Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Condoleezza Rice

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Condoleezza Rice.

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

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.

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.

December 8, 2002: Wrote editorial for The New York Times

After Iraq delivered its declaration of weapons of mass destruction to the United Nations on December 8, 2002, Condoleezza Rice wrote an editorial for The New York Times entitled "Why We Know Iraq Is Lying".

January 10, 2003: Interviewed with CNN's Wolf Blitzer

On January 10, 2003, in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Condoleezza Rice stated, "...we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud," regarding Saddam Hussein's nuclear capabilities.

October 2003: Named to run the Iraq Stabilization Group

In October 2003, Condoleezza Rice was named to run the Iraq Stabilization Group, tasked with quelling violence and speeding up reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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.

2004: Campaigned for incumbent president

Leading up to the 2004 presidential election, Condoleezza Rice became the first National Security Advisor to campaign for an incumbent president. She stated that Saddam Hussein's Iraq was a part of the Middle East that was festering and unstable.

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: Harry Belafonte's comments

In August 2005, Harry Belafonte, an American musician, actor, and social activist, referred to blacks in the Bush administration as "black tyrants." Belafonte's comments received mixed reactions.

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.

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.

2007: Property arrangement revealed

In 2007, the property arrangement with Randy Bean was first revealed in Glenn Kessler's book "The Confidante: Condoleezza Rice and the Creation of the Bush Legacy", sparking rumors about the nature of Rice and Bean's relationship.

The Confidante: Condoleezza Rice and the Creation of the Bush Legacy

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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

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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".

February 2017: Rice Opposes Trump's Travel Ban

In February 2017, Condoleezza Rice publicly announced her opposition to the Trump administration's travel ban.

May 2017: Rice Opposes Removal of Confederate Monuments

In May 2017, Condoleezza Rice expressed her opposition to the removal of Confederate monuments and memorials, arguing that it is important not to forget history.

November 18, 2018: Report surfaces that Rice was considered for Cleveland Browns head coach

On November 18, 2018, it was reported that Condoleezza Rice was being considered as a candidate for the Cleveland Browns' head coach position, a report that was subsequently denied by the team.

2018: Priebus, Pence and Rice in Woodward's Book

According to Bob Woodward's 2018 book Fear: Trump in the White House, Reince Priebus suggested to Donald Trump that he should drop out of the race, with Mike Pence replacing Trump as the Republican presidential nominee, and Condoleezza Rice agreeing to be Pence's running mate.

Fear: Trump in the White House

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2018: Rice comments on North Korea

In 2018, Condoleezza Rice commented on North Korea, calling Kim Jong Un's overtures to South Korea "clever" and noting that he was more isolated and reckless than his father.

September 2019: Rice criticizes Trump's rhetoric on immigration

In September 2019, Condoleezza Rice publicly stated her dislike for President Trump's rhetoric, particularly on immigration, and warned that he needed to be more careful about his language due to the sensitivity of race relations in America.

August 2021: Rice writes op-ed about Afghanistan withdrawal

In August 2021, Condoleezza Rice wrote an op-ed in which she argued that the United States had withdrawn from Afghanistan too quickly, and called the idea that Afghans were to blame for the Taliban takeover a corrosive and deeply unfair narrative.

2023: Rice stresses need to support Ukraine

In 2023, Condoleezza Rice stressed the importance of supporting Ukraine, especially in light of criticisms from former President Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis. She defined the conflict as "defending a rules-based system."