Madeleine Korbel Albright was the highest-ranking woman in the
US government. She was made the first female
Secretary of State in 1997 under the
Clinton Administration. The Senate voted unanimously to appoint her as the Secretary of State.
Albright was born May 15, 1937 in
Prague,
Czechoslovakia and was originally a refugee whose family fled Czechoslovakia, first from the
Nazis and later from the
Communists. She embodies the
American dream and the hopes of every immigrant that comes to the
United States. Her father was a Czechoslovakian
diplomat and once in the United States he became a professor at the
University of Colorado in
Denver. Madeleine is extremely well educated, articulate, and intelligent. She received her B.A. from
Wellesley College, her master's from
John Hopkins University, and received her PhD from
Columbia University while raising twins. Albright is fluent in
French and Czech, with speaking and reading abilities in
Russian and
Polish.
She has a very impressive resume. She was a
Chief Legislative Assistant, president of
Center for National Policy, and research professor of International Affairs and Director of the
Women in Foreign Service Program at
Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. During Clinton's first 4 years as president she was the US's permanent representative to the
United Nations and member of the
National Security Council. She also ratified the
Chemical Weapons Convention.
As Secretary of State she maintained a bipartisan approach to
foreign policy. She also fought for civil rights, women's rights and stability in foreign countries. Madeleine is now part of the
National Women's Hall of Fame. She is an inspiration for all women and all Americans.