康多莉紮•賴斯 (Condoleezza Rice)

1954年生於美國伯明翰，19歲時獲得丹佛大學政治學學士學位，26歲時獲得政治學博士學位。1981年，精通四門語言的賴斯成為斯坦福大學的助教，專攻蘇聯的軍事事務。

1989年，賴斯齣任喬治•布什總統時期的國傢安全委員會蘇聯事務特彆助理，開始瞭從政生涯，並很快成為喬治•布什總統和夫人的私人朋友。４年期滿卸任後，賴斯迴到斯坦福大學，隨後齣任斯坦福大學教務長，成為該校曆史上最年輕的教務長，也是該校第一位黑人教務長。

在布什傢族的邀請下，1999年賴斯辭去斯坦福大學的教職，齣任喬治•沃剋•布什的首席對外政策顧問，為布什競選總統齣謀劃策。2000年布什當選總統後，賴斯擔任國傢安全顧問，是總統班子的核心人物，長期負責協調美國國務院和國防部之間的關係。2005年１月，賴斯齣任國務卿，成為美國曆史上的第一位黑人女國務卿。在這八年期間，賴斯在“9•11”恐怖襲擊、阿富汗戰爭、伊拉剋戰爭、巴以和談、朝鮮六方會談等國際熱點事件的處理中，展示瞭超群的外交纔能和強硬的鷹派作風。在美國《福布斯》雜誌評選的2004年、2005年連續兩屆“世界最有影響力的女性”中，賴斯均位居榜首。

賴斯在任期間，前後多次訪問中國，並在2008年走訪瞭汶川大地震災區。

From one of the world’s most admired women, this is former National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s compelling story of eight years serving at the highest levels of government. In her position as America’s chief diplomat, Rice traveled almost continuously around the globe, seeking common ground among sometimes bitter enemies, forging agreement on divisive issues, and compiling a remarkable record of achievement.

A native of Birmingham, Alabama who overcame the racism of the Civil Rights era to become a brilliant academic and expert on foreign affairs, Rice distinguished herself as an advisor to George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential campaign. Once Bush was elected, she served as his chief adviser on national-security issues – a job whose duties included harmonizing the relationship between the Secretaries of State and Defense. It was a role that deepened her bond with the President and ultimately made her one of his closest confidantes.

With the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Rice found herself at the center of the Administration’s intense efforts to keep America safe. Here, Rice describes the events of that harrowing day – and the tumultuous days after. No day was ever the same. Additionally, Rice also reveals new details of the debates that led to the war in Afghanistan and then Iraq.

The eyes of the nation were once again focused on Rice in 2004 when she appeared before the 9-11 Commission to answer tough questions regarding the country’s preparedness for – and immediate response to – the 9-11 attacks. Her responses, it was generally conceded, would shape the nation’s perception of the Administration’s competence during the crisis. Rice conveys just how pressure-filled that appearance was and her surprised gratitude when, in succeeding days, she was broadly saluted for her grace and forthrightness.

From that point forward, Rice was aggressively sought after by the media and regarded by some as the Administration’s most effective champion.

In 2005 Rice was entrusted with even more responsibility when she was charged with helping to shape and carry forward the President’s foreign policy as Secretary of State. As such, she proved herself a deft crafter of tactics and negotiation aimed to contain or reduce the threat posed by America’s enemies. Here, she reveals the behind-the-scenes maneuvers that kept the world’s relationships with Iran, North Korea and Libya from collapsing into chaos. She also talks about her role as a crisis manager, showing that at any hour -- and at a moment’s notice -- she was willing to bring all parties to the bargaining table anywhere in the world.

No Higher Honor takes the reader into secret negotiating rooms where the fates of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Lebanon often hung in the balance, and it draws back the curtain on how frighteningly close all-out war loomed in clashes involving Pakistan-India and Russia-Georgia, and in East Africa.

Surprisingly candid in her appraisals of various Administration colleagues and the hundreds of foreign leaders with whom she dealt, Rice also offers here keen insight into how history actually proceeds. In No Higher Honor , she delivers a master class in statecraft -- but always in a way that reveals her essential warmth and humility, and her deep reverence for the ideals on which America was founded.