Madeleine Albright, who made history by becoming the first woman to serve as the U.S. secretary of state, has died after a battle with cancer, her family announced Wednesday. She was 84 years old.
- Albright was a key figure in President Bill Clinton’s administration, serving as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations before becoming the secretary of state in his second term. While in office, Albright pushed for the expansion of NATO, championed human rights and democracy, and called to reduce production of nuclear weapons. Just one month ago, she cautioned Russia against invading Ukraine, saying it would be “a historic error.”
- When asked to define “courage” during an August 2020 interview, Albright responded, “It’s when you stand up for what you believe in when it's not always easy, and you get criticized for it."
- What will Albright be remembered for?
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