Chapter 10: Women as Leaders in Executive Service

Julie Dolan

Women as leaders in executive service In January 2009, Hillary Rodham Clinton was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as his secretary of state. When she was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 21, Clinton became the third woman to serve as secretary of state in the history of the United States. Yet a mere 12 years ago, the position had been held only by men. In fact, of 66 secretaries of state who have served since 1789 when the position was first created, the overwhelming majority (97%) have been men (U.S. State Department, 2009). Since 1997 the position has been held by three women and one African American man: Madeleine Albright (1997–2001), Colin Powell (2001–2005), Condoleezza Rice (2005–2009), and Hillary Rodham Clinton (2009–). Although it took more than 200 years for a woman to reach the apex of the U.S. State Department, women have been part of ...

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