On this day in 2005, President George W. Bush appoints
Condoleezza Rice to the post of secretary of state, making her
the highest ranking African-American woman ever to serve in a
presidential cabinet. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Dr.
Rice's credentials included advanced degrees in political
science and international relations from prestigious schools,
followed by a post as Stanford University provost. At Stanford,
she honed her reputation as an expert in Soviet affairs,
catching the attention of the Reagan administration. In 1986, at
Reagan's behest, Dr. Rice served on the Council on Foreign
Relations, and then secured an appointment as special assistant
to the director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1991.
The first President Bush elevated Dr. Rice to director of Soviet
and East European affairs in the National Security Council. She
also served as the senior President Bush's special assistant for
national security affairs. President George W. Bush renewed her
advisory role in the White House w