Editorial photo #6196080 Politics

Colin Powell Visit South Korea

Colin Powell of the 65th United States Secretary of State leaving residence at Seoul's hotel in South Korea on Feb 25, 2003 . Colin Luther Powell is retired four-star general who served as the 65th United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. A member of the Republican Party, Powell was the first African-American Secretary of State. Until the election of Barack Obama as President in 2008, Powell and his successor, Condoleezza Rice, were the highest-ranking African Americans in the history of the federal executive branch. Powell served as the 16th United States National Security Advisor from 1987 to 1989 and as the 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993. (Photo by Seung-il Ryu/NurPhoto)