As the 64th Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright had the distinct honor of being the first female Secretary of State and the highest ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government.
Prior to her appointment, Dr. Albright served as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations and as a member of the President Clinton's Cabinet and National Security Council.
As Secretary of State, she led the United States foreign policy in the Balkans, culminating in the Balkan War. She also became the first western diplomat to meet Kim Jong II, the reclusive leader of North Korea.
In 2003, she published Madam Secretary: A Memoir, recounting her days as Secretary of State.
