REMEMBER WHEN: Condoleeza Rice is Confirmed as the First Black Female Secretary of State

Condoleeza Rice was confirmed Secretary of State 18 years ago today, making her the highest ranking African American woman ever to serve in a presidential cabinet.

During her tenure as Secretary of State, she supported the expansion of democracy, and initiated the concept of "Transformational Diplomacy," which redistributed U.S. diplomats to areas in severe social and political turmoil, addressed issues such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, and disease prevention, and reemphasized aid by establishing the Director of Foreign Assistance.

As a result of Rice's diplomatic work, several Middle East agreements were successfully negotiated. These included the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the opening of the Gaza border crossing in 2005, and a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. The Annapolis Conference of November 27, 2007, was organized by Secretary Rice to find a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In Iran, Rice fought for the improvement of human rights and supported a U.N. Resolution calling for sanctions against the country if its uranium enrichment program continued.

Rice was also concerned about North Korea's nuclear program as well as its nuclear weapons testing. Although she opposed bilateral talks with North Korea, Secretary Rice welcomed the North Koreans' inclusion in the Six Party Talks between China, Japan, Russia, North Korea, South Korea, and the United States.

One of Secretary Rice's biggest successes was the signing of the U.S.-India Agreement enabling civil nuclear energy trade between the two countries.

Secretary Rice's tenure ended in January 2009. Her successor was Hillary Rodham Clinton, a former First Lady and Senator from New York.