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  Read the selection and take the quiz to see how well you read. There are vocabulary-building words highlighted. If you click on the word, you'll see the definition. MARCH 15 - 19, 2010 Women in History Madeleine Albright, Former Secretary of State When trouble erupts in some far corner of the world and the United States government must send an official to help solve the problem, that someone is usually the Secretary of State and Madeleine Albright was the first woman to serve in that position. She was named Secretary of State in 1997 by President Bill Clinton. Before becoming Secretary of State, Albright was the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations. Albright was born in Czechoslovakia in Europe, the daughter of a Czechoslovakian diplomat. After the Czechoslovakian government was overthrown by the Communists in 1948, her family came to the United States and settled in Colorado. Her father became a college professor and an expert on foreign affairs. Albright’s father was an important influence on her decision to study politics and journalism in college. Albright went to graduate school in Russian studies after marrying and having three daughters. She has said that earning her doctoral degree was the hardest thing she ever did—sometimes she had to get up at 4:30 in the morning to write the paper required for the advanced degree. Albright’s husband’s career took them to Washington, where Albright became involved in foreign policy work in government and in private organizations that are called “think tanks.” She also became a professor at Georgetown University, where she won a record four “teacher of the year” awards in 11 years of teaching. She became widely respected for her knowledge of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Albright speaks five languages. She is known as a kind person who is also outspoken and tough-minded. In a talk to women college students, she once recalled that when she began to join high-level government circles, she had to learn to speak up for herself and not be intimidated. |
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