Early Life and Education of Condoleezza Rice: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Condoleezza Rice. From birth to education, explore key events.

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

1952: Jim Crow Alabama

In 1952, in Jim Crow Alabama, Condoleezza Rice's father was unable to register to vote as a Democrat, which contributed to his joining the Republican party.

November 14, 1954: Condoleezza Rice Born

On November 14, 1954, Condoleezza Rice was born. She is an American diplomat and political scientist who went on to become the 66th United States Secretary of State and the 19th U.S. National Security Advisor.

Others born on this day/year

September 15, 1963: Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing

On September 15, 1963, Rice's schoolmate Denise McNair was murdered in the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church by white supremacists.

1963: Heard 16th Street Baptist Church bombing

In 1963, Rice recalled hearing and feeling the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham where her friend was killed. The crime failed to crush the hopes of young lives.

1967: Family Moved to Denver

In 1967, Condoleezza Rice's family moved to Denver, Colorado.

1971: Graduated High School

In 1971, Condoleezza Rice graduated from St. Mary's Academy at the age of 16.

1974: Inducted into Phi Beta Kappa

In 1974, at age 19, Condoleezza Rice was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa society and was awarded a B.A. degree cum laude in political science by the University of Denver.

1975: Obtained MA Degree

In 1975, Condoleezza Rice obtained an MA degree in political science from the University of Notre Dame.

1979: Studied Russian at Moscow State University

In the summer of 1979, Condoleezza Rice studied Russian at Moscow State University and interned with the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, California.

1980: Fellow at Stanford University

From 1980, Condoleezza Rice was a fellow at Stanford University's Arms Control and Disarmament Program, having won a Ford Foundation Dual Expertise Fellowship in Soviet Studies and International Security.

1981: Assistant Professor at Stanford

From 1981, Condoleezza Rice was hired by Stanford University as an assistant professor of political science.

1981: Received PhD

In 1981, Condoleezza Rice received a PhD from the School of International Studies at the University of Denver.

1981: Fellow at Stanford University

In 1981, Condoleezza Rice was a fellow at Stanford University studying international security at Stanford on fellowships.

1981: Received PhD in Political Science

In 1981, at age 26, Condoleezza Rice received her PhD in political science from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. Her dissertation was centered on military policy and politics in Czechoslovakia.

1982: George Shultz Secretary of State

From 1982, George Shultz was Ronald Reagan's secretary of state.

1982: Changed Political Affiliation

In 1982, Condoleezza Rice changed her political affiliation from Democrat to Republican, partly due to disagreements with Jimmy Carter's foreign policy.

1985: Death of Mother

In 1985, Condoleezza Rice's mother, Angelena Rice, died of breast cancer at the age of 61.

1987: Promoted to Associate Professor

In 1987, Condoleezza Rice was promoted to associate professor at Stanford University, a position she held until 1993.

1989: End of Shultz's Secretary of State Role

In 1989, George Shultz's role as Ronald Reagan's secretary of state came to an end.

1989: Father's Remarriage

In 1989, John Wesley Rice, Condoleezza Rice's father, married Clara Bailey.

1992: Founded Center for a New Generation

In 1992, Condoleezza Rice founded the Center for a New Generation, an after-school program designed to increase high school graduation rates in East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park, California.

1993: Provost at Stanford University

From 1993, Condoleezza Rice served as provost at Stanford University.

1993: Appointed Provost at Stanford

In 1993, Condoleezza Rice was appointed as Stanford's provost.

1993: End of Associate Professor Role

In 1993, Condoleezza Rice's role as associate professor at Stanford University came to an end.

1999: End of Provost Role at Stanford University

In 1999, Condoleezza Rice's role as provost at Stanford University came to an end.

2000: Republican National Convention Speech

At the 2000 Republican National Convention, Condoleezza Rice spoke about her father's reason for joining the Republican party.

2000: Death of Father

In 2000, John Wesley Rice, Condoleezza Rice's father, passed away at the age of 77.

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.

April 2002: Performance at National Medal of Arts Awards

In April 2002, Condoleezza Rice accompanied cellist Yo-Yo Ma in playing Johannes Brahms' Violin Sonata in D minor at Constitution Hall for the National Medal of Arts Awards.

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2003: Co-ownership of House Begins

From 2003, Condoleezza Rice co-owned a house in Palo Alto, California, with Randy Bean.

2005: Performance at Kennedy Center

In 2005, Condoleezza Rice accompanied Charity Sunshine Tillemann-Dick at the Kennedy Center for a benefit concert for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.

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

2008: Barack Obama Elected President

In 2008, Barack Obama was elected president; prior to this, Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell were the highest-ranking African Americans in the federal executive branch.

February 2009: Returned to Stanford University

In February 2009, after her tenure as Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice returned to Stanford University to work as a political science professor and a Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution. She declined an offer to be a Pac-10 Commissioner.

March 1, 2009: Returned to Stanford University

On March 1, 2009, Condoleezza Rice returned to Stanford as a political science professor and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution.

March 2009: Returned to Stanford University

In March 2009, Condoleezza Rice returned to Stanford University as a political science professor and the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution.

2009: Appearance on The Tonight Show

In 2009, Condoleezza Rice appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and stated that Led Zeppelin was her favorite band.

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September 2010: Faculty Member at Stanford Graduate School of Business

In September 2010, Condoleezza Rice became a faculty member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a director of its Global Center for Business and the Economy.

2010: Supported civil unions

In 2010, Rice stated that she believed marriage is between a man and a woman but also thought there needs to be some way for people to express their desire to live together through civil union.

May 2011: Appeared on 30 Rock

In May 2011, Condoleezza Rice appeared as herself on the NBC sitcom "30 Rock" in the episode "Everything Sunny All the Time Always", engaging in a classical-music duel with Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin).

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August 20, 2012: Admitted to Augusta National Golf Club

On August 20, 2012, Condoleezza Rice became one of the first two women admitted to Augusta National Golf Club.

October 2014: Rice Reveals TV Football Habits

In October 2014, Rice revealed that she watched "14 or 15 games every week live on TV on Saturdays and recorded games on Sundays."

2014: Criticized immigration policy

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

August 2015: Rice to Speak at High Point University's 2016 Commencement

In August 2015, High Point University announced that Condoleezza Rice would be the speaker at the 2016 commencement ceremony.

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.

2017: Co-ownership of House Ends

Condoleezza Rice co-owned a house with Randy Bean from 2003 to 2017.

2017: Published Book on Democracy

In 2017, Condoleezza Rice wrote the book, Democracy: Stories from the Long Road to Freedom, reflecting on her family history and experiences with racial segregation.