Curated playlist
United States secretaries of state
- Hillary ClintonAround 1961, a girl from the Chicago suburbs wrote a letter to NASA. Hillary Rodham, later known as Hillary Clinton, wanted to know what she could do to become an astronaut. The reply was blunt. Women were not being accepted into the…
- United States Secretary of StateAs secretary of state, Henry Kissinger received two resignation letters that changed American history.
- Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
- Colin PowellOn the 5th of February 2003, Colin Powell addressed the United Nations Security Council. He told the council: "there can be no doubt that Saddam Hussein has biological weapons and the capability to rapidly produce more, many more." The…
- Marco RubioThe New York Times dubbed Marco Rubio the "Secretary of Everything," a nickname earned by holding several government posts at the same moment. Few American officials have ever carried that kind of workload. Fewer still arrived by a road as…
- Henry KissingerHenry Kissinger made a secret trip to China in July 1971. It helped end 23 years of diplomatic isolation.
- James BuchananPresident James Buchanan learned the Dred Scott ruling before the public did. A Supreme Court justice leaked it to him.
- John Foster DullesJohn Foster Dulles ran U.S. foreign policy while his brother Allen ran the CIA.
- William H. SewardWilliam H. Seward led the 1860 first ballot for president, then lost to Lincoln. Lincoln made him Secretary of State.
- James BakerJames Baker's father forbade him from ever entering politics. He became a chief of staff and secretary of state anyway.
- James F. ByrnesJames F. Byrnes left school at 14 and later sat on the U.S. Supreme Court. He never earned a law degree.