Challenges in the Life of Condoleezza Rice in a Detailed Timeline

Life is full of challenges, and Condoleezza Rice faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Condoleezza Rice is a prominent American diplomat and political scientist. She served as the 66th U.S. Secretary of State (2005-2009) and the 19th U.S. National Security Advisor (2001-2005) under President George W. Bush. Rice holds the distinction of being the first female African-American Secretary of State and the first woman to serve as National Security Advisor. Currently, she is the director of Stanford University's Hoover Institution, a position she has held since 2020. A Republican, Rice was, at one time, the highest-ranking woman in the presidential line of succession.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1952: Discrimination against her father to vote in Alabama

In 1952, Condoleezza Rice's father was not allowed to register to vote by the Democrats in Jim Crow Alabama.

September 15, 1963: 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing

On September 15, 1963, Condoleezza Rice's schoolmate, Denise McNair, was murdered in the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. Rice was eight years old at the time.

1963: Rice remembers the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing

In 1963, Condoleezza Rice recalls the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church. She was a few blocks away at her father's church. Her friend, Denise McNair, was killed in the bombing.

July 10, 2001: Met with CIA director George Tenet about potential al Qaeda attack

On July 10, 2001, Condoleezza Rice met with CIA director George Tenet in an "emergency meeting" at the White House to discuss the potential threat of an impending al Qaeda attack, and Rice asked Tenet to give a presentation to Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Attorney General John Ashcroft.

August 6, 2001: Characterized President's Daily Brief as historical information

Condoleezza Rice characterized the August 6, 2001, President's Daily Brief 'Bin Ladin Determined To Strike in US' as historical information.

September 11, 2001: Scheduled to outline new national security policy

On September 11, 2001, Condoleezza Rice was scheduled to outline a new national security policy that included missile defense and played down the threat of stateless terrorism.

July 17, 2002: Met with CIA director George Tenet to convey approval of waterboarding

On July 17, 2002, Condoleezza Rice met with CIA director George Tenet to personally convey the Bush administration's approval of the proposed waterboarding of Abu Zubaydah.

2003: Briefed on the use of waterboarding

In 2003, Condoleezza Rice, along with Vice President Dick Cheney and Attorney General John Ashcroft, met with the CIA and were briefed on the use of waterboarding and other enhanced interrogation methods. They reaffirmed that the CIA program was lawful and reflected administration policy.

2003: Cheney Accuses Rice of Misleading the President

In his book In My Time, Dick Cheney suggested that Condoleezza Rice had misled the president about nuclear diplomacy with North Korea and was naïve. Cheney also criticized her for clashing with White House advisers on speeches about Iraq and for admitting that the Bush administration should not have apologized for a claim made in the 2003 State of the Union address about Saddam's search for yellowcake uranium.

March 2004: Declined to testify before the 9/11 Commission

In March 2004, Condoleezza Rice initially declined to testify before the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (the 9/11 Commission) citing executive privilege. She later testified under pressure.

May 2004: Iraq Stabilization Group became virtually nonexistent

By May 2004, The Washington Post reported that the Iraq Stabilization Group, which Condoleezza Rice had been named to run, had become virtually nonexistent.

January 2005: Boxer Criticizes Rice During Confirmation Hearing

In January 2005, during Condoleezza Rice's confirmation hearing for U.S. secretary of state, Barbara Boxer stated that Rice's loyalty to selling the war in Iraq overwhelmed her respect for the truth.

January 26, 2005: Confirmed as Secretary of State

On January 26, 2005, the Senate confirmed Condoleezza Rice's nomination as Secretary of State by a vote of 85–13, with the negative votes relating to her actions in Iraq and the war on terrorism.

August 2005: Ratings decreased following Hurricane Katrina

In August 2005, Condoleezza Rice's ratings decreased following a heated battle for her confirmation as Secretary of State and after Hurricane Katrina.

September 14, 2005: Rice dismisses criticisms

On September 14, 2005, Rice dismissed criticisms during an interview by stating that she has been black all her life and does not need anyone to tell her how to be black.

2006: Asserted she did not recall specific July 2001 meeting

In 2006, Condoleezza Rice asserted that she did not recall the specific July 2001 meeting with CIA director George Tenet, but had met repeatedly with him that summer about terrorist threats.

2006: North Korea test fired long range missiles

In 2006, despite the agreement in 2005, North Korea test fired long range missiles, leading the UN Security Council to demand the suspension of the program.

January 11, 2007: Boxer Questions the Price of the Iraq War

On January 11, 2007, during a debate over the war in Iraq, Barbara Boxer questioned who would pay the price for the war, noting that she and Rice would not pay a personal price, but the American military and their families would.

February 1, 2007: Time Accuses Rice of Squandering Influence

On February 1, 2007, Time magazine accused Condoleezza Rice of squandering her influence, stating that her accomplishments as Secretary of State have been modest and that U.S.'s prestige has declined.

April 2007: Rejected House subpoena

In April 2007, Condoleezza Rice rejected, on grounds of executive privilege, a House subpoena regarding the prewar claim that Iraq sought yellowcake uranium from Niger.

2007: Rice Criticized by Conservatives

In 2007, Condoleezza Rice was criticized by conservatives, including Stephen Hayes of the Weekly Standard, for jettisoning the Bush Doctrine and for her approach to Russia policy.

April 6, 2008: Dan Senor's claim about Rice's VP run

On April 6, 2008, Republican strategist Dan Senor claimed on ABC's This Week that Condoleezza Rice had been actively campaigning for the vice presidential nomination. Rice's spokesperson denied this.

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July 2008: Bolton Criticizes Rice and Allies

In late July 2008, John R. Bolton criticized Condoleezza Rice and her allies in the Bush Administration, accusing them of abandoning earlier hard-line principles and destroying the administration's credibility.

April 2009: Stated she did not authorize CIA to use torture

In April 2009, Condoleezza Rice stated that she did not authorize the CIA to use torture, but conveyed the authorization of the administration, subject to Justice Department clearance.

2011: Rice Responds to Rumsfeld's Criticism

In 2011, Condoleezza Rice responded to Donald Rumsfeld's criticisms, saying that he "doesn't know what he's talking about." She also addressed the issue in her book.

Known and Unknown: A Memoir

Check it on Amazon

2013: Rice accuses Iran of being untrustworthy

In 2013, Condoleezza Rice accused Iran of not being trustworthy due to decades of concealing its nuclear program and misleading the International Atomic Energy Agency.

2015: Human Rights Watch called for investigation of Rice

In 2015, Human Rights Watch called for the investigation of Condoleezza Rice for conspiracy to torture and other crimes, citing her role in authorizing "enhanced interrogation techniques".