A Husky Herald Exclusive Interview: Dr
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Vol. XIII Issue 4 Harrison High School June 2009 A Husky Herald Exclusive Interview: Dr. Condaleezza Rice Dominique Cuce Co-Editor-in-Chief Recently, The Husky Herald (HH) been playing for a short time. I think segregation really get in our way. We international relations as a graduate was granted an exclusive interview with I am playing pretty well for only three were told we could achieve anything student. I was interested in how the former Secretary of State Dr. Condo- and a half years. we wanted to. But of course, particu- leezza Rice (CR). Rice earned her larly in 1963, when it was very violent, “...I thought I would see bachelor’s degree in political science HH: It is known you’re a big fan of and when my classmate was killed in from the University of Denver, got her the National Football League. Why is the Church bombing in September of a black President, but master’s from the University of Notre that and what’s your favorite team? that year, it was a very devastating I thought I might be Dame, and received her Ph.D. from time. [Editor’s Note: Rice’s 11-year old 85 when it happened.” the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981. Shortly after, she joined Stan- government practiced international ford University as a political science politics. Then I met Brent Scowcroft, professor. In 1993, she became the the National Security Advisor (under first African-American woman provost President Gerald Ford), and he asked at Stanford. me to come to Washington. So I started In the mid-1980s, Rice spent time my interest in politics as an observer; I in Washington as an international af- never expected to be going into it. fairs fellow attached to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1989, she became director HH: What does an African-Amer- of Soviet and East European affairs ican President mean to you? with the National Security Council and special assistant to President Bush CR: It means that America is fi- during the dissolution of the Soviet nally coming together to heal an histori- Union and German reunification. In cal wound. It means that the country 1987, she served on the federal advi- can do anything and I think it’s terrific, sory committee on Gender Integrated it’s amazing. I thought I would see a Training in the Military. She was ap- black president, but I thought I might pointed National Security Adviser by be 85 when it happened. George W. Bush in 2001, and became Secretary of State in 2005 after Colin HH: Dr. Rice, growing up, who Powell’s resignation. She also is a were your female role models? concert level pianist, having received music training from her mother, a music CR: I had lots of role models, teacher. but my parents and my family were big roles models -- I was very close HH: Recently, we were surprised to my family. Also, I loved people to learn that you are a big fan of Led like Billie Jean King, who broke a lot Zeppelin. Are there any other hobbies of barriers for women. I thought she or interests that people may not know was just incredible, and like every little about you? girl, I looked up to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. CR: I think my musical interests are eclectic, because it’s not just Led HH: At one point you were a Zeppelin, but also Cream, and I like Democrat – why change? Earth Wind and Fire. I like a lot of different types of music, though I can CR: Because of foreign policy – I only play one kind, which is classical. didn’t like the Carter administration’s The former U.S. Secretary of State, Dr. Condaleezza Rice. Courtesy of Dominique Cuce Music is a big hobby of mine; I play with foreign policy. I thought they were soft a chamber music group and then also CR: Yes, I’m a huge NFL fan. classmate, Denise McNair, was killed on the Soviet Union, and I liked Ronald play sports. I also love sports -- any- The Cleveland Browns are my favor- in the bombing of a nearby church by Reagan’s more aggressive approach thing with a score a score at the end… ite team, not because I ever lived in white supremacists.] It was difficult toward the Soviet Union. and I am learning to play golf. Cleveland, but because when I was for parents to tell their kids that they a little girl growing up in Birmingham couldn’t go into the restroom because HH: What was your typical day (Alabama), Birmingham didn’t have you were black. But, somehow my like as Secretary of State? “...I started my interest in an NFL team. The team we saw most parents, to whom I owe so much, politics as an observer; on TV was Cleveland, because those were able to convince me that even CR: I would get up at 4:30 in the I never expected to be were the days of Jim Brown, the great though I couldn’t have a hamburger at morning to exercise. I got to my office going into it.” running back. Woolworth’s, I could be the president at about 6:30 -- I would read the morn- if I wanted. ing cables that had come over every HH: You grew up during an era night, read the Intelligence reports. HH: How is your golf game go- of segregation in the South. How did HH: Did those experiences Sometimes they had an intelligence ing? those experiences affect you? prompt your interest in politics? “briefer” that would come and visit with me. I had a staff meeting at 8:00 a.m. CR: Like everyone’s, one day it’s CR: I was lucky that I had par- CR: I went to college to be a Most days I was either receiving foreign good, and one day it’s not. I have only ents and a community that didn’t let music major, then I got interested in leaders or helping the President do that (Continued on Page 2) Dr. Rice Speaks Her Mind (Continued from Front Page) at the White House and also holding HH: Looking back on your ser- didn’t do all of it perfectly, but we tried meetings with other principles of the vice, are there things you would to bring a Palestinian state. I would be “...history has a long arch NSC (National Security Council), like have done differently as Secretary of less Baghdad-centered in the way that the Sectary of Defense or the Sectary State? we tried to rebuild Iraq, and do more ...the Middle East couldn’t of Treasury -- so it was pretty much out in the providences. I think that we stay the way it was...” meetings all day. Sometimes I was CR: Sure, there were many, but should have tried to build Palestinian involved in ceremonial affairs. I was I am a big believer in letting history institutions earlier, so a state could have to be right once. the person who swore in ambassadors judge. There are probably a lot of have come to be. whenever I could. The State Depart- things I would have done differently, HH: Do you think the world is a ment is a big organization; it has about safer place after our going into Iraq? 55,000 people worldwide, so I spent a lot of time doing a lot of interesting CR: I do. You have to remember things (within the State Department). that history has a long arch, and that the Middle East couldn’t stay the way it was, and have this country be safe. “...mostly we tried to Now, it will obviously take time, but you can’t take snapshots of history, do the right thing; we you have to let history unfold. And I kept this country safe...” do believe that when Iraq emerges, and I think it will, as a more democratic friend of the United States, then we HH: What would you say was the will be safe. hardest part of your job as Secretary of State? HH: How do you think President George W. Bush will be judged by CR: Well, the best part of the job history? was representing this country, which is a great country, but some of the issues CR: I think he will be judged you deal with are very difficult -- like well, but as I said, you can’t make the war in Lebanon. To see people those judgments three months after being killed, but you can’t stop the war an administration (leaves). History on conditions that would be favorable Editor Dominique Cuce with Dr. Rice. Courtesy of Frank Cuce really does take a long arch -- nobody to Hezbollah (a terrorist organization). but mostly we tried to do the right thing, HH: What do you miss most would have thought that, in 1980, the It’s a very, very difficult job because of we kept this country safe and I think about the job? Soviet Union would no longer exist the issues. we liberated about 50 million people eleven years later. So I don’t think it’s in Afghanistan and Iraq. We probably CR: My colleagues and friends wise to try and make those judgments at the State Department, the President, too early. Steve Hadley and Josh Bolten. I loved doing the diplomacy, but I really don’t HH: What is your position today miss the job -- it’s time to move on.