Colin Powell

Colin Powell served as Secretary of State under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005, becoming the first African American to hold the office. The son of Jamaican immigrants, he built a career in the Army, served in Vietnam, became Ronald Reagan’s national security adviser, and chaired the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the 1991 Gulf War. His military reputation gave him substantial public authority when he entered the department. ¹

The attacks of September 11, 2001, rapidly redirected his secretaryship. Powell supported action against al-Qaeda and sought cooperation from Pakistan and other governments for the campaign in Afghanistan. As the administration turned toward Iraq, he favored working through the United Nations and pressed for weapons inspections and broad international support. ¹

In February 2003 Powell presented the Security Council with intelligence claiming that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. Central claims proved wrong, and the presentation became inseparable from the controversy over the invasion. His preference for a larger coalition and preparation for occupation did not prevent his public authority from becoming a principal asset in the administration’s case for war. ¹

Beyond Iraq, Powell promoted investment in diplomatic personnel and facilities, increased attention to HIV/AIDS and development assistance, and pursued nuclear diplomacy involving Iran, North Korea, and Libya. He also helped manage the India-Pakistan crisis of 2001–2002 and negotiations with Russia over strategic arms. His tenure combined an effort to strengthen diplomacy with responsibility for a major intelligence failure in the public justification of war. ¹