Condoleezza Rice
Diplomat/Academic Extraordinaire
1954 – Present

We commonly use the term “Renaissance man”, to indicate someone who is greatly talented and gifted in several professional areas, though that can also refer to a woman. One of the best examples of that in the recent past is diplomat/academic Condoleezza Rice, whose devoted service record in both government and academia as well in the diverse worlds of sports and music is certainly noteworthy. She was also unique in other ways—being the first Black person to serve as Secretary of State, as well as being the highest ranking woman in U.S. history to be in the presidential line of succession. However, despite her filling many high positions, some might think that Dr. Rice would consider running for U.S. President. Yet that was not in her plans, as in describing her career desires, she said: “I think my father thought I might be president of the United States. I think he would’ve been satisfied with secretary of state. I’m a foreign policy person and to have a chance to serve my country as the nation’s chief diplomat at a time of peril and consequence, that was enough.”

Still, as she has succeeded in so many ways, Dr. Rice also faced lifelong challenges to not just her gender but also her race. Not entirely unexpected since she was born into a time and place where racial segregation was not just the cultural practice but often the law.

Condoleezza Rice was born in Birmingham, Alabama in November, 1954. She was the daughter of a high school teacher and her father who was a minister, school counselor and dean of students at a prestigious Black college in Tuscaloosa. Her unique name comes from the Italian music terms con dolcezza which means “sweetly, softly” or literally “with sweetness.” Her family heritage included members who were originally enslaved then after emancipation worked as sharecroppers. Since her father was on the staff of Stillman College her family lived on campus, and in this education-oriented atmosphere, besides her schooling she studied French as well as classic dance. Then at 15 she began piano instruction and this led to her wanting a career as concert pianist.

However, despite such a comfortable life in an educational atmosphere, Dr. Rice could not escape the occasional racial antagonism of the time, which unfortunately sometimes included the tragedy of race-oriented violence. In fact, one such incident personally affected her. She later wrote: “I remember the bombing of that Sunday School at 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham in 1963. I did not see it happen, but I heard it happen and I felt it happen, just a few blocks away at my father’s church. It is a sound that I will never forget, that will forever reverberate in my ears.” One of the children killed was a playmate, and she early recognized the reasons behind it: “The crime was calculated to suck the hope out of young lives, bury their aspirations. But those fears were not propelled forward, those terrorists failed.”

Yet despite this reality, she received parental support and encouragement concerning life in a segregated community—and beyond. She wrote: “My parents had me absolutely convinced that you may not be able to have a hamburger at Woolworth’s but you can be president of the United States.” She also later wrote: “Differences can be a strength rather than a handicap.”

In 1967 the family moved to Denver, Colorado where Condi continued her education at private schools and then enrolled in the University of Denver where her father was employed. Beginning as a music major, as she encountered more talented fellow students, she began to reconsider her academic plans, but as she did so she retained her love of music. Dr. Rice graduated cum laude, then continued her acquisition of advanced degrees. She received an M.A. degree from the University of Notre Dame then worked as an intern in the State Department in 1977 during the President Jimmy Carter administration. After studying Russian at Moscow State University in 1979, in 1981 Rice at age 26 received her Ph.D. in political science from the University of Denver. Her thesis was based on the policies in the communist state of Czechoslovakia.

Dr. Rice continued her academic career as a career at California’s Stanford University then for several years. Then she served in the administration of President George H.W. Bush administration, and returned to Stanford in 1991. The next year as she worked with committees seeking a new president for the university, she attracted professional recognition and was appointed University Provost with the rank of full professor. With this she was recognized as the first female, first Black, and also the youngest provost in the history of the University.

In her new position, Dr. Rice was responsible for operating the university’s multibillion dollar budget, and was able to eliminate a deficit, and build a surplus of nearly $15 million.

Following the election of President George W. Bush in 2000, Dr. Rice joined his administration for various positions—foreign policy advisor and National Security Advisor. In recognizing her skills and expertise some jokingly dubbed her the “Warrior Princess” after a popular television fantasy/adventure series of that name. It was based on how like the heroine of the program, she reflected “… strong nerve and delicate manners.”

As Bush ran again in 2004, Dr. Rice campaigned for him—the first of her position to do so and as he began his second term, President Bush appointed her to be Secretary of State.

The 2001 attack on the World Trade Center twin towers in New York was not just a national tragedy but also brought a thoughtful response from Dr. Rice. She said: “I think September 11th was one of those great earthquakes that clarify and sharpen. Events are in much sharper relief.”

As she continued her service in government and academia, Dr. Rice also became known as an author, but her interest in sports brought her new attention. This came about in October, 2013 when Dr. Rice served with a committee dealing with the College Football Playoff series. There were often lighthearted reports in 2018 that she was being considered as head coach of the Cleveland Browns professional football team. Critics noted that she was a woman in a definitely masculine sport, and that she had no experience, but it became obvious that she had never really been considered for the post. However, as a long term Browns fan, she joked that she would “like to call a play or two next season if the Browns need ideas.” She also combined her diplomatic experience with football when she said: “I find football so interesting strategically. It’s the closest thing to war. What you are doing is taking and yielding territory and having certain strategies and tactics.”

Continuing her great talent and interest in music, Dr. Rice regularly performed at diplomatic events in various embassies as well as with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and singer Aretha Franklin. When asked about her favorite classical composer she stated that it was Johannes Brahms, saying that his music is “passionate but not sentimental.” Another time she revealed that she had music preferences beyond the classical—in 2009 she told a late night talk show host that her favorite band was Led Zeppelin.

Then in 2020 it was announced that Dr. Rice, recipient of some 14 honorary degrees from American colleges and universities, would serve as the director of the Hoover Institution.

In discussing her legacy, Dr. Rice has said: “I’m enough of an historian to know that my reputation will be what my reputation is. It might be different in five months, from five years, to 50 years and so I’m simply not going to worry about that.”

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Anne Adams is a retired church staffer. She lives in East Texas and has an historical column for a local newspaper. She has published in Christian and secular publications for more than 40 years.

References:
Wikipedia
Biography