biography
| name: |
Powell, Colin (Luther)
|
pronunciation:
[kohlin]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1937– )
|
| biography:
| US army general, born in New York City, USA. He studied at the City College of New York, and took an army commission, later serving in Vietnam (1962–3, 1968–9). After holding a series of senior commands, he was appointed head of the National Security Council by President Reagan (1987–9), took over the Army Forces Command, and was made chairman of the joint chiefs-of-staff by President Bush (1989–93), the first African-American officer to receive this distinction. He had overall responsibility for the US military operation against Iraq in 1990–1. Britain awarded him an honorary knighthood in 1993. He retired from the army in 1993, and wrote a best-selling autobiography, My American Journey (1995), emerging as a popular and high-profile national figure. He was chairman of America's Promise (1997–2000). A Republican, he announced he was not interested in running for president in 1996. George W Bush appointed him secretary of state (2001– ). |
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