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 from 2005 to 2009 and the 19th U.S. National Security Advisor from 2001 to 2005. Currently, she directs Stanford University's Hoover Institution. As a Republican, Rice holds the distinction of being the first female African-American Secretary of State and the first woman to be National Security Advisor. Before Barack Obama's presidency, she and Colin Powell were the highest-ranking African Americans in the U.S. executive branch. At the time of her appointment, she was also 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

1985: North Korea Signed Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

In 1985, North Korea signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

1994: Agreement Between US and North Korea

In 1994, an agreement was made between the United States and North Korea where North Korea agreed to freeze and eventually dismantle its graphite moderated nuclear reactors, in exchange for international aid.

2000: Libertarian on abortion issue

In 2000, Rice said that she was, in effect, kind of libertarian on the abortion issue. She is a strong proponent of parental choice and notification and a ban on late-term abortion. She did not want Roe v. Wade to be overturned.

July 17, 2002: Rice met with CIA director George Tenet

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

December 8, 2002: Editorial in The New York Times

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

2002: Secret Nuclear Weapons Program Revealed

In 2002, it was revealed that North Korea was operating a secret nuclear weapons program violating the 1994 agreement.

January 10, 2003: Interview 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.

2003: Briefed on Enhanced Interrogation Techniques

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 methods including week-long sleep deprivation, forced nudity, and the use of stress positions. The Bush administration officials "reaffirmed that the CIA program was lawful and reflected administration policy".

2003: Cheney criticizes Rice on nuclear diplomacy

In 2003, Dick Cheney suggested that Rice had misled President Bush about nuclear diplomacy with North Korea and criticized her advice. He also criticized her for conceding that the Bush administration should not have apologized for a claim the president made in his 2003 State of the Union address.

2003: North Korea Withdrew from Non-Proliferation Treaty

In 2003, North Korea officially withdrew from the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

January 2005: Boxer criticizes Rice's loyalty

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

August 2005: Belafonte Refers to Bush Administration Blacks as "Black Tyrants"

In August 2005, Harry Belafonte referred to blacks in the Bush administration as "black tyrants," eliciting mixed reactions.

2005: North Korea Agreed to Give Up Nuclear Program

In 2005, North Korea agreed to give up its entire nuclear program in exchange for security guarantees and economic benefits.

2006: North Korea Test Fired Long Range Missiles

In 2006, North Korea test fired long range missiles, violating the agreement in 2005. The UN Security Council demanded North Korea suspend the program.

January 11, 2007: Boxer comments on Iraq War

On January 11, 2007, during a debate over the war in Iraq, Barbara Boxer commented on who pays the price for the war.

February 1, 2007: Accused of squandering influence

On February 1, 2007, Time magazine accused Rice of squandering her influence, stating her accomplishments as Secretary of State had been modest.

2007: Another Nuclear Agreement with North Korea

In 2007, Condoleezza Rice was involved in another nuclear agreement with North Korea where North Korea agreed to close its main nuclear reactor in exchange for $400 million in fuel and aid.

2007: Property Arrangement Revealed

In 2007, Glenn Kessler's book "The Confidante: Condoleezza Rice and the Creation of the Bush Legacy" revealed the property arrangement, sparking rumors.

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

Check it on Amazon

2007: Criticism from Stephen Hayes

In 2007, Stephen Hayes of the Weekly Standard accused Condoleezza Rice of jettisoning the Bush Doctrine, including the Iraq War troop surge of 2007.

July 2008: Criticism from John R. Bolton

In July 2008, John R. Bolton criticized Rice and her allies in the Bush Administration, believing they abandoned earlier hard-line principles.

April 2009: Stated she did not authorize torture

In April 2009, Condoleezza Rice stated that she did not authorize the CIA to use torture, but rather conveyed the administration's authorization, subject to the Justice Department's clearance, while at Stanford University.

2011: Rice responds to Rumsfeld's criticism

In 2011, Rice responded to Donald Rumsfeld's criticism, saying that he doesn't know what he's talking about. Rumsfeld had previously portrayed her as a young, inexperienced academic.

2013: Rice Charges Iran with Untrustworthiness

In 2013, Rice accused Iran of being untrustworthy due to the country's decades-long concealment of its nuclear program and its evasive behavior towards the International Atomic Energy Agency.

2014: Criticized immigration policy

In 2014, Rice criticized the Obama administration from seeking to approve immigration reforms through executive action.

2015: Called for Investigation by Human Rights Watch

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

2015: Rice Initially Declines Public Position on Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

In 2015, Rice initially declined to comment publicly on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, but acknowledged that it had some positive aspects while noting the high price paid and the possibility that Iran had already reached threshold status.

January 26, 2017: Rice Opines on Trump's Presidency with University of San Francisco

On January 26, 2017, Condoleezza Rice stated during a talk with the University of San Francisco that the United States had entered uncharted territory with President Donald Trump due to his lack of government experience and that the new president should be given time to realize the limitations of his powers.

February 2017: Opposed Trump's travel ban

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

May 2017: Opposes removal of Confederate monuments

In May 2017, Rice said she opposes the removal of Confederate monuments and memorials or the renaming of buildings named after Confederate generals.

November 18, 2018: Rice Considered for Cleveland Browns Head Coach

On November 18, 2018, it was reported that Rice was being considered as a candidate for the Cleveland Browns' head coach position. The report sparked jokes and outcry, due to her lack of coaching experience. The Browns and Rice both denied the report.

2018: Rice Comments on North Korea and Kim Jong Un

In 2018, Rice described North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's overtures to South Korea as "clever" and expressed concern that he was more isolated and reckless than his father. She supported negotiations with North Korea ahead of the Singapore Summit, but warned that the US should "go step by step, make sure there's good verification of everything the North Koreans are doing, and keep your eye on the prize of denuclearization. Because what we want to do is stop them short of threatening the American homeland."

2018: Possible Trump Replacement

In 2018, after the release of the Access Hollywood tapes, Reince Priebus suggested Donald Trump drop out of the presidential race, with Mike Pence replacing him and Condoleezza Rice as Pence's running mate.

September 2019: Rice Publicly Dislikes Trump's Rhetoric

In September 2019, Rice publicly criticized President Trump's rhetoric, especially concerning immigration, cautioning him to be more careful due to the sensitivity of race relations in America.

August 2021: Rice Argues U.S. Withdrew from Afghanistan Too Quickly

In August 2021, Rice authored an op-ed in which she contended that the United States withdrew from Afghanistan prematurely and denounced the notion that Afghans were responsible for the Taliban's takeover as a "corrosive and deeply unfair narrative".

2023: Rice Stresses Need for Candidates to Understand Ukraine Conflict

In 2023, after criticism of US support for Ukraine from former President Trump and Governor DeSantis, Rice emphasized the importance of presidential candidates understanding the essence of the conflict in Ukraine, framing it as defending a rules-based system where might does not equal right.