Madeleine Albright Becomes
Secretary Of State

 Since Thomas Jefferson became the first Secretary of State in 1790, the position has been one of the most important in the U.S. government. The Secretary of State has major responsibility for the foreign affairs of the country, often conducting difficult negotiations with other governments. In January, 1997, President Bill Clinton named Madeleine Albright as the first woman Secretary of State in the nation's history.

The daughter of refugees from Eastern Europe, Albright was a brilliant student of political science and foreign affairs. She earned a Ph.D. from Columbia University. In 1993, Clinton appointed her U.S. representative to the United Nations, where she reprsented the country forcefully and won wide respect. When Secretary Of State Warren Christopher announced his retirement in December, 1996, Clinton nominated Albright for the position. She was confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 99-0. In her first months, Albright traveled to many parts of the world, visiting friendly nations and former enemies such as Russia and Vietnam. She also has tried to find solutions to some of the world's most difficult disputes, in Bosnia, Israel, and Northern Ireland.

DID YOU KNOW....In 1997, Albright learned that her grandparents had died in Nazi concentration camps during World War II.

If you would like to know more about Madeleine Albright, visit this great website.

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