Who Is She?: Madeleine Albright was born May 15, 1937 in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Her family fled Czechoslovakia once to escape the Nazis and again to escape the communists. They settled in the United States in 1948.
Albright was raised as a Roman Catholic, but learned as an adult that her family was actually Jewish. They converted to avoid persecution. Her grandparents were killed in the Holocaust.
Education: Albright graduated from Wellesley College in 1959. She received a graduate degree from Columbia University in 1968 and a doctorate in 1976. She spent much of her academic career as a professor at Georgetown University both before and after her government service.
Experience: Albright became the 64th U.S. Secretary of State on January 23, 1997 and was the first woman to hold this office. She served until January of 2001.
Prior to this Albright was:
- Chief Legislative Assistant for Senator Edmund S. Muskie (1976-1978)
- National Security Council staff member for President Jimmy Carter (1978-1981)
- U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations for President Bill Clinton (1993-1997)
Statements:
Fun Facts:
- In 2005 Albright appeared as herself in the television program "Gilmore Girls."
- Because of her Czech background, some have speculated Albright might seek to become president of the Czech Republic. She says she has not seriously considered this possibility.
