Book report on colin powell
Colin Powell
American general and diplomat (–)
"General Powell" and "Secretary Powell" redirect here. For other uses, see General Powell (disambiguation) and Secretary Powell (disambiguation).For other people named Colin Powell, see Colin Powell (disambiguation).
Colin Powell | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, | |
| In office January 20, &#;– January 26, | |
| President | George W.
Bush |
| Deputy | Richard Armitage |
| Preceded by | Madeleine Albright |
| Succeeded by | Condoleezza Rice |
| In office October 1, &#;– September 30, | |
| President | |
| Deputy | |
| Preceded by | William J.
Crowe |
| Succeeded by | John Shalikashvili |
| In office November 23, &#;– January 20, | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Deputy | John Negroponte |
| Preceded by | Frank Carlucci |
| Succeeded by | Brent Scowcroft |
| In office December 2, &#;– November 23 | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Peter Rodman |
| Succeeded by | John Negroponte |
| Born | Colin Luther Powell ()April 5, New York City, U.S. |
| Died | October 18, () (aged&#;84) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Political party | |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, including Michael and Linda |
| Education | |
| Signature | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years&#;of service | – |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | |
| Commands | |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | (see §&#;Awards and decorations) |
Colin Luther Powell (KOH-lin POW-əl;[a]()April 5, – ()October 18, ) was an American statesman,[3] diplomat, and army officer who was the 65th United States secretary of state from to He was the first African-American to hold the office.[4] He was the 15th national security advisor from to , and the 12th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from to
Powell was born in New York City in to parents who immigrated from Jamaica.
He was raised in the South Bronx and educated in the New York City public schools, earning a bachelor's degree in geology from the City College of New York. He joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps while at City College and was commissioned as a second lieutenant on graduating in He was a professional soldier for 35 years, holding many command and staff positions and rising to the rank of four-star general.
Luther and maud powell biography: Colin Powell () ascended from a humble upbringing in New York City to rise through military ranks and eventually become a four star general, a national security adviser, chairman of.
He was commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command in
Powell's last military assignment, from October to September , was as Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, the highest military position in the United States Department of Defense. During this time, he oversaw twenty-eight crises, including the invasion of Panama in and Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf War against Iraq in – He formulated the Powell Doctrine, which limits American military action unless it satisfies criteria regarding American national security interests, overwhelming force, and widespread public support.
He served as secretary of state under Republican president George W. Bush. As secretary of state, Powell gave a presentation to the United Nations Security Council regarding the rationale for the Iraq War, but he later admitted that the speech contained substantial inaccuracies. He resigned after Bush was reelected in [7][8]
In , Powell wrote his autobiography, My American Journey and then in retirement another book titled, It Worked for Me: Lessons in Life and Leadership ().
He pursued a career as a public speaker, addressing audiences across the country and abroad. Before his appointment as Secretary of State he chaired America's Promise. In the United States presidential election, Powell, who was not a candidate, received three electoral votes from Washington state for the office of President of the United States.[9] He won numerous U.S.
and foreign military awards and decorations. His civilian awards included the Presidential Medal of Freedom (twice), the Congressional Gold Medal, the Presidential Citizens Medal, and the Secretary's Distinguished Service Award.
Powell died from complications of COVID in , while being treated for a form of blood cancer that damaged his immune system.[10]
Early life
Colin Luther Powell was born on ()April 5, ,[11][12] in Harlem, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan.[13] He was born to Jamaican immigrants Maud Ariel (née McKoy) and Luther Theophilus Powell.[13][14] His parents were both of mixed African and Scottish ancestry.[15][16] Luther worked as a shipping clerk and Maud as a seamstress.[17] Powell was raised in the South Bronx and attended the now closed Morris High School, from which he graduated in [18]
While at school, Powell worked at a local baby furniture store, where he picked up Yiddish from the Eastern European Jewish shopkeepers and some of the customers.[19] He also served as a Shabbos goy, helping Orthodox families with needed tasks on the Sabbath.[20] He received a bachelor of science degree in geology from the City College of New York in [21][22] and said that he was a "C average" student.[23] "I wasn't doing well in civil engineering".
While at CCNY, Powell shifted his study focus to the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) and became a "straight A student" in it;[24] he held the distinction of being the first chairman to have attained his commission through the ROTC.[24] Powell also graduated from George Washington University with an MBA in and an honorary doctor of public service in [25]
Military career
Powell was a professional soldier for thirty-five years, holding a variety of command and staff positions and rising to the rank of general.[26]
Training
While attending the City College of New York, Powell joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).[27] He described the experience as one of the happiest experiences of his life.
According to Powell:
It was only once I was in college, about six months into college when I found something that I liked, and that was ROTC, Reserve Officer Training Corps in the military. And I not only liked it, but I was pretty good at it. That's what you really have to look for in life, something that you like, and something that you think you're pretty good at.
And if you can put those two things together, then you're on the right track, and just drive on.[28]
As a cadet, Powell joined the Pershing Rifles,[29] the ROTC fraternal organization and drill team begun by General John Pershing.
Early career
Upon graduation, he received a commission as an Armysecond lieutenant;[30] at this time, the Army was newly desegregated[13](see: Executive Order ). He underwent training in the state of Georgia, where he was refused service in bars and restaurants because of the color of his skin.[31] After attending basic training at Fort Benning, Powell was assigned to the 48th Infantry, in West Germany, as a platoon leader.[32] From to , he served as group liaison officer, company executive officer, and commander of Company A, 1st Battle Group, 4th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.[33]
Vietnam War
Captain Powell served a tour in Vietnam as a South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) advisor from to While on patrol in a Viet Cong-held area, he was wounded by stepping on a punji stake.[34] The large infection made it difficult for him to walk, and caused his foot to swell for a short time, shortening his first tour.
Powell returned to Vietnam as a major in , serving as assistant chief of staff of operations for the 23rd (Americal) Infantry Division.
During the second tour in Vietnam he was decorated with the Soldier's Medal for bravery after he survived a helicopter crash and single-handedly rescued three others, including division commander Major General Charles M. Gettys, from the burning wreckage.[32][36]
Mỹ Lai massacre inquiry
Soldiers actively hunted, herded, and killed elderly people, children, infants, and raped women while other Soldiers [sic] looked on and did nothing to stop the massacre.
An estimated to unarmed civilians died in My Lai MAJ Colin Powell, a recently assigned Deputy G3, investigated the allegations described in the [Glen] letter. He proved unable to uncover either wide-spread unnecessary killings, war crimes, or any facts related to My Lai
—&#;US Army Center for the Army Profession and Leadership, My Lai at Written Case Study[37]
Powell was charged with investigating a detailed letter by 11th Light Infantry Brigade soldier Tom Glen, which backed up rumored allegations of the Mỹ Lai massacre.[37] Powell wrote: "In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between Americal soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent".[38] Later, Powell's assessment would be described as whitewashing the news of the massacre, and questions would continue to remain undisclosed to the public.[39] In May , Powell said to television and radio host Larry King, "I was in a unit that was responsible for My Lai.
I got there after My Lai happened. So, in war, these sorts of horrible things happen every now and again, but they are still to be deplored".[40]
After the Vietnam War
When he returned to the U.S. from Vietnam in , Powell earned a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.[21][31] He later served a White House Fellowship under President Richard Nixon from to During – he attended the National War College, Washington, D.C.[41]
In his autobiography, My American Journey, Powell named several officers he served under who inspired and mentored him.
As a lieutenant colonel commanding 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry in South Korea, Powell was very close to his division commander, Major General Henry "Gunfighter" Emerson, whom he regarded as one of the most caring officers he ever met.[42] Emerson insisted his troops train at night to fight a possible North Korean attack, and made them repeatedly watch the television film Brian's Song to promote racial harmony.
Powell always professed that what set Emerson apart was his great love of his soldiers and concern for their welfare. After a race riot occurred, in which African-American soldiers almost killed a white officer, Powell was charged by Emerson to crack down on black militants; Powell's efforts led to the discharge of one soldier, and other efforts to reduce racial tensions.[32] During – he commanded the 2nd Brigade of the st Airborne Division.[17]
Powell subsequently served as the junior military assistant to deputy secretaries of defenseCharles Duncan and Graham Claytor, receiving a promotion to brigadier general on 1 June [29]:&#;&#; At the ceremony, he received from Secretary Harold Brown's protocol officer, Stuart Purviance, a framed quotation by President Abraham Lincoln.
The quote was "I can make a brigadier general in five minutes. But it's not so easy to replace one hundred ten horses".
Colin powell biography jamaica Colin Powell ascended from a humble upbringing in New York City to rise through military ranks and eventually become a four star general, a national security adviser, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the first African American secretary of state. As secretary of state under President George W. Bush, Powell pressed the case for a possible war with Iraq in a speech to the United Nations in He then resigned from the position in after acknowledging his defense of an Iraq invasion was based on faulty information. He had been vaccinated but had a compromised immune system due to treatment for blood cancer.Taped to the back of the frame was an envelope with instructions that it not be opened for ten years. When Powell opened the note in , after he had become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he read Purviance's prediction that Powell would become Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Powell wrote that he kept the Lincoln quote as a reminder to remain humble despite his rank and position.[29]:&#;&#;
National Security Advisor and other advisory roles
Powell retained his role as the now-senior military assistant into the presidency of Ronald Reagan, serving under Claytor's successor as deputy secretary of defense, Frank Carlucci.
Powell and Carlucci formed a close friendship,[29]:&#;&#; referring to each by first names in private, as Powell refused any sort of first-name basis in an official capacity.[29]:&#;&#; It was on Powell's advice that newly-elected President Ronald Reagan presented Roy Benavidez the Medal of Honor; Benavidez had received the Distinguished Service Cross, which his commander argued should be upgraded, but army officials believed there was no living eyewitness to testify to Benavidez's heroism.
A soldier who had been present during the action in question learned in July of the effort to upgrade Benavidez's medal and provided the necessary sworn statement; the upgrade to the Medal of Honor was approved in December [29]:&#;–23&#;[43] Powell also declined an offer from Secretary of the ArmyJohn O.
Marsh Jr. to be his under secretary due to his reluctance to assume a political appointment; James R. Ambrose was selected instead.[29]:&#;–28&#; Intent on attaining a division command, Powell petitioned Carlucci and Army chief of staffEdward C. Meyer for reassignment away from the Pentagon, with Meyer appointing Powell as assistant division commander for operations and training of the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado under Major General John W.
Hudachek.[29]:&#;–29&#;
After he left Fort Carson, Powell became the senior military assistant to Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, whom he assisted during the invasion of Grenada[44] and the airstrike on Libya.[45] Under Weinberger, Powell was also involved in the unlawful transfer of U.S.-made TOW anti-tank missiles and Hawk anti-aircraft missiles from Israel to Iran as part of the criminal conspiracy that would later become known as the Iran–Contra affair.[46]:&#;–49&#;[47] In November , Powell solicited and delivered to Weinberger a legal assessment that the transfer of Hawk missiles to Israel or Iran, without Congressional notification, would be "a clear violation" of the law.[46]:&#;&#;[47] Despite this, thousands of TOW missiles and hundreds of Hawk missiles and spare parts were transferred from Israel to Iran until the venture was exposed in a Lebanese magazine, Ash-Shiraa, in November [48][49][50] According to Iran-Contra Independent CounselLawrence E.
Walsh, when questioned by Congress, Powell "had given incomplete answers" concerning notes withheld by Weinberger and that the activities of Powell and others in concealing the notes "seemed corrupt enough to meet the new, poorly defined test of obstruction".[46]:&#;&#; Following his resignation as Secretary of Defense, Weinberger was indicted on five felony charges, including one count Obstruction of Congress for concealing the notes.[51][52]:&#;&#; Powell was never indicted by the Independent Counsel in connection with the Iran-Contra affair.[52]
In , Powell took over the command of V Corps in Frankfurt, Germany, from Robert Lewis "Sam" Wetzel.
The next year, he served as United States Deputy National Security Advisor, under Frank Carlucci.[53]
Following the Iran–Contra scandal, Powell became, at the age of 49, Ronald Reagan's National Security Advisor, serving from to while retaining his Army commission as a lieutenant general.[54] He helped negotiate a number of arms treaties with Mikhail Gorbachev, the leader of the Soviet Union.[13]
In April , after his tenure with the National Security Council, Powell was promoted to four-star general under President George H.
W. Bush and briefly served as the Commander in Chief, Forces Command (FORSCOM), headquartered at Fort McPherson, Georgia, overseeing all active U.S. Army regulars, U.S. Army Reserve, and National Guard units in the Continental U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
Colin powell biography history channel schedule Colin Powell came from a humble background to become the first African-American US secretary of state. A highly decorated army officer, he saw service in Vietnam, an experience that later helped define his own military and political strategies. He became a trusted military adviser to a number of leading US politicians. And, despite his own misgivings, he helped swing international opinion behind the invasion of Iraq. His parents originally pronounced his name with a short "o" in the traditional English way, but he changed the pronunciation in honour of a US Army Air Corps pilot, Colin Kelly, who was killed shortly after Pearl Harbor.He became the third general since World War II to reach four-star rank without ever serving as a division commander,[45] joining Dwight D. Eisenhower and Alexander Haig.
Later that year, President George H. W. Bush selected him as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[55]
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Powell's last military assignment, from 1 October to 30 September , was as the 12th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest military position in the Department of Defense.
At age 52, he became the youngest officer, and first Afro-Caribbean American, to serve in this position. Powell was also the first JCS chair who received his commission through ROTC.[56]
During this time, Powell oversaw responses to 28 crises, including the invasion of Panama in to remove General Manuel Noriega from power and Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf War.
During these events, Powell earned the nickname "the reluctant warrior" – although Powell himself disputed this label, and spoke in favor of the first Bush administration's Gulf War policies.
As a military strategist, Powell advocated an approach to military conflicts that maximizes the potential for success and minimizes casualties.
A component of this approach is the use of overwhelming force, which he applied to Operation Desert Storm in His approach has been dubbed the Powell Doctrine. Powell continued as chairman of the JCS into the Clinton presidency. However, as a realist, he considered himself a bad fit for an administration largely made up of liberal internationalists.
He clashed with then-U.S.
General colin powell pictures
Colin Powell was a top military officer who became the first black US secretary of state, serving under several Republican presidents, including Ronald Reagan, George H. Bush and George W. After growing up in a Jamaican immigrant family in Harlem, Powell led a celebrated career that saw him rise from modest means up the military ranks. In Powell was stationed at Fort Devens in Massachusetts where he married Alma Johnson, with whom he went on to have 2 daughters and a son. He was sent by President John F.ambassador to the United NationsMadeleine Albright over the Bosnian crisis, as he opposed any military intervention that did not involve U.S. interests.[60]
Powell also regularly clashed with Secretary of Defense Leslie Aspin, whom he was initially hesitant to support after Aspin was nominated by President Clinton.[61] During a lunch meeting between Powell and Aspin in preparation of Operation Gothic Serpent, Aspin was more focused on eating salad than listening and paying attention to Powell's presentation on military operations.[61] The incident caused Powell to grow more irritated towards Aspin and led to his early resignation on 30 September Powell was succeeded temporarily by Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral David E.
Jeremiah, who took the position as Acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Soon after Powell's resignation, on 3–4 October , the Battle of Mogadishu, the aim of which was to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid, was initiated and ended in disaster. Powell later defended Aspin, saying in part that he could not fault Aspin for Aspin's decision to remove a Lockheed AC from the list of armaments requested for the operation.[62]
Powell took an early resignation from his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 30 September [63]
The following year President Clinton sent newly-retired Powell, together with former President Jimmy Carter and Senator Sam Nunn, to visit Haiti in an effort to persuade General Raoul Cédras and the ruling junta to abdicate in favor of former Haitian President Aristide, under the threat of an imminent US invasion to remove them by force.
Powell's status as a retired general was well known and respected in Haiti and was held to be instrumental in persuading Gen. Cédras.[63]
During his chairmanship of the JCS, there was discussion of awarding Powell a fifth star, granting him the rank of General of the Army.[64] But even in the wake of public and Congressional pressure[65][66] to do so, Clinton-Gorepresidential transition team staffers decided against it.[67][68][69]
National Security Advisor and other advisory roles
Powell retained his role as the now-senior military assistant
Dates of rank
Awards and decorations
Badges
Medals and ribbons
Foreign decorations
Potential presidential candidate
Powell's experience in military matters made him a very popular figure with both American political parties.
Colin powell biography history channel He was the first African-American to hold the office. Powell was born in New York City in to parents who immigrated from Jamaica. He joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps while at City College and was commissioned as a second lieutenant on graduating in He was a professional soldier for 35 years, holding many command and staff positions and rising to the rank of four-star general. He was commander of the U.Many Democrats admired his moderate stance on military matters, while many Republicans saw him as a great asset associated with the successes of past Republican administrations. Put forth as a potential Democratic vice presidential nominee in the U.S. presidential election[78] or even potentially replacing Vice President Dan Quayle as the Republican vice presidential nominee,[79] Powell eventually declared himself a Republican and began to campaign for Republican candidates in [80][81] He was touted as a possible opponent of Bill Clinton in the U.S.
presidential election, possibly capitalizing on a split conservative vote in Iowa[82] and even leading New Hampshire polls for the GOP nomination,[83] but Powell declined, citing a lack of passion for politics. Powell defeated Clinton 50–38 in a hypothetical match-up proposed to voters in the exit polls conducted on Election Day.[85] Despite not standing in the race, Powell won the Republican New Hampshire Vice-Presidential primary on write-in votes.[86]
In , Powell founded America's Promise with the objective of helping children from all socioeconomic sectors.
That same year saw the establishment of The Colin L. Powell Center for Leadership and Service. The mission of the center is to "prepare new generations of publicly engaged leaders from populations previously underrepresented in public service and policy circles, to build a strong culture of civic engagement at City College, and to mobilize campus resources to meet pressing community needs and serve the public good".[87]
Powell was mentioned as a potential candidate in the U.S.
presidential election, but again decided against running.[88] Once Texas Governor George W. Bush secured the Republican nomination, Powell endorsed him for president and spoke at the Republican National Convention.[89] Bush won the general election and appointed Powell as secretary of state in [91]
In the electoral college vote count of , Powell received three votes for president from faithless electors from the state of Washington.[92]
Secretary of State (–)
Main articles: Foreign policy of the George W.
Bush administration and List of international trips made by Colin Powell as United States Secretary of State
President-elect George W. Bush named Powell as his nominee to be secretary of state in a ceremony at his ranch in Crawford, Texas on 16 December [93]