Powell is a recipient of the Silver Buffalo Award, the highest adult award given by the Boy Scouts of America.
• A street in Gelnhausen, Germany was named after him: "General-Colin-Powell-Straße".^[64]
• In 2002, scholar Molefi Kete Asante listed Colin Powell on his list of 100 Greatest African Americans.^[65]
• In 2009, an elementary school named for Colin Powell opened in El Paso. It is in the El Paso Independent School District, located on Fort Bliss property, and serves a portion of Fort Bliss. There is also a street in El Paso named for Powell, Colin Powell Drive.

See also

United States Army portal

Military of the United States portal

• Pottery Barn rule
• Powell Doctrine
• Plame affair
• Henry "Gunfighter" Emerson
• Lawrence Wilkerson, Powell's Chief of Staff 1989-2003

References

1. ^ The first African American secretary of state, Colin Powell, The African American Registry
2. ^ Biographies - Colin Powell: United States Secretary of State, African American History Month, US Department of Defense
3. ^ Colin Powell, Britannica Online Encyclopedia
4. ^ Profile: Colin Powell, BBC News
5. ^ Reitwiesner, William Addams. "Ancestry of Colin Powell". wargs.com. http://www.wargs.com/political/powell.html. Retrieved 2008-10-20. 
6. ^ Branigan, Tania (12 May 2004). "Colin Powell claims Scottish coat of arms". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/may/12/usa.world. 
7. ^ "Colin Powell's Scottish Ancestry". Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter 9 (20). May 17, 2004. http://www.eogn.com/archives/news0420.htm#ColinPowellsScottishAncestry. 
8. ^ Daly, Michael (August 2, 2000). "Powell's Old Nabe Boss a Big Backer". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2000/08/02/2000-08-02_powell_s_old_nabe_boss_a_big.html. Retrieved October 19, 2008. "Powell explained that he had joined ROTC. He became an officer after graduation, leaving Sickser's with a smattering of Yiddish..." 
9. ^ "Major Player: Gen. Colin L. Powell (Ret.)". Washington Post. 2000. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/elections/gop2000guide/powellpost.htm. 
10. ^ "Secretary of State Colin L. Powell (biography)". The White House. 2003-04-29. http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/government/powell-bio.html. Retrieved 2007-02-03. 
11. ^ "Colin (Luther) Powell Biography (1937 - )". The Biography Channel. A&E Television Networks. http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9445708&page=print. Retrieved 2007-05-31. 
12. ^ Kearny, Cresson H. (1996). Jungle Snafus...And Remedies. Cave Junction, OR: Oregon Institute of Science & Medicine. p. 179. ISBN 9781884067105. OCLC 41447083. 
13. ^ "Interview on CNN's Larry King Live". New York, New York: U.S. Department of State. May 4, 2004. http://www.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/32160.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-03. 
14. ^ "Remarks With Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov At Award Ceremony for the Stara Planina First Order Medal". Presidential Palace, Coat of Arms Hall, Sofia, Bulgaria: U.S. Department of State. December 7, 2004. http://www.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/39513.htm. 
15. ^ "Parvanov-Powell". President of the Republic of Bulgaria. 2004-12-07. http://www.president.bg/en/showphoto.php?id=398. "President Georgi Parvanov awarded US Secretary of State Colin Powell with the highest Bulgarian order "Stara Planina" for his extraordinary services to the advancement of Bulgarian-American relations and in connection with the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the United States." 
16. ^ "The 14 Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff". American Forces Press Service. Joint History Office, U.S. Department of Defense. August 10, 1999. http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=43048. Retrieved April 24 2008. 
17. ^ Remarks at the 2003 Groundhog Job Shadow Day Program, Secretary Colin L. Powell, Remarks and question and answer session with students, Washington, DC, January 31, 2003, excerpt on 1973 Chile coup, Federation of American Scientists
18. ^ Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, Interview On Black Entertainment Television's Youth Town Hall, February 20, 2003, excerpt on 1973 U.S. covert action in Chile, Federation of American Scientists
19. ^ Schram, Martin (January 21, 1995). "Don't Count Out Colin Powell". The Seattle Times. http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19920121&slug=1471329. Retrieved October 24 2008. 
20. ^ Van Dyk, Ted (September 6, 1990). "Will Powell Run With Bush in '92?". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4D91539F935A3575AC0A966958260. Retrieved October 24 2008. 
21. ^ Apple, R.W. (October 28, 1995). "Life in Iowa May Not Have Changed, But the Political Turf Is Another Story". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E3DC1F39F93BA15753C1A963958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all. Retrieved October 20 2008. 
22. ^ Berke, Richard L. (October 19, 1995). "New Hampshire Poll Finds Powell With an Edge". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE7DB1530F93AA25753C1A963958260. Retrieved October 19 2008. 
23. ^ Clines, Francis X. (November 9, 1995). "The Powell Decision: The Announcement". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A06E5DB1439F93AA35752C1A963958260. Retrieved October 19 2008. 
24. ^ Plissner, Martin (February 7, 2007). "Ready for Obama Already". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/opinion/07plissner.html. Retrieved October 19 2008. 
25. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=330851
26. ^ Warrick, Joby (April 12, 2006). "Lacking Biolabs, Trailers Carried Case for War; Administration Pushed Notion of Banned Iraqi Weapons Despite Evidence to Contrary". Washington Post: p. A01. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/11/AR2006041101888.html?sub=AR. 
27. ^ ^{a b} Powell, Secretary Colin L. (February 5, 2003). "Remarks to the United Nations Security Council". New York City: U.S. Department of State. http://www.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/2003/17300.htm. Retrieved February 3 2007. 
28. ^ Lawless, Jill (February 7, 2003). "U.S. Scholar Uncredited in Iraq Report". The Associated Press. http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/529. Retrieved 2009-06-26. 
29. ^ "UK accused of lifting dossier text". CNN.com. February 7, 2003. http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/02/07/sprj.irq.uk.dossier/index.html. 
30. ^ Miller, Greg (July 15, 2004). "Flaws Cited in Powell's U.N. Speech on Iraq". Los Angeles Times (reprinted by CommonDreams.org). http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0715-05.htm. Retrieved February 3, 2007. 
31. ^ ^{a b} DeYoung, Karen (October 1, 2006). "Falling on His Sword: Colin Powell's most significant moment turned out to be his lowest". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/27/AR2006092700106.html. Retrieved February 3, 2007. 
32. ^ "Colin Powell on Iraq, Race, and Hurricane Relief". 20/20 (ABC News). September 8, 2005. http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Politics/story?id=1105979&page=1. Retrieved February 3, 2007. 
33. ^ Brancaccio, David (February 3, 2006). "Iraq Pre-War Intelligence". NOW (PBS). http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/wilkerson.html. Retrieved February 3, 2007. 
34. ^ Pincus, Walter (February 14, 2004). "Support for Intelligence Plan". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18890-2004Sep13.html. Retrieved February 3, 2007. 
35. ^ Sciolino, Elaine (November 18, 2004). "Exiles Add to Claims on Iran Nuclear Arms". New York Times. http://www.nci.org/04nci/11/pbs/ExilesAdd.htm. Retrieved February 8, 2007. 
36. ^ Anderson, Cooper (December 31, 2004). "Transcripts: New Year's Eve Special". CNN. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0412/31/se.01.html. Retrieved February 3, 2007. 
37. ^ VandeHei, Jim and Robin Wright (April 22, 2005). "Powell Playing Quiet Role in Bolton Battle". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7420-2005Apr21.html. 
38. ^ Borger, Julian (April 23, 2005). "Powell's remarks harm Bolton's chances of UN job". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1468438,00.html. Retrieved February 3, 2007. 
39. ^ Blumenthal, Sidney (April 28, 2005). "The good soldier's revenge". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1471879,00.html. Retrieved February 3, 2007. 
40. ^ "Powell criticises storm response". BBC News. 9 September 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4229238.stm. 
41. ^ "Senators defy Bush on tribunals". BBC News. 15 September 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5347564.stm. Retrieved February 3, 2007. 
42. ^ Wilken, Dennis (September 7, 2008). "Down the Rabbit Hole". American Satellite Magazine. http://www.americansatellite.org/2008/08/down-rabbit-hole.html. Retrieved 2008-10-10. 
43. ^ "Board of Directors". Council on Foreign Relations. http://www.cfr.org/about/people/board_of_directors.html. Retrieved 2007-12-06. 
44. ^ Powell, General Colin L, USA (Ret.) (July 8, 2008). "Keynote Address — A New Vision for America's Future: Young Leaders Shaping an International Agenda". CSIS Launch of Next America. Center for Strategic and International Studies. http://www.csis.org/component/option,com_csis_events/task,view/id,1721/. Retrieved October 20 2008. 
45. ^ "Who Mentored Colin Powell?". President and Fellows of Harvard College. 2008. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/chc/wmy2008/Celebrities/colin_powell.html. 
46. ^ http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2008/11/11/al-gore-colin-powell-caroline-kennedy-in-obamas-administration.html
47. ^ ^{a b c} Colin Powell's biography from 'On The Issues'.
48. ^ Blumenthal, Sidney (November 18, 2004). "Colin and the crazies". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1353796,00.html. Retrieved February 3, 2007. 
49. ^ Barrett, Ted and Andrea Koppel (2006-09-15). "GOP split as Senate panel bucks Bush on terror tribunals". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/09/14/congress.tribunals/index.html. Retrieved February 3, 2007. 
50. ^ See Official website: Aspen Ideas Festival
51. ^ "Conversation with Colin Powell" (PDF). Aspen Ideas Festival. July 2007. http://www.aifestival.org/library/transcript/Powell-Lehrer_transcript.pdf. Retrieved 2008-02-22. 
52. ^ Baxter, Sarah (July 8, 2007). "Powell tried to talk Bush out of war.". The Sunday Times (UK). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2042072.ece. Retrieved 2008-02-22. 
53. ^ Henry, Ed (August 9, 2007). "Powell donates to McCain". CNN. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/08/09/powell-donates-to-mccain/. Retrieved August 9, 2007. 
54. ^ Holland, Steve (March 5, 2008). "McCain now has to pick a vice presidential nominee". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/03/05/mccain_now_has_to_pick_a_vice_presidential_nominee/. Retrieved April 14 2008. 
55. ^ ^{a b} "Powell endorses Obama for president; Republican ex-Secretary of State calls Democrat ‘transformational figure’". Meet the Press (MSNBC and NBC News). October 19, 2008. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27265369/. Retrieved October 19, 2008. 
56. ^ ^{a b} "Meet the Press' transcript for October 19, 2008". MSNBC. 2008-10-19. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27266223/. Retrieved 2008-10-19. 
57. ^ Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama for president
58. ^ Powell on Rush Limbaugh
59. ^ Powell, Colin. Interview with Larry King. Interview transcript. Larry King Live. CNN. October 17, 2005.
60. ^ Powell, Colin. Interview with P. J. O'Rourke. A Conversation with Colin Powell. The Atlantic. August 2, 2004. Retrieved on 14 June 2009.
61. ^ "Colin L. Powell". The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. undated. http://www.horatioalger.org/members/member_info.cfm?memberid=pow91. Retrieved 2007-02-03. 
62. ^ "The Ronald Reagan Freedom Award". Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library. http://www.reaganfoundation.org/programs/cpa/awards.asp. ]
63. ^ Powell, Colin (July 4, 2002). "2002 Liberty Medal Acceptance Speech". Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: National Constitution Center. http://www.constitutioncenter.org/libertymedal/recipient_2002_speech.html. 
64. ^ "Gen. Colin Powell". www.1-33rdar.org. http://www.1-33rdar.org/genpowell.htm. 
65. ^ Asante, Molefi Kete (2002). 100 Greatest African Americans: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Amherst, New York. Prometheus Books. ISBN 1-57392-963-8.

Further reading

• Powell, Colin A. and Joseph Persico, My American Journey, Ballantine Books, 1995. ISBN 0-345-40728-8
  • Excerpts from My American Journey, Time, September 18, 1995
• DeYoung, Karen, Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell, Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. ISBN 1-4000-4170-8
• "Alex Haley’s Other Roots: African-Americans with Irish Ancestors". February 25, 2006. http://web.mac.com/jamesdwithrow/iWeb/Site/Blog/0C7FF890-B6D6-4BB1-82B6-A6273F647B88.html. Retrieved 2008-02-22. 

Video

• Address to the National Summit on Africa - Washington, DC - February, 2000 - Technical Note: playback requires Flash 10 Player

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Colin Powell

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• Colin Powell: America's Best Leaders from US News & World Report
• Remarks to the United Nations Security Council, February 5, 2003
• Complete text, audio, video of Colin Powell's Remarks to the UN Security CouncilAmericanRhetoric.com
• "Colin Powell On the issues"
• African Americans in the U.S. Army
• "Curveball" Revelations Indicate falsified info used to start Iraq war and esp used for Powell's UN presentation on Iraq WMDs
• Colin Powell Quotes
• The American Presidency Project: Remarks on the Retirement of General Colin Powell in Arlington, Virginia, September 30, 1993
• Works by or about Colin Powell in libraries (WorldCat catalog)

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Persondata
NAME	Powell, Colin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Powell, Colin Luther
SHORT DESCRIPTION	American statesman, military officer
DATE OF BIRTH	5 April 1937
PLACE OF BIRTH	New York City, New York
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH

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