Guide Note

Retired U.S. Army General Colin Powell served as both National Security Advisor and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was the Secretary of State during the first term of George W. Bush, from 2001 to 2005. On August 13, 2008, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol announced that Powell would likely announce his endorsement for Barack Obama at the upcoming Democratic National Convention. Shortly thereafter, Powell spokesperson Peggy Cifrino denied Kristol's report.¹

Fast Facts

1. Born: April 5, 1937 in New York City
2. 1958: Entered U.S. Army
3. Has received two Presidential Medals of Freedom
4. Party: Republican
5. Spouse: Alma Powell
6. Nickname: "The Reluctant Warrior"
7. At age 52, became the youngest officer in history to serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Powell joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps while studying at City College. He was soon after granted a commission as an Army Second Lieutenant in June of 1958. He served in Vietnam first as an adviser and later as an assistant chief of staff of operations. Part of his duties included investigations into the My Lai Massacre. Among the medals he received are the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Soldier's Medal, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

From October 1, 1989 to September 30, 1993, Powell was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest-ranking military position in the Department of Defense. During his tenure, he oversaw the U.S. invasion of Panama and the First Gulf War.

Powell was unanimously confirmed as Secretary of State by the U.S. Senate. Though he was initially hesitant, he eventually agreed to help the Bush Administration make the case for the invasion of Iraq, but only after the President agreed to seek international cooperation and to first make the case to The United Nations.

During a speech to the United Nations Security Council on February 5, 2003, Powell stated unequivocally that Saddam Hussein had the ability to produce biological weapons quickly and was working toward the creation of nuclear weapons. The speech was later criticized as overblown and even inaccurate, much of it alleged to have been taken from an graduate student's essay. Powell himself later conceded that much of the information in the speech had been wrong.

He formally announced his resignation on November 15, 2004, after allegedly having been asked to do so by Bush aide Andrew Card.