Colin Powell

Colin Luther Powell, (pronounced koh-lihn, born April 5, 1937) was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving from January 20, 2001 to January 26, 2005 under President George W. Bush. Nominated by Bush on December 16, 2000 and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate, Powell became the highest ranking African American government official in the history of the United States (now having been tied by his successor, Condoleezza Rice). As a general in the United States Army, Powell also served as National Security Advisor (1987–89) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989–93).

Life after politics

After retiring from the role of Secretary of State, Powell returned to private life, but in April 2005 he telephoned Republican senators Lincoln Chafee and Chuck Hagel to express his opposition to the nomination of John R. Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations (Powell had clashed with him during Bush's first term). The decision was viewed as potentially dealing significant damage to Bolton's chances of confirmation.

Related Topics:
April 2005 - Lincoln Chafee - Chuck Hagel - John R. Bolton - United Nations

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On 28 April The Guardian reported that Powell was in fact "conducting a campaign" against Bolton because of the acrimonious battles they had had whilst working together, which among other things had resulted in Powell cutting Bolton out of talks with Iran and Libya after complaints about Bolton's involvement from the British. It added that "The foreign relations committee has discovered that Bolton made a highly unusual request and gained access to 10 intercepts by the National Security Agency... Staff members on the committee believe that Bolton was probably spying on Powell, his senior advisers and other officials reporting to him on diplomatic initiatives that Bolton opposed." http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1471879,00.html

Related Topics:
28 April - The Guardian - National Security Agency

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In July 2005, Powell joined Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers, a well-known Silicon Valley venture capital firm, as a "strategic limited partner."

Related Topics:
Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers - Silicon Valley - Venture capital

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In September 2005, Powell slammed the US response to Hurricane Katrina.http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L09651428.htm

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He is reportedly being considered to become the twelfth president of Cornell University, one of the Ivy League institutions.

Related Topics:
Cornell University - Ivy League

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