Condoleezza Rice stopped by CBS This Morning to chat with Gayle King about women and leadership. The former secretary of state took an optimistic view, saying she believes women are making advances in the classroom and in politics. She cited her own experience getting ahead in a field previously dominated by men, and had this advice for women who want to do the same: put yourself out there. Watch and learn from Condi now.
Augusta National is no longer a boys' club. The prestigious and controversial golf club, which holds the Masters tournament each year, has finally admitted two women: former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and banker Darla Moore of South Carolina.
Built on a former indigo plantation, Augusta opened in 1932, and for a long time the club was stuck in a darker past. As the club's founder, Clifford Roberts, put it, "As long as I’m alive, all the golfers will be white and all the caddies will be black." Roberts died in 1977, but the club didn't allow nonblack caddies until 1983, and black members were not allowed until 1990. While Augusta's official rules haven't included racial discrimination for some time, the club has long maintained its prerogative as a private institution, and until today, women were not allowed to join the ranks of the club's 300 or so members.
Previous to its decision, Augusta had few supporters of its discriminatory policy. Back in April, both President Obama and Mitt Romney said they personally thought women should be admitted. It's a good sign for gender equality that two women will don Augusta's iconic green jacket along with some of the country's most prominent business leaders. Former chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations Martha Burk, who started a campaign against Augusta in 2002, agrees. She said today: "Oh my God. We won. It's about 10 years too late for the boys to come into the 20th century, never mind the 21st century. But it's a milestone for women in business."
Even with his English accent, Piers Morgan's questions for Condoleezza Rice sounded anything but sophisticated last night. The former secretary of state and national security adviser looked uncomfortable, as the Larry King replacement asked her the following questions:
Such appropriate questions for an accomplished public servant and academic, don't you think? Condi handled it with grace, saying that she always thought she'd get married, but it just never happened. You can see all her answers in the clip above.
Many celebs hit the red carpet last night at the ESPY awards in LA to honor the stars of the sports industry. Samuel L. Jackson was the evening's host, and he kept the audience laughing with his jokes about Twitter. Zachary Quinto took the stage looking dapper in his suit, while Miranda Kerr smiled for photos before the scary robbery at Orlando Bloom's house. Demi Moore was also on hand to present Michael Phelps with one of his five awards. It might not have been as snazzy as last year's Justin Timberlake's ESPY hosting gig, but the athletes and stars looked fantastic for the sports-filled night.
Michael wasn't the only one getting trophies — Hollywood's beloved Lakers won Best Team. Other presenters included Rashida Jones and Jeremy Piven, while funny men Andy Samberg and Seth Meyers watched alongside Billy Crudup. The festivities are set to air Sunday evening on ESPN.
To see lots more photos including Kendra Wilkinson, Rob Lowe, Jeremy Piven and others just read more
If you've been dying to know what Condoleezza Rice has been up to since she retired the power suits, she'll be happy to tell you! Last weekend the former Secretary of State enjoyed the pastime of many of her fellow retirees — golf. For the first time, she got herself tickets to the Masters, and she chronicled the "heartbreaks and highlights" on the Daily Beast.
Condi was cheering for Tiger:
As the time approached, my assistant Anne said, “They want to know who you want to follow.” Borrowing language from Anne’s generation, I said, “Duh?”I know Tiger from our Stanford connection. I once sat with him at a Stanford-Duke basketball game. Stanford won on a buzzer beater, and we stormed the court together. With that kind of bonding, whom else would I pull for? I had decided that if Tiger did not win, I would champion the cause of Phil Mickelson (met him at the White House and he’s a really nice guy); Stuart Cink (met him in Atlanta and he’s a really nice guy); or Anthony Kim (haven’t met him but I like his swagger).
So Condi likes to bond with golfers with swagger, duh!
Back in 2004 the unmarried Condoleezza Rice started a story by saying: "As I was telling my husb . . . " She continued: "As I was telling President Bush." The PG-rated slip of the tongue has inspired a PG-13 scene in Will Ferrell's Broadway show: You're Welcome America. A Final Night With George W. Bush. In the scene, Condi Rice (played by Pia Glenn) strips down to her red underwear to perform a lap dance for President Bush. Judging by audience reactions, this scene could steal the show.
Considering you can't get a ticket for much less than $200, would you pay top dollar to laugh at Bush and Condi? If Will Ferrell's Bush impersonation isn't your thing, maybe Tina Fey will bring her Sarah Palin impersonation to Broadway next!
A recent Gallup poll asked Americans whether the Bush administration should be doing more, is doing the right amount, or should be doing less to help resolve the conflict in Gaza. Only 33 percent said the current American leadership should be doing more, compared to a combined 52 percent who oppose more US involvement.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been calling for a sustainable ceasefire, different than other countries that called for an immediate end to the violence. Last week, the US abstained from voting on a UN Security Resolution, passed by all other 14 members, which called for an immediate ceasefire. Both Hamas and Israel rejected the resolution. Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister took credit for the US abstention saying:
[W]hen the secretary of state wanted to lead the vote on a ceasefire at the Security Council, we did not want her to vote in favor. I said "get me President Bush on the phone." They said he was in the middle of giving a speech in Philadelphia. I said I didn't care. "I need to talk to him now." He got off the podium and spoke to me. I told him the United States could not vote in favor. . . . He immediately called the secretary of state and told her not to vote in favor."
US officials say Olmert's wrong, and Rice always was going to abstain from voting for an immediate ceasefire. Whether or not Israel's Prime Minister is responsible for US policy, do you think the Bush administration is doing enough?
George and Laura Bush were gracious hosts one more time in their home stretch at the White House last night for the annual Kennedy Center Honors gala. Barbra Streisand, who played nice and even hugged G. W. Bush at the event despite her personal feelings towards the outbound president, Morgan Freeman and Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who were among the honorees. They were joined by political heavyweights Condoleezza Rice, Dick Cheney, the Bush family and more. Beyonce lit up the red carpet in her gown before taking the stage to sing "The Way We Were" while Jack Black managed to make the formal red carpet a little more fun. Congrats to all the honorees — the event airs on CBS December 30.
To see more photos including Queen Latifah, Clint Eastwood, Taye Diggs and others just read more
Even though there hasn't been a female US president, the country's women in power remind us that leadership isn't just a man's job. Hillary Clinton took on many roles this year: she was a senator from New York, the wannabe leader of the US, the reluctant leader of the PUMAs, and now know she will most likely be the leader of the US State Department. Current Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the first African-American woman to serve in the post, traveled around the world signing missile deals with Poland, trying to keep tensions down between India and Pakistan, and playing the piano for the Queen of England.
Nancy Pelosi had a good time at the Democratic National Convention before heading back to Washington for a Fall full of bailouts. Sarah Palin's run for vice president made some conservatives give thanks. Another governor, Janet Napolitano of Arizona, got tapped to serve as Obama's secretary of Homeland Security. All the while, Ruth Bader Ginsburg served her 15th year on the Supreme Court presiding over cases about gun control, the death penalty, and Guantanamo Bay. I want to know all you favorites from this year, including your favorite woman in power!
