Colin Powell

Colin Luther Powell was born on {{Birth date|1937|4|5}},{{cite web|title=Biographies of the Secretary of State:Colin Luther Powell|url=https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/powell-colin-luther|publisher=US Department of State, Office of the Historian|access-date=November 16, 2015|archive-date=August 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802072551/https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/powell-colin-luther|url-status=live}}{{Cite book|last=Palmowski|first=Jan|chapter=Powell, Colin Luther|chapter-url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199295678.001.0001/acref-9780199295678-e-1890|title=A Dictionary of Contemporary World History|year=2008|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-929567-8|edition=3d|oclc=173498636|access-date=October 18, 2021|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019154654/https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199295678.001.0001/acref-9780199295678-e-1890|url-status=live}} in Harlem, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan.{{Cite news|last=Schmitt|first=Eric|author-link=Eric P. Schmitt|date=October 18, 2021|title=Colin Powell, Who Shaped U.S. National Security, Dies at 84|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/18/us/politics/colin-powell-dead.html|access-date=October 18, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018121900/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/18/us/politics/colin-powell-dead.html|url-status=live}} He was born to Jamaican immigrants Maud Ariel (née McKoy) and Luther Theophilus Powell.{{Cite news|last=Oster|first=Patrick|date=October 18, 2021|title=Colin Powell, U.S. Army general-turned-top diplomat, dies at 84|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/10/18/world/colin-powell-obituary/|access-date=October 20, 2021|work=The Japan Times|language=en-US|archive-date=October 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020015328/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/10/18/world/colin-powell-obituary/|url-status=live}} His parents were both of mixed African, Irish, and Scottish ancestry.{{Cite news |title=Colin Powell claims Scottish coat of arms |first=Tania |last=Branigan |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=May 12, 2004 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/may/12/usa.world |access-date=December 11, 2016 |archive-date=March 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305025802/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/may/12/usa.world |url-status=live }}{{Cite journal |journal=Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter |volume=9 |issue=20 |date=May 17, 2004 |title=Colin Powell's Scottish Ancestry |url=http://www.eogn.com/archives/news0420.htm#ColinPowellsScottishAncestry |access-date=November 5, 2008 |archive-date=July 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704175342/http://eogn.com/archives/news0420.htm#ColinPowellsScottishAncestry |url-status=dead }} Luther worked as a shipping clerk and Maud as a seamstress.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/20/us/colin-powell-fast-facts/|author=|title=Colin Powell Fast Facts|publisher=CNN|date=March 30, 2016|access-date=September 30, 2016|archive-date=October 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003075659/http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/20/us/colin-powell-fast-facts/|url-status=live}} Powell was raised in the South Bronx and attended the now closed Morris High School, from which he graduated in 1954.{{Cite book|last=O'Sullivan|first=Christopher D.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IEKNwp4eHs0C|title=Colin Powell: American Power and Intervention From Vietnam to Iraq|year=2009|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-0-7425-6535-7|language=en|page=ix|access-date=October 18, 2021|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029181332/https://books.google.com/books?id=IEKNwp4eHs0C|url-status=live}}

While at school, Powell worked at a local baby furniture store, where he picked up Yiddish from the Eastern European Jewish shopkeepers and some of the customers.{{Cite web|date=October 18, 2021|title=Four things you didn't know about Colin Powell|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-10-18/four-things-you-didnt-know-about-colin-powell|access-date=October 19, 2021|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|archive-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018235904/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-10-18/four-things-you-didnt-know-about-colin-powell|url-status=live}} He also served as a Shabbos goy, helping Orthodox families with needed tasks on the Sabbath."Former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell and Mario Cuomo, former governor of New York State, each a former Shabbos goy, both share fond recollections of their youth, when they were uniquely qualified to lend a Jewish neighbor a hand." Fertig, Avi. "Glatt Kosher Adventure To The Land Down Under", The Jewish Press, November 21, 2007. He received a bachelor of science degree in geology from the City College of New York in 1958{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/20/us/colin-powell-fast-facts/|title=Colin Powell Fast Facts|publisher=CNN|date=April 2, 2017|quote=Education: City College of New York, B.S. in geology, 1958; George Washington University, M.B.A., 1971; National War College, 1976|access-date=April 26, 2017|archive-date=April 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427095916/http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/20/us/colin-powell-fast-facts/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/colinpowellschool/powellbio|title=About Gen. Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.)|date=July 2, 2015|publisher=The Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, The City College of New York|quote=He attended New York City public schools and the City College of New York. At the behest of his father, he began his college education as a civil engineering major but by his own admission he didn't earn high grades. He quickly switched his major to geology where he performed better but was still a C average student .|access-date=April 26, 2017|archive-date=April 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427100903/https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/colinpowellschool/powellbio|url-status=live}} and said that he was a "C average" student.{{cite magazine|last1=Schwab|first1=Nikki|title=Colin Powell: bad student|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/colin-powell-bad-student/article/670496|magazine=Washington Examiner|date=May 30, 2012|quote="My cousins became lawyers and doctors and judges and I just sort of hung around," he recalled. "I had a straight C average all the way through high school and the City College of New York – I'm not sure how I got in."|access-date=April 26, 2017|archive-date=December 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224005152/http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/colin-powell-bad-student/article/670496|url-status=live}} While at CCNY, Powell shifted his study focus to the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) and became a "straight A student" in it;{{Cite news |title=Honoring General Colin Powell |url=https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/honoring-general-colin-powell |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=National Museum of African American History and Culture |language=en}} he held the distinction of being the first chairman to have attained his commission through the ROTC. Powell also graduated from George Washington University with an MBA in 1971 and was awarded an honorary doctor of public service in 1990.{{Cite web|title=Colin L. Powell {{!}} GW's Bicentennial Celebration {{!}} The George Washington University|url=https://bicentennial.gwu.edu/colin-l-powell|access-date=October 19, 2021|website=bicentennial.gwu.edu|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019030740/https://bicentennial.gwu.edu/colin-l-powell|url-status=live}}

Powell was a professional soldier for thirty-five years, holding a variety of command and staff positions and rising to the rank of general.{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9445708&page=print|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807232535/http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9445708&page=print|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 7, 2007|access-date=May 31, 2007|title=Colin (Luther) Powell Biography (1937– )|work=The Biography Channel|publisher=A&E Television Networks}}

While attending the City College of New York, Powell joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).{{cite news |title='It Worked For Me': Life Lessons From Colin Powell |url=https://www.npr.org/2012/05/22/153296714/it-worked-for-me-life-lessons-from-colin-powell |publisher=NPR |access-date=April 14, 2021 |date=May 22, 2012 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414030323/https://www.npr.org/2012/05/22/153296714/it-worked-for-me-life-lessons-from-colin-powell |url-status=live }} He described the experience as one of the happiest experiences of his life. According to Powell: {{blockquote|It was only once I was in college, about six months into college when I found something that I liked, and that was ROTC, Reserve Officer Training Corps in the military. And I not only liked it, but I was pretty good at it. That's what you really have to look for in life, something that you like, and something that you think you're pretty good at. And if you can put those two things together, then you're on the right track, and just drive on.{{cite web|title=Colin Powell Biography and Interview|website=achievement.org|publisher=American Academy of Achievement|url=https://www.achievement.org/achiever/general-colin-l-powell/#interview|access-date=April 8, 2019|archive-date=April 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406133433/https://www.achievement.org/achiever/general-colin-l-powell/#interview|url-status=live}} }}

As a cadet, Powell joined the Pershing Rifles,{{Cite book |last1=Powell |first1=Colin L. |last2=Persico |first2=Joseph E. |author-link2=Joseph E. Persico |url=https://archive.org/details/myamericanjourne00powerich |url-access=registration |title=My American Journey |date=1995 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-0307763686 |oclc=7059263772}}{{rp|27–28}} the ROTC fraternal organization and drill team begun by General John Pershing.

Upon graduation, he received a commission as an Army second lieutenant;{{cite web|title = Secretary of State Colin L. Powell (biography)|publisher = The White House|date = April 29, 2003|url = https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/government/powell-bio.html|access-date = February 3, 2007|archive-date = November 8, 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171108210204/https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/government/powell-bio.html|url-status = live}} at this time, the Army was newly desegregated {{xref|(see: Executive Order 9981)}}. He underwent training in the state of Georgia, where he was refused service in bars and restaurants because of the color of his skin.{{cite news |title=Obituary: Colin Powell |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-33957894 |work=BBC News |date=October 18, 2021 |access-date=October 18, 2021 |archive-date=October 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018125857/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-33957894 |url-status=live }} After attending basic training at Fort Benning, Powell was assigned to the 48th Infantry, in West Germany, as a platoon leader.{{cite news |title=Colin Powell |url=http://cgi.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/conventions/san.diego/players/powell.bio/ |publisher=CNN |year=1996 |access-date=December 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000902031325/http://cgi.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/conventions/san.diego/players/powell.bio/ |archive-date=September 2, 2000 |url-status=dead}} From 1960 to 1962, he served as group liaison officer, company executive officer, and commander of Company A, 1st Battle Group, 4th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.{{cite web |url=https://armyhistory.org/general-colin-luther-powell/ |title=General Colin Luther Powell |year=2022 |website=Army History.org |publisher=The Campaign for the National Museum of the United States Army |location=Ft. Belvoir, VA |access-date=August 1, 2022}}

Captain Powell served a tour in Vietnam as a South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) advisor from 1962 to 1963. While on patrol in a Viet Cong-held area, he was wounded by stepping on a punji stake.{{Cite book|author-link=Cresson Kearny|author=Kearny, Cresson H.|title=Jungle Snafus...And Remedies|publisher=Oregon Institute of Science & Medicine |location=Cave Junction, Oregon|year=1996 |isbn=978-1-884067-10-5 |oclc=41447083|page= 179}} The large infection made it difficult for him to walk, and caused his foot to swell for a short time, shortening his first tour.{{sfn|Steins|2003|pp=25–26}}

Powell returned to Vietnam as a major in 1968, serving as assistant chief of staff of operations for the 23rd (Americal) Infantry Division. During the second tour in Vietnam he was decorated with the Soldier's Medal for bravery after he survived a helicopter crash and single-handedly rescued three others, including division commander Major General Charles M. Gettys, from the burning wreckage.{{cite book |last=Finlayson |first=Reggie |title=Colin Powell |series=Biography (A & E) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zaYOC27mmhAC&q=Charles+M.+Gettys+colin+powell&pg=PA55 |access-date=December 7, 2012 |year=2003 |publisher=Twenty-First Century Books |isbn=978-0822549666 |page=55 |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123656/https://books.google.com/books?id=zaYOC27mmhAC&q=Charles+M.+Gettys+colin+powell&pg=PA55 |url-status=live }}

{{Blockquote|quote=Soldiers actively hunted, herded, and killed elderly people, children, infants, and raped women while other Soldiers [sic] looked on and did nothing to stop the massacre. An estimated 350 to 500 unarmed civilians died in My Lai ... MAJ Colin Powell, a recently assigned Deputy G3, investigated the allegations described in the [Glen] letter. He proved unable to uncover either wide-spread unnecessary killings, war crimes, or any facts related to My Lai ...|author=US Army Center for the Army Profession and Leadership|source=My Lai at 50: Written Case Study{{cite web |url=https://capl.army.mil/case-studies/wcs-single.php?id=76&title=my-lai-at-50 |title=My Lai at 50: Written Case Study |author= |year=2021 |website=Center for the Army Profession and Leadership |publisher=US Army |access-date=19 October 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019035946/https://capl.army.mil/case-studies/wcs-single.php?id=76&title=my-lai-at-50 |archive-date=19 October 2021}}}}

Powell was charged with investigating a detailed letter by 11th Light Infantry Brigade soldier Tom Glen, which backed up rumored allegations of the 1968 My Lai massacre. Powell wrote: "In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between Americal soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent".{{cite book |last1=DeYoung |first1=Karen |author-link1=Karen DeYoung |title=Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell |date=2006 |publisher=Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-307-26593-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7baTaod_kEcC&dq=%22In%20direct%20refutation%20of%20this%20portrayal%20is%20the%20fact%20that%20relations%20between%22&pg=PT92 |language=en}} Later, Powell's assessment would be described as whitewashing the news of the massacre, and questions would continue to remain undisclosed to the public.{{cite news |title=Colin Powell: From Vietnam vet to secretary of state |date=October 18, 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33957894 |work=BBC News |access-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-date=October 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018212230/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33957894 |url-status=live }} In May 2004, Powell said to television and radio host Larry King, "I was in a unit that was responsible for My Lai. I got there after My Lai happened. So, in war, these sorts of horrible things happen every now and again, but they are still to be deplored".{{cite web |title=Interview on CNN's Larry King Live |publisher=US Department of State |location=New York |date=May 4, 2004 |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/32160.htm |access-date=February 3, 2007 |archive-date=February 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205115534/http://2001-2009.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/32160.htm |url-status=live }}

File:Nixon Contact Sheet WHPO-E0416 Colin Powell.jpg

When he returned to the U.S. from Vietnam in 1971, Powell earned a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He later served a White House Fellowship under President Richard Nixon from 1972 to 1973. During 1975–1976 he attended the National War College, Washington, D.C.{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Warren|last2=Wagner|first2=Heather Lehr|title=Colin Powell: Soldier and Statesman|year=2009|publisher=Infobase Publishing|pages=41, 43}}

In his autobiography, My American Journey, Powell named several officers he served under who inspired and mentored him. As a lieutenant colonel commanding 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea, Powell was very close to his division commander, Major General Henry "Gunfighter" Emerson, whom he regarded as one of the most caring officers he ever met.{{cite book |last=Bolger |first=Daniel P. |date=2017 |title=Our Year of War: Two Brothers, Vietnam, and a Nation Divided |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vwjhDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT338 |location=Boston, MA |publisher=Da Capo Press |page=338 |isbn=978-0-3069-0324-3 |via=Google Books}} Emerson insisted his troops train at night to fight a possible North Korean attack, and made them repeatedly watch the television film Brian's Song to promote racial harmony. Powell always professed that what set Emerson apart was his great love of his soldiers and concern for their welfare. After a race riot occurred, in which African-American soldiers almost killed a white officer, Powell was charged by Emerson to crack down on black militants; Powell's efforts led to the discharge of one soldier, and other efforts to reduce racial tensions. During 1976–1977 he commanded the 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division.

Powell subsequently served as the junior military assistant to deputy secretaries of defense Charles Duncan and Graham Claytor, receiving a promotion to brigadier general on 1 June 1979.{{rp|588}} At the ceremony, he received from Secretary Harold Brown's protocol officer, Stuart Purviance, a framed quotation by President Abraham Lincoln. The quote was "I can make a brigadier general in five minutes. But it's not so easy to replace one hundred ten horses". Taped to the back of the frame was an envelope with instructions that it not be opened for ten years. When Powell opened the note in 1989, after he had become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he read Purviance's prediction that Powell would become Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Powell wrote that he kept the Lincoln quote as a reminder to remain humble despite his rank and position.{{rp|590}}

Powell retained his role as the now-senior military assistant into the presidency of Ronald Reagan, serving under Claytor's successor as deputy secretary of defense, Frank Carlucci. Powell and Carlucci formed a close friendship,{{rp|631}} referring to each by first names in private, as Powell refused any sort of first-name basis in an official capacity.{{rp|618}} It was on Powell's advice that newly-elected President Ronald Reagan presented Roy Benavidez the Medal of Honor; Benavidez had received the Distinguished Service Cross, which his commander argued should be upgraded, but army officials believed there was no living eyewitness to testify to Benavidez's heroism. A soldier who had been present during the action in question learned in July 1980 of the effort to upgrade Benavidez's medal and provided the necessary sworn statement; the upgrade to the Medal of Honor was approved in December 1980.{{rp|622–23}}{{Cite book|last=Mann|first=James|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LhXlFku4bhoC&pg=PT136|title=Rise of the Vulcans: The History of Bush's War Cabinet|year=2004|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=978-0143034896|language=en-US|pages=}} Powell also declined an offer from Secretary of the Army John O. Marsh Jr. to be his under secretary due to his reluctance to assume a political appointment; James R. Ambrose was selected instead.{{rp|623–28}} Intent on attaining a division command, Powell petitioned Carlucci and Army chief of staff Edward C. Meyer for reassignment away from the Pentagon, with Meyer appointing Powell as assistant division commander for operations and training of the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado under Major General John W. Hudachek.{{rp|628–29}}

After he left Fort Carson, Powell became the senior military assistant to Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, whom he assisted during the 1983 invasion of Grenada{{Cite book|last=Kukielski|first=Philip|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1123182247|title=The U.S. Invasion of Grenada : legacy of a flawed victory|publisher=McFarland & Co.|year=2019|isbn=978-1-4766-7879-5|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|pages=209–10, 218|oclc=1123182247|access-date=October 18, 2021|archive-date=December 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227142453/https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1123182247|url-status=live}} and the 1986 airstrike on Libya.{{Cite news|last=Graham|first=Bradley|date=October 18, 2021|title=Colin L. Powell, former secretary of state and military leader, dies at 84|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/colin-powell-dead/2021/10/18/fdc71fde-c5db-11df-94e1-c5afa35a9e59_story.html|access-date=October 18, 2021|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018125314/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/colin-powell-dead/2021/10/18/fdc71fde-c5db-11df-94e1-c5afa35a9e59_story.html|url-status=live}} Under Weinberger, Powell was also involved in the unlawful transfer of U.S.-made TOW anti-tank missiles and Hawk anti-aircraft missiles from Israel to Iran as part of the criminal conspiracy that would later become known as the Iran–Contra affair.{{cite book |first=Lawrence E. |last=Walsh |title=Firewall: The Iran–Contra Conspiracy and Cover-up |location=New York |publisher=Norton & Company |date=1997 |isbn=978-0-3933-1860-9}}{{rp|pp=342–49}}{{cite report |last=Walsh |first=Lawrence |title=Final Report of the Independent Counsel for Iran/Contra Matters |volume=1 |pages=xx, 70, 92, 341, 406–11, 414, 416–17, 421, 423, 427–28, 430–32, 434, 436, 438–40 |date=August 4, 1993 |access-date=October 19, 2021 |url=https://archive.org/details/WalshReport |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office}} In November 1985, Powell solicited and delivered to Weinberger a legal assessment that the transfer of Hawk missiles to Israel or Iran, without Congressional notification, would be "a clear violation" of the law.{{rp|345}} Despite this, thousands of TOW missiles and hundreds of Hawk missiles and spare parts were transferred from Israel to Iran until the venture was exposed in a Lebanese magazine, Ash-Shiraa, in November 1986.{{cite news |author= |title=Arms, Hostages and Contras: How a Secret Foreign Policy Unraveled |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/19/world/iran-contra-report-arms-hostages-contras-secret-foreign-policy-unraveled.html |work=The New York Times |edition=National |date=November 19, 1987 |at=sec. A. p. 12 |access-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-date=April 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426004710/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE3DB173EF93AA25752C1A961948260 |url-status=live }}{{cite journal|author=Shireen T. Hunter|title=After the Ayatollah|journal=Foreign Policy|date=Spring 1987|volume=66|issue=66|pages=77–97|doi=10.2307/1148665|jstor=1148665| issn=0015-7228 }}{{cite web |last=Cave |first=George |author-link=George W. Cave |title=Why Secret 1986 U.S.–Iran 'Arms for Hostages' Negotiations Failed |date=September 8, 1994 |publisher=Washington Report on Middle Eastern Affairs |access-date=October 19, 2021 |url=https://www.wrmea.org/1994-september-october/why-secret-1986-us-iran-arms-for-hostages-negotiations-failed.html |archive-date=May 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505172844/https://www.wrmea.org/1994-september-october/why-secret-1986-us-iran-arms-for-hostages-negotiations-failed.html |url-status=live }} According to Iran-Contra Independent Counsel Lawrence E. Walsh, when questioned by Congress, Powell "had given incomplete answers" concerning notes withheld by Weinberger and that the activities of Powell and others in concealing the notes "seemed corrupt enough to meet the new, poorly defined test of obstruction".{{rp|403}} Following his resignation as Secretary of Defense, Weinberger was indicted on five felony charges, including one count Obstruction of Congress for concealing the notes.{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/17/us/weinberger-faces-5-counts-in-iran-contra-indictment.html | title = Weinberger Faces 5 Counts In Iran-Contra Indictment | author = Brinley, Joel | date = June 17, 1992 | access-date = October 19, 2021 | newspaper = The New York Times | archive-date = March 9, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210309180241/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/17/us/weinberger-faces-5-counts-in-iran-contra-indictment.html | url-status = live }}{{cite report |last=Walsh |first=Lawrence |title=Final Report of the Independent Counsel for Iran/Contra Matters |volume=2 |date=August 4, 1993 |access-date=October 19, 2021 |url=https://archive.org/details/WalshReport/Walsh%20Report%20volume%202%20Indictments%2C%20Plea%20Agreements%2C%20Interim%20Reports%20to%20the%20Congress%2C%20and%20Administrative%20Matters/mode/2up |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office}}{{rp|p=456}} Powell was never indicted by the Independent Counsel in connection with the Iran-Contra affair.

File:President Ronald Reagan and Colin Powell.jpg and National Security Advisor Powell, 18 April 1988]]

In 1986, Powell took over the command of V Corps in Frankfurt, Germany, from Robert Lewis "Sam" Wetzel. The next year, he served as United States Deputy National Security Advisor, under Frank Carlucci.{{Cite news |last=Bamford |first=James |author-link=James Bamford |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/18/magazine/carlucci-and-the-nsc.html |title=Carlucci and the N.S.C. |date=January 18, 1987 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 25, 2020 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526164929/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/18/magazine/carlucci-and-the-nsc.html |url-status=live }}

Following the Iran–Contra scandal, Powell became, at the age of 49, Ronald Reagan's National Security Advisor, serving from 1987 to 1989 while retaining his Army commission as a lieutenant general.{{Cite web|last1=Barno|first1=David|author-link1=David Barno|last2=Bensahel|first2=Nora|date=February 28, 2017|title=An Active-Duty National Security Advisor: Myths and Concerns|url=https://warontherocks.com/2017/02/an-active-duty-national-security-advisor-myths-and-concerns/|url-status=live|access-date=October 18, 2021|website=War on the Rocks|language=en-US|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019145805/https://warontherocks.com/2017/02/an-active-duty-national-security-advisor-myths-and-concerns/}} He helped negotiate a number of arms treaties with Mikhail Gorbachev, the leader of the Soviet Union.

In April 1989, after his tenure with the National Security Council, Powell was promoted to four-star general under President George H. W. Bush and briefly served as the Commander in Chief, Forces Command (FORSCOM), headquartered at Fort McPherson, Georgia, overseeing all active U.S. Army regulars, U.S. Army Reserve, and National Guard units in the Continental U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. He became the third general since World War II to reach four-star rank without ever serving as a division commander, joining Dwight D. Eisenhower and Alexander Haig.

Later that year, President George H. W. Bush selected him as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/inauguration/transition/powell.html |title=Online NewsHour: Colin Powell |publisher=PBS |access-date=August 29, 2010 |archive-date=October 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027154925/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/inauguration/transition/powell.html |url-status=live }}

File:GEN Colin Powell.JPG

Powell's last military assignment, from 1 October 1989 to 30 September 1993, was as the 12th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest military position in the Department of Defense. At age 52, he became the youngest officer, and first Afro-Caribbean American, to serve in this position. Powell was also the first JCS chair who received his commission through ROTC.{{Cite news | title = The 14 Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff | agency = American Forces Press Service | publisher = Joint History Office, US Department of Defense | date = August 10, 1999 | url = http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=43048 | access-date = April 24, 2008 | archive-date = April 12, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080412081151/http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=43048 | url-status = live }}

During this time, Powell oversaw responses to 28 crises, including the invasion of Panama in 1989 to remove General Manuel Noriega from power and Operation Desert Storm in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. During these events, Powell earned the nickname "the reluctant warrior" – although Powell himself disputed this label, and spoke in favor of the first Bush administration's Gulf War policies.{{sfn|Steins|2003|p=95}}

As a military strategist, Powell advocated an approach to military conflicts that maximizes the potential for success and minimizes casualties. A component of this approach is the use of overwhelming force, which he applied to Operation Desert Storm in 1991. His approach has been dubbed the Powell Doctrine.{{Sfn|DeYoung|2006a|p=210}} Powell continued as chairman of the JCS into the Clinton presidency. However, as a realist, he considered himself a bad fit for an administration largely made up of liberal internationalists.{{sfn|O'Sullivan|2010|p=100}} He clashed with then-U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Madeleine Albright over the Bosnian crisis, as he opposed any military intervention that did not involve U.S. interests.{{Cite news|date=September 30, 2001|title=Reluctant warrior|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/sep/30/usa.afghanistan|access-date=October 20, 2021|website=The Observer|language=en|archive-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921215127/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/sep/30/usa.afghanistan|url-status=live}}

Powell also regularly clashed with Secretary of Defense Leslie Aspin, whom he was initially hesitant to support after Aspin was nominated by President Clinton.{{Cite book|last=Perry|first=Mark |title=The Pentagon's wars: the military's undeclared war against America's presidents|date=2017|isbn=978-0-465-07971-1|edition= |location=New York |oclc=972386823}} During a lunch meeting between Powell and Aspin in preparation of Operation Gothic Serpent, Aspin was more focused on eating salad than listening and paying attention to Powell's presentation on military operations. The incident caused Powell to grow more irritated towards Aspin and led to his early resignation on 30 September 1993. Powell was succeeded temporarily by Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral David E. Jeremiah, who took the position as Acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Soon after Powell's resignation, on 3–4 October 1993, the Battle of Mogadishu, the aim of which was to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid, was initiated and ended in disaster. Powell later defended Aspin, saying in part that he could not fault Aspin for Aspin's decision to remove a Lockheed AC-130 from the list of armaments requested for the operation.{{Cite book|last1=Bowden|first1=Mark|title=Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War|year=1999|isbn=0-87113-738-0|location=New York|oclc=40135273|page=340|publisher=Atlantic Monthly Press}}

Powell took an early resignation from his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 30 September 1993.{{Cite news |date=September 20, 1994 |title=Mission to Haiti: Diplomacy – On the Brink of War, a Tense Battle of Wills |page=A1 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/20/world/mission-to-haiti-diplomacy-on-the-brink-of-war-a-tense-battle-of-wills.html |access-date=September 29, 2023}}

The following year President Clinton sent newly retired Powell, together with former president Jimmy Carter and Senator Sam Nunn, to visit Haiti in an effort to persuade General Raoul Cédras and the ruling junta to abdicate in favor of former Haitian President Aristide, under the threat of an imminent US invasion to remove them by force. Powell's status as a retired general was well known and respected in Haiti and was held to be instrumental in persuading Gen. Cédras.

During his chairmanship of the JCS, there was discussion of awarding Powell a fifth star, granting him the rank of General of the Army.{{Cite news|last=Abrams|first=Jim|date=March 21, 1991|title=Schwarzkopf, Powell Up For Awards, But Fifth Star Not Given Lightly|work=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/ca238a618f3375dd323c17701712127e|access-date=October 18, 2021}} But even in the wake of public and Congressional pressure{{cite magazine |date=March 1991 |title=U.S. Sen. Kasten Pushing Effort To Award Powell With Historic Fifth Star |magazine=Jet |volume=79 |issue=23 |issn=0021-5996 |access-date=February 21, 2011 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9LoDAAAAMBAJ&q=%22colin+powell%22+%22fifth+star%22&pg=PA8 |quote=...there is a movement afoot in the U.S. Senate to award an historic fifth star to the nation's first Black Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Colin L. Powell for his military proficiency. |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123702/https://books.google.com/books?id=9LoDAAAAMBAJ&q=%22colin+powell%22+%22fifth+star%22&pg=PA8 |url-status=live }}{{cite book |last1=Italia |first1=Bob |title=Armed Forces: War in the Gulf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L-suZ2qETI4C&q=star |access-date=February 21, 2011 |year=1991 |publisher=Abdo & Daughters |isbn=978-1-56239-026-6 |pages=44–46 |quote=Others want to make him a five-star general. [...] Congress is talking about giving him a fifth silver star, which is very rare. |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123803/https://books.google.com/books?id=L-suZ2qETI4C&q=star |url-status=live }} to do so, Clinton-Gore presidential transition team staffers decided against it.{{cite book |last1=Stephanopoulos |first1=George |title=All Too Human: A Political Education |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YsHmpqx0Qb0C&q=%22fifth+star%22 |access-date=February 21, 2011 |year=1999 |publisher=Thorndike Press |isbn=978-0-7862-2016-8 |pages=330–31 |quote=Mack asked me to secretly research the procedure for awarding a fifth star to a general. [...] If Powell did challenge Clinton, the fifth star would forestall criticism of the general's military record. |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123658/https://books.google.com/books?id=YsHmpqx0Qb0C&q=%22fifth+star%22 |url-status=live }}{{cite book |last1=Hamilton |first1=Nigel |title=Bill Clinton: Mastering the Presidency |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HiV3AAAAMAAJ&q=%22colin+powell%22+%22fifth+star%22 |access-date=February 21, 2011 |year=2007 |publisher=PublicAffairs |isbn=978-1-58648-516-0 |pages=190, 399 |quote=Moreover, for the very reason he admired Colin Powell as the most distinguished living black American, Clinton also feared the general as a potential rival. [...] Bill Clinton had denied Powell his rightful fifth star... |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123658/https://books.google.com/books?id=HiV3AAAAMAAJ&q=%22colin+powell%22+%22fifth+star%22 |url-status=live }}{{cite book |last1=Halberstam |first1=David |title=War in a Time of Peace: Bush, Clinton, and the Generals |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S8l4AAAAMAAJ&q=%22fifth+star%22 |access-date=February 22, 2011 |year=2001 |publisher=Scribner |isbn=978-0-7432-0212-1 |page=190 |quote=They checked it out and found that the last general to get a fifth star was Omar Bradley forty-three years earlier. Powell, they decided, was not Bradley. Besides, as George Stephanopoulos noted, if they gave him one more star, it might help him one day politically. |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123745/https://books.google.com/books?id=S8l4AAAAMAAJ&q=%22fifth+star%22 |url-status=live }}

File:Combat Infantry Badge.svg|Combat Infantryman Badge

File:Expert Infantry Badge.svg|Expert Infantryman Badge

File:Ranger Tab.svg|Ranger Tab

File:US Army Airborne basic parachutist badge.gif|Parachutist Badge

File:Pathfinder.gif|Pathfinder Badge

File:AirAssault.svg|Air Assault Badge

File:US - Presidential Service Badge.png|Presidential Service Badge

File:Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge.png|Secretary of Defense Identification Badge

File:Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg|Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

File:United States Army Staff Identification Badge.png|Army Staff Identification Badge

File:DA-SD-05-00599.jpg

Powell's experience in military matters made him a very popular figure with both American political parties. Many Democrats admired his moderate stance on military matters, while many Republicans saw him as a great asset associated with the successes of past Republican administrations. Put forth as a potential Democratic vice presidential nominee in the 1992 U.S. presidential election{{cite news | last = Schram | first = Martin | title = Don't Count Out Colin Powell | work = The Seattle Times | date = January 21, 1995 | url = https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19920121/1471329/dont-count-out-colin-powell | access-date = October 24, 2008 | archive-date = September 30, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120930004223/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19920121&slug=1471329 | url-status = live }} or even potentially replacing Vice President Dan Quayle as the Republican vice presidential nominee,{{cite news | last = Van Dyk | first = Ted | title = Will Powell Run With Bush in '92? | work = The New York Times | date = September 6, 1990 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/06/opinion/will-powell-run-with-bush-in-92.html | access-date = October 24, 2008 | archive-date = November 11, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121111114222/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/06/opinion/will-powell-run-with-bush-in-92.html | url-status = live }} Powell eventually declared himself a Republican and began to campaign for Republican candidates in 1995.Lusane, Clarence (2006). Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice: Foreign Policy, Race and the New American Century. Westport, CT: Praeger, {{ISBN|978-0275983093}}, {{OCLC|238778470}}, p. 46.{{cite news | last = O'Reilly | first = Bill | title = Bill O'Reilly: A 'No Spin' interview with Colin Powell | publisher = Fox News | date = January 29, 2013 | url = https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/bill-oreilly-a-no-spin-interview-with-colin-powell/ | access-date = July 3, 2018 | archive-date = July 3, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180703075716/http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2013/01/30/bill-oreilly-no-spin-interview-colin-powell.html | url-status = live }} He was touted as a possible opponent of Bill Clinton in the 1996 U.S. presidential election, possibly capitalizing on a split conservative vote in Iowa{{cite news | last = Apple | first = R. W. | title = Life in Iowa May Not Have Changed, But the Political Turf Is Another Story | work = The New York Times | date = October 28, 1995 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/28/us/life-in-iowa-may-not-have-changed-but-the-political-turf-is-anotherstory.html | access-date = October 20, 2008 | archive-date = July 3, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180703104009/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/28/us/life-in-iowa-may-not-have-changed-but-the-political-turf-is-anotherstory.html?pagewanted=all | url-status = live }} and even leading New Hampshire polls for the GOP nomination,{{cite news | last = Berke | first = Richard L. | date = October 19, 1995 | title = New Hampshire Poll Finds Powell With an Edge | work = The New York Times | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/19/us/new-hampshire-poll-finds-powell-with-an-edge.html | access-date = October 19, 2008 | archive-date = November 11, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121111114240/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/19/us/new-hampshire-poll-finds-powell-with-an-edge.html | url-status = live }} but Powell declined, citing a lack of passion for politics.{{cite news | last = Clines | first = Francis X. | title = The Powell Decision: The Announcement | work = The New York Times | date = November 9, 1995 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/09/us/powell-decision-announcement-powell-rules-96-race-cites-concerns-for-family-his.html | access-date = October 19, 2008 | archive-date = October 20, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123704/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/09/us/powell-decision-announcement-powell-rules-96-race-cites-concerns-for-family-his.html | url-status = live }} Powell defeated Clinton 50–38 in a hypothetical match-up proposed to voters in the exit polls conducted on Election Day.{{cite news | last = Plissner | first = Martin | title = Ready for Obama Already | work = The New York Times | date = February 7, 2007 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/opinion/07plissner.html | access-date = October 19, 2008 | archive-date = April 17, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090417074506/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/opinion/07plissner.html | url-status = live }} Despite not standing in the race, Powell won the Republican New Hampshire Vice-Presidential primary on write-in votes.{{cite web |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=330851 |title=NH US Vice President – R Primary Race |date=February 20, 1996 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=August 29, 2010 |archive-date=June 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615051343/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=330851 |url-status=live }}

In 1997, Powell founded America's Promise with the objective of helping children from all socioeconomic sectors. That same year saw the establishment of The Colin L. Powell Center for Leadership and Service. The mission of the center is to "prepare new generations of publicly engaged leaders from populations previously underrepresented in public service and policy circles, to build a strong culture of civic engagement at City College, and to mobilize campus resources to meet pressing community needs and serve the public good".{{cite web|title=Colin L. Powell Center for Public Policy|url=http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/ci/powell/about/index.cfm|access-date=February 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126052454/http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/ci/powell/about/index.cfm|archive-date=January 26, 2013|url-status=dead}}

Powell was mentioned as a potential candidate in the 2000 U.S. presidential election, but again decided against running.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/how-mccain-does-it-156687?tid=relatedcl|title=How Mccain Does It|website=Newsweek|date=March 6, 2000|access-date=August 12, 2016|archive-date=October 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123705/https://www.newsweek.com/how-mccain-does-it-156687?tid=relatedcl|url-status=live}} Once Texas governor George W. Bush secured the Republican nomination, Powell endorsed him for president and spoke at the 2000 Republican National Convention.{{Cite book|last=Denton|first=Robert E. Jr.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rku89El_5sQC|title=The 2000 Presidential Campaign: A Communication Perspective|year=2002|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-275-97107-6|language=en|page=109|access-date=October 19, 2021|archive-date=October 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123704/https://books.google.com/books?id=rku89El_5sQC|url-status=live}}{{sfn|O'Sullivan|2010|p=xi}} Bush won the general election and appointed Powell as secretary of state in 2001.{{Cite news|date=October 19, 2021|title=Colin Powell: Former US secretary of state dies of Covid complications|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58957273|access-date=October 19, 2021|archive-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018234145/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58957273|url-status=live}}

In the electoral college vote count of 2016, Powell received three votes for president from faithless electors from the state of Washington.{{Cite web|last=Wheeler|first=Russell|date=October 21, 2020|title=Can the Electoral College be subverted by 'faithless electors'?|url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2020/10/21/can-the-electoral-college-be-subverted-by-faithless-electors/|access-date=October 18, 2021|website=Brookings|language=en-US|archive-date=June 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616180954/https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2020/10/21/can-the-electoral-college-be-subverted-by-faithless-electors/|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Foreign policy of the George W. Bush administration|List of international trips made by Colin Powell as United States Secretary of State}}

File:Condoleezza Rice Colin Powell George W. Bush Donald Rumsfeld.jpg and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld listen to President George W. Bush speak]]

President-elect George W. Bush named Powell as his nominee to be secretary of state in a ceremony at his ranch in Crawford, Texas on 16 December 2000. This made Powell the first person to formally accept a Cabinet post in the Bush administration,{{Cite web|last=Clark|first=Tony|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/12/16/bush.powell/index.html|title=Bush names Powell as choice for U.S. secretary of state|date=December 16, 2000|publisher=CNN|access-date=November 6, 2021|archive-date=April 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425082443/https://edition.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/12/16/bush.powell/index.html|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|last=Vulliamy|first=Ed|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/dec/17/usa.uselections20001|title=Bush chooses Powell|date=December 17, 2000|website=The Guardian}} as well the first black United States secretary of state. As secretary of state, Powell was perceived as moderate. Powell was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate by voice vote on 20 January 2001,{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/107th-congress/100|title=PN100 – Colin Luther Powell – Department of State, 107th Congress (2001–2002)|access-date=November 6, 2021|language=en-US|website=U.S. Congress|date=January 20, 2001}} and ceremonially sworn in on 26 January.{{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/stories/01/26/bush.powell/index.html|title=Powell ceremoniously sworn in as secretary of state|date=January 26, 2001|publisher=CNN|access-date=November 6, 2021|archive-date=April 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428232509/https://edition.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/stories/01/26/bush.powell/index.html|url-status=dead}}{{Cite AV media|people=Powell, Colin Luther|date=January 26, 2001|title=Secretary of State Swearing-In Ceremony|language=en-US|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?162185-1/secretary-state-swearing-ceremony|location=The White House, Washington, D. C.}} Over the course of his tenure he traveled less than any other U.S. Secretary of State in thirty years.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48010-2004Jul13.html|title=Powell Flies in the Face of Tradition; The Secretary of State Is Least Traveled in 30 Years|author=Kessler, Glenn|date=July 14, 2004|page=A01|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=August 25, 2017|archive-date=June 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606004416/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48010-2004Jul13.html|url-status=live}} This is partly attributed to a letter from former diplomat George F. Kennan, who advised Powell to focus on his duties as the president's principal foreign policy advisor and avoid trips that risked undercutting the duties of the ambassadors.{{cite web|last=Kessler|first=Glenn|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5433036|title=Colin Powell no globe-trotter|date=July 14, 2004|publisher=NBC News}}

On September 11, 2001, Powell was in Lima, Peru, meeting with president Alejandro Toledo and attending a meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of American States.{{sfn|Steins|2003|p=116}}{{sfn|DeYoung|2006a|pp=338–339}} After the terror attacks that day, Powell's job became of critical importance in managing the United States of America's relationships with foreign countries to secure a stable coalition in the War on Terrorism.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}} Powell’s diplomatic skills led to immediate consensus, and the Inter-American Democratic Charter was approved by acclamation on September 11, 2001. The charter is regarded as one of the most comprehensive inter-American documents, created to promote and strengthen democratic ideas, practices, and culture among the states of the Americas.{{Cite web |title=Secretary of State Colin Powell and 9/11 – Association for Diplomatic Studies & Training |url=https://adst.org/2021/11/secretary-of-state-colin-powell-and-9-11/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=adst.org}}

{{Main|Colin Powell's presentation to the United Nations Security Council}}

{{Blockquote|quote=My second purpose today is ... to share with you what the United States knows about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction ... Iraq's behavior demonstrate that Saddam Hussein and his regime have made no effort ... to disarm as required by the international community. Indeed, the facts and Iraq's behavior show that Saddam Hussein and his regime are concealing their efforts to produce more weapons of mass destruction ... every statement I make today is backed up by sources, solid sources. These are not assertions. What we're giving you are facts and conclusions based on solid intelligence.|author=Colin Powell|source=Address to the United Nations Security Council{{cite web |title=Remarks to the United Nations Security Council |publisher=US Department of State |first=Secretary Colin L. |last=Powell |location=New York City |date=February 5, 2003 |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/2003/17300.htm |access-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-date=February 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205163122/http://2001-2009.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/2003/17300.htm |url-status=live }}}}

Powell came under fire for his role in building the case for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. A 2004 report by the Iraq Survey Group concluded that the evidence that Powell offered to support the allegation that the Iraqi government possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) was inaccurate.{{cite news |date=October 6, 2004 |title=Iraq had no WMD – inspectors |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/oct/06/usa.iraq1 |work=The Guardian |access-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021083639/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/oct/06/usa.iraq1 |url-status=live }} As early as 2000 on the day Powell was nominated to be Secretary of State he told the press "Saddam is sitting on a failed regime that is not going to be around in a few years time".{{cite book |last1=Moens |first1=Alexander |author-link1=Alex Moens |title=The Foreign Policy of George W. Bush Values, Strategy, and Loyalty |date=2017 |publisher=Taylor & Francis}}

In a press statement on 24 February 2001, Powell had said that sanctions against Iraq had prevented the development of any weapons of mass destruction by Saddam Hussein.{{Cite book|last=Wood|first=B. Dan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cPsfAwAAQBAJ|title=Presidential Saber Rattling: Causes and Consequences|date=2012|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-139-53669-1|language=en|doi=10.1017/CBO9781139108720|page=141|access-date=October 19, 2021|archive-date=October 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123705/https://books.google.com/books?id=cPsfAwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}} Powell favored involving the international community in the invasion, as opposed to a unilateral approach.{{sfn|DeYoung|2006a|p=401}}

File:Powell UN Iraq presentation, alleged Mobile Production Facilities.jpg, presented by Powell at the UN Security Council. On 27 May 2003, U.S. and British experts examined the trailers and declared they had nothing to do with biological weapons.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/11/AR2006041101888.html?sub=AR|title=Lacking Biolabs, Trailers Carried Case for War; Administration Pushed Notion of Banned Iraqi Weapons Despite Evidence to Contrary|author=Warrick, Joby|date=April 12, 2006|page=A01|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=August 25, 2017|archive-date=December 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230125315/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/11/AR2006041101888.html?sub=AR|url-status=live}}]]

File:Colin Powell anthrax vial. 5 Feb 2003 at the UN.jpg while giving a presentation to the United Nations Security Council in February 2003]]

Powell's chief role was to garner international support for a multi-national coalition to mount the invasion. To this end, Powell addressed a plenary session of the United Nations Security Council on 5 February 2003, to argue in favor of military action.{{Cite news|last=Borger|first=Julian|date=October 18, 2021|title=Colin Powell's UN speech: a decisive moment in undermining US credibility|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/18/colin-powell-un-security-council-iraq|access-date=October 19, 2021|work=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018235947/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/18/colin-powell-un-security-council-iraq|url-status=live}} Citing numerous anonymous Iraqi defectors, Powell asserted that "there can be no doubt that Saddam Hussein has biological weapons and the capability to rapidly produce more, many more". Powell also stated that there was "no doubt in my mind" that Saddam was working to obtain key components to produce nuclear weapons. Powell stated that he gave his speech to the UN on "four days' notice".{{Cite news|date=September 11, 2011|title=Powell regrets Iraq failings|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2011/9/11/colin-powell-regrets-iraq-war-intelligence|access-date=October 19, 2021|publisher=Al Jazeera|language=en|archive-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018215023/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2011/9/11/colin-powell-regrets-iraq-war-intelligence|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Breslow|first=Jason M.|date=May 17, 2016|title=Colin Powell: U.N. Speech 'Was a Great Intelligence Failure'|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/colin-powell-u-n-speech-was-a-great-intelligence-failure/|access-date=October 19, 2021|website=Frontline|language=en-US|archive-date=May 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519134118/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/colin-powell-u-n-speech-was-a-great-intelligence-failure/|url-status=live}}

Britain's Channel 4 News reported soon afterwards that a British intelligence dossier that Powell had referred to as a "fine paper" during his presentation had been based on old material and plagiarized an essay by American graduate student Ibrahim al-Marashi.{{cite news|url=http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/529|title=U.S. Scholar Uncredited in Iraq Report|last=Lawless|first=Jill|date=February 7, 2003|agency=Associated Press|access-date=June 26, 2009|archive-date=December 4, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204043055/http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/529|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/02/07/sprj.irq.uk.dossier/index.html|publisher=CNN|title=UK accused of lifting dossier text|date=February 7, 2003|access-date=October 20, 2007|archive-date=March 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308162110/http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/02/07/sprj.irq.uk.dossier/index.html|url-status=live}}

A Senate report on intelligence failures would later detail the intense debate that went on behind the scenes on what to include in Powell's speech. State Department analysts had found dozens of factual problems in drafts of the speech. Some of the claims were taken out, but others were left in, such as claims based on the yellowcake forgery.{{Cite news |last = Miller |first = Greg |title = Flaws Cited in Powell's U.N. Speech on Iraq |work = Los Angeles Times |date = July 15, 2004 |url = http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0715-05.htm |access-date = February 3, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070212121956/http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0715-05.htm |archive-date = February 12, 2007 |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all }} The administration came under fire for having acted on faulty intelligence, particularly that which was single-sourced to the informant known as Curveball. Powell later recounted how Vice President Dick Cheney had joked with him before he gave the speech, telling him, "You've got high poll ratings; you can afford to lose a few points". Powell's longtime aide-de-camp and Chief of Staff from 1989 to 2003, Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, later characterized Cheney's view of Powell's mission as to "go up there and sell it, and we'll have moved forward a peg or two. Fall on your damn sword and kill yourself, and I'll be happy, too".{{Cite news |last = DeYoung |first = Karen |author-link=Karen DeYoung |title = Falling on His Sword: Colin Powell's most significant moment turned out to be his lowest |newspaper = The Washington Post |date = October 1, 2006 |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/27/AR2006092700106.html |access-date = February 3, 2007 |archive-date = October 7, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081007160519/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/27/AR2006092700106.html |url-status = live }}

In September 2005, Powell was asked about the speech during an interview with Barbara Walters and responded that it was a "blot" on his record. He went on to say, "It will always be a part of my record. It was painful. It's painful now".{{Cite news |title = Colin Powell on Iraq, Race, and Hurricane Relief |work = ABC News: 20/20 |date = September 8, 2005 |url = https://abcnews.go.com/2020/Politics/story?id=1105979&page=1 |access-date = February 3, 2007 |archive-date = December 10, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131210165636/http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Politics/story?id=1105979&page=1 |url-status = live }}

Wilkerson later said that he inadvertently participated in a hoax on the American people in preparing Powell's erroneous testimony before the United Nations Security Council.{{Cite news |last = Brancaccio |first = David |title = Iraq Pre-War Intelligence |work = NOW |publisher = PBS |date = February 3, 2006 |url = https://www.pbs.org/now/politics/wilkerson.html |access-date = February 3, 2007 |archive-date = March 12, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140312155935/http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/wilkerson.html |url-status = live }}

As recounted in Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell, in 2001 before 9/11, Richard A. Clarke, a National Security Council holdover from the Clinton administration, pushed the new Bush administration for action against al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, a move opposed by Paul Wolfowitz who advocated for the creation of a "U.S.-protected, opposition-run 'liberated' enclave around the southern Iraqi city of Basra".{{Sfn|DeYoung|2006a|pp=344–45}} Powell referred to Wolfowitz and other top members of Donald Rumsfeld's staff "as the 'JINSA crowd,' " in reference to the pro-Israel Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs.{{Sfn|DeYoung|2006a|p=356}} Again invoking "the JINSA crowd" Powell also attributed the decision to go to war in Iraq in 2003 to the neoconservative belief that regime change in Baghdad "was a first and necessary stop on the road to peace in Jerusalem".{{Sfn|DeYoung|2006a|p=388}}

A review of Soldier by Tim Rutten criticized Powell's remarks as a "blot on his record", accusing Powell of slandering "neoconservatives in the Defense Department – nearly all of them Jews" with "old and wholly unmeritorious allegations of dual loyalty".{{Cite news |last=Rutten |first=Tim |date=October 9, 2006 |title=Powell biography involves a game of connect the blots |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-oct-09-et-book9-story.html |access-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-date=October 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018131510/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-oct-09-et-book9-story.html |url-status=live }} A 2007 article about fears that Jewish groups "will be accused of driving America into a war with the regime in Tehran" cited the DeYoung biography and quoted JINSA's then-executive director, Thomas Neumann, as "surprised" Powell "would single out a Jewish group when naming those who supported the war". Neumann said, "I am not accusing Powell of anything, but these are words that the antisemites will use in the future".{{Cite news |last=Forward Staff |date=February 2, 2007 |title=Groups Fear Public Backlash Over Iran |work=Forward |url=https://forward.com/news/10004/groups-fear-public-backlash-over-iran/ |access-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-date=September 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919043641/https://forward.com/news/10004/groups-fear-public-backlash-over-iran/ |url-status=live }}

File:Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.jpg]]

Once Saddam Hussein had been deposed, Powell's renewed role was to once again establish a working international coalition, this time to assist in the rebuilding of post-war Iraq. On 13 September 2004, Powell testified before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee,{{Cite news |last = Pincus |first = Walter |title = Support for Intelligence Plan |newspaper = The Washington Post |date = February 14, 2004 |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18890-2004Sep13.html |access-date = February 3, 2007 |archive-date = August 7, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070807234455/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18890-2004Sep13.html |url-status = live }} acknowledging that the sources who provided much of the information in his February 2003 UN presentation were "wrong" and that it was "unlikely" that any stockpiles of WMDs would be found. Claiming that he was unaware that some intelligence officials questioned the information prior to his presentation, Powell pushed for reform in the intelligence community, including the creation of a national intelligence director who would assure that "what one person knew, everyone else knew".{{Cite news|last=Pincus|first=Walter|date=September 14, 2004|title=Support for Intelligence Plan|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18890-2004Sep13.html|access-date=August 25, 2017|archive-date=January 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108052732/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18890-2004Sep13.html|url-status=live}}

Additionally, Powell was critical of other aspects of U.S. foreign policy in the past, such as its support for the 1973 Chilean coup d'état that deposed the democratically elected president Salvador Allende in favor of Augusto Pinochet. From two separate interviews in 2003, Powell stated in one about the 1973 event: "I can't justify or explain the actions and decisions that were made at that time. It was a different time. There was a great deal of concern about communism in this part of the world. Communism was a threat to the democracies in this part of the world. It was a threat to the United States".{{cite web |url=https://fas.org/irp/news/2003/02/dos022003.html |title=Remarks at the 2003 Groundhog Job Shadow Day Program, Secretary Colin L. Powell, Remarks and question and answer session with students, Washington, DC, January 31, 2003, excerpt on 1973 Chile coup, Federation of American Scientists |publisher=Fas.org |access-date=August 29, 2010 |archive-date=November 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120093326/http://www.fas.org/irp/news/2003/02/dos022003.html |url-status=live }} In another interview, he also simply stated: "With respect to your earlier comment about Chile in the 1970s and what happened with Mr. Allende, it is not a part of American history that we're proud of."{{cite web |url=https://fas.org/irp/news/2003/02/dos022003.html |title=Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, Interview On Black Entertainment Television's Youth Town Hall, February 20, 2003, excerpt on 1973 U.S. covert action in Chile, Federation of American Scientists |publisher=Fas.org |access-date=August 29, 2010 |archive-date=November 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120093326/http://www.fas.org/irp/news/2003/02/dos022003.html |url-status=live }}

File:US Navy 050105-N-6020P-115 Secretary of State Colin Powell speaks to members of the international press about the United State's involvement in disaster relief at a press conference held at the Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia airport.jpg speaking on United States's involvement in recovery efforts following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami with Alwi Shihab wearing green.]]

In the Hainan Island incident of 1 April 2001, a United States US EP-3 surveillance aircraft collided mid-air with a Chinese Shenyang J-8 jet fighter over the South China Sea.{{Cite book |last=Zhao |first=Suisheng |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/9781503634152 |title=The Dragon Roars Back: Transformational Leaders and Dynamics of Chinese Foreign Policy |date=2023 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=978-1-5036-3415-2 |location=Stanford, California |pages=64|doi=10.1515/9781503634152 }} While somewhat ambiguous, Powell's expression of "very sorry" was accepted as sufficient for the formal apology that China had sought. The incident was nonetheless a serious flare-up in United States-China relations and created negative feelings towards the United States by the Chinese public and increased public feelings of Chinese nationalism.

In September 2004, Powell described the Darfur genocide as "genocide", thus becoming the first cabinet member to apply the term "genocide" to events in an ongoing conflict.{{Cite web|last=Hamilton|first=Rebecca|date=August 17, 2011|title=Inside Colin Powell's Decision to Declare Genocide in Darfur|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/08/inside-colin-powells-decision-to-declare-genocide-in-darfur/243560/|access-date=January 25, 2021|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US|archive-date=January 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122204931/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/08/inside-colin-powells-decision-to-declare-genocide-in-darfur/243560/|url-status=live}}

{{Wikinews|Colin Powell Resigns as U.S. Secretary of State, Rice Likely Successor}}

In November the president "forced Powell to resign", according to Walter LaFeber.{{sfn|LaFeber|2009|p=71}} Powell announced his resignation as Secretary of State on 15 November 2004, shortly after Bush was reelected. Bush's desire for Powell to resign was communicated to Powell via a phone call by Bush's chief of staff, Andrew Card. The following day, Bush nominated National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice as Powell's successor.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=254647|publisher=ABC News|title=Bush Nominates Rice to Be Secretary of State|date=January 7, 2006|access-date=November 24, 2021|archive-date=November 16, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041116094509/https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=254647}}

In mid-November, Powell stated that he had seen new evidence suggesting that Iran was adapting missiles for a nuclear delivery system. The accusation came at the same time as the settlement of an agreement between Iran, the IAEA, and the European Union.{{Cite news |last = Sciolino |first = Elaine |title = Exiles Add to Claims on Iran Nuclear Arms |work = The New York Times |date = November 18, 2004 |url = http://www.nci.org/04nci/11/pbs/ExilesAdd.htm |access-date = February 8, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070102013832/http://www.nci.org/04nci/11/pbs/ExilesAdd.htm |archive-date = January 2, 2007 |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all }}

Although biographer Jeffrey J. Matthews is highly critical of how Powell misled the United Nations Security Council regarding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, he credits Powell with a series of achievements at the State Department. These include restoration of morale to psychologically demoralized professional diplomats, leadership of the international HIV/AIDS initiative, resolving a crisis with China, and blocking efforts to tie Saddam Hussein to the 9/11 attacks on the United States.{{sfn|Matthews|2019|pp=321, 379–85}}

After retiring from the role of Secretary of State, Powell returned to private life. In April 2005, he was privately telephoned by Republican senators Lincoln Chafee and Chuck Hagel,{{Cite news|author1=VandeHei, Jim|author2=Robin Wright|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7420-2005Apr21.html|title=Powell Playing Quiet Role in Bolton Battle|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 22, 2005|access-date=August 25, 2017|archive-date=June 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602023131/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7420-2005Apr21.html|url-status=live}} at which time Powell expressed reservations and mixed reviews about the nomination of John Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations, but refrained from advising the senators to oppose Bolton (Powell had clashed with Bolton during Bush's first term).{{Cite news |last = Borger |first = Julian |title = Powell's remarks harm Bolton's chances of UN job |work = The Guardian |location = London |date = April 23, 2005 |url = https://www.theguardian.com/usa/story/0,12271,1468438,00.html |access-date = February 3, 2007 |archive-date = October 20, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123707/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/apr/23/usa.unitednations |url-status = live }} The decision was viewed as potentially dealing significant damage to Bolton's chances of confirmation. Bolton was put into the position via a recess appointment because of the strong opposition in the Senate.{{cite news |title=Bush appoints Bolton as U.N. ambassador |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8758621 |access-date=October 19, 2021 |publisher=NBC News |date=July 29, 2005 |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123805/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8758621 |url-status=live }}

File:Ki-moon Powell.jpg, 2004]]

On 28 April 2005, an opinion piece in The Guardian by Sidney Blumenthal (a former top aide to President Bill Clinton) claimed that Powell was in fact "conducting a campaign" against Bolton because of the acrimonious battles they had had while working together, which among other things had resulted in Powell cutting Bolton out of talks with Iran and Libya after complaints about Bolton's involvement from the British. Blumenthal added that "The foreign relations committee has discovered that Bolton made a highly unusual request and gained access to 10 intercepts by the National Security Agency. Staff members on the committee believe that Bolton was probably spying on Powell, his senior advisors and other officials reporting to him on diplomatic initiatives that Bolton opposed".{{Cite news |last = Blumenthal |first = Sidney |title = The good soldier's revenge |work = The Guardian |location = London |date = April 28, 2005 |url = https://www.theguardian.com/comment/story/0,3604,1471879,00.html |access-date = February 3, 2007 |archive-date = October 20, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123702/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/apr/28/usa.comment |url-status = live }}

In September 2005, Powell criticized the response to Hurricane Katrina, and said thousands of people were not properly protected because they were poor, rather than because they were black.{{Cite news |title = Powell criticises storm response |work = BBC News |date = September 9, 2005 |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4229238.stm |access-date = March 2, 2006 |archive-date = February 20, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060220232954/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4229238.stm |url-status = live }}

File:King Abdullah with Dick Cheney George H.W. Bush, August 2005.jpg, Vice President Dick Cheney, and former President George H. W. Bush, Saudi Arabia, August 2005]]

On 5 January 2006, he participated in a meeting at the White House of former Secretaries of Defense and State to discuss United States foreign policy with Bush administration officials. In September 2006, Powell sided with more moderate Senate Republicans in supporting more rights for detainees and opposing President Bush's terrorism bill. He backed Senators John Warner, John McCain, and Lindsey Graham in their statement that U.S. military and intelligence personnel in future wars will suffer for abuses committed in 2006 by the U.S. in the name of fighting terrorism. Powell stated that "The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism".{{Cite news |title = Senators defy Bush on tribunals |work = BBC News |date = September 15, 2006 |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5347564.stm |access-date = February 3, 2007 |archive-date = November 6, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061106203415/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5347564.stm |url-status = live }}

In 2007, he joined the board of directors of Steve Case's new company Revolution Health. Powell also served on the Council on Foreign Relations Board of directors.{{cite web |url=http://www.cfr.org/about/people/board_of_directors.html |title=Board of Directors |publisher=Council on Foreign Relations |access-date=December 6, 2007 |archive-date=November 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103055948/http://www.cfr.org/about/people/board_of_directors.html |url-status=live }} In 2008, Powell served as a spokesperson for National Mentoring Month, a campaign held each January to recruit volunteer mentors for at-risk youth.{{cite web|url=http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/chc/wmy2008/Celebrities/colin_powell.html|title=Who Mentored Colin Powell?|publisher=President and Fellows of Harvard College|year=2008|access-date=August 21, 2008|archive-date=July 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708232924/http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/chc/wmy2008/Celebrities/colin_powell.html|url-status=live}} Soon after Barack Obama's 2008 election, Powell began being mentioned as a possible cabinet member.{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2008/11/11/al-gore-colin-powell-caroline-kennedy-in-obamas-administration.html |title=Al Gore, Colin Powell, Caroline Kennedy in Obama's Administration? – Washington Whispers |publisher=usnews.com |date=November 11, 2008 |access-date=August 29, 2010 |archive-date=May 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503104421/http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2008/11/11/al-gore-colin-powell-caroline-kennedy-in-obamas-administration.html |url-status=live }} He was not nominated. In September 2009, Powell advised President Obama against surging U.S. forces in Afghanistan.{{cite web |title=Powell advised against Afghan surge |work=Politico |date=September 27, 2009 |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/laurarozen/0909/Powell_advised_against_Afghan_surge.html |access-date=August 25, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227120950/https://www.politico.com/blogs/laurarozen/0909/Powell_advised_against_Afghan_surge.html }} The president announced the surge the following December.

In 2010, Powell joined the Smithsonian advisory council. Together with his wife, Alma Powell, they are the founding donors who offer their support to the museum's capital campaign and Living History campaign. He was an advocate for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In March 2014, Salesforce.com announced that Powell had joined its board of directors.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/03/14/general-colin-powell-joins-salesforce-board-of-directors-as-crm-giant-zeros-in-on-govt-deals/|title=General Colin Powell Joins Salesforce Board Of Directors, As CRM Giant Zeros In On Public Sector|author=Ingrid Lunden|work=TechCrunch|date=March 14, 2014 |publisher=AOL|access-date=August 27, 2015|archive-date=August 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830041240/http://techcrunch.com/2014/03/14/general-colin-powell-joins-salesforce-board-of-directors-as-crm-giant-zeros-in-on-govt-deals/|url-status=live}}

{{External media|title=Powell condemns President Trump for the January 6 United States Capitol attack|video1=[https://www.today.com/news/trump-should-resign-nixon-colin-powell-says-today-t205335 TODAY interview on NBC with Powell calling for President Trump's resignation, 8 January 2021], TODAY}}

During his early political career through his tenure within the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Powell was an independent. Powell was a moderate Republican from 1995 until 2021. In 2021, Powell recanted his status as a Republican following the storming of the United States Capitol on 6 January. The attack moved Powell to call for President Trump's resignation, noting: "I wish he would do what Nixon did and just step down. Somebody ought to go up to him and it's over". Powell also accused Trump of attempting to "overthrow the government", and that Trump's false claims of a stolen election were "dangerous for our democracy".{{Cite web |title=Why Colin Powell says he no longer considers himself a Republican|website=CNN |date=January 10, 2021 |format=CNN Video|url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2021/01/10/exp-gps-0110-powell-on-capitol-attack.cnn|access-date=January 10, 2021|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111001916/https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2021/01/10/exp-gps-0110-powell-on-capitol-attack.cnn|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Tom |title=Colin Powell in his final interview accused Trump of attempting to 'overturn the government' by inciting January 6 riot |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/colin-powell-last-interview-bashed-trump-over-capitol-riot-2021-10 |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} Powell was pro-choice regarding abortion,{{Cite book|last1=Rozell|first1=Mark J.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ExrbUtDV1zYC|title=God at the Grass Roots, 1996: The Christian Right in the American Elections|last2=Wilcox|first2=Clyde|date=1997|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-0-8476-8611-7|language=en|page=258|access-date=October 19, 2021|archive-date=October 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123820/https://books.google.com/books?id=ExrbUtDV1zYC|url-status=live}} and expressed some support for an assault weapons ban.{{Cite news|last=Siddiqui|first=Sabrina|date=January 13, 2013|title=Colin Powell Shows Support For Gun Control Measures, Including Assault Weapons Ban|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/colin-powell-gun-control_n_2467890|access-date=October 19, 2021|website=HuffPost|language=en|archive-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018150743/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/colin-powell-gun-control_n_2467890|url-status=live}} He stated in his autobiography that he supported affirmative action that levels the playing field, without giving a leg up to undeserving persons because of racial issues. Powell originally suggested the don't ask, don't tell policy to President Clinton,{{sfn|O'Sullivan|2009|p=106}} though he later supported its repeal as proposed by Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen in January 2010, saying "circumstances had changed".{{cite news |title=Colin Powell shifts stance on 'don't ask, don't tell' policy |last=DeYoung |first=Karen |author-link=Karen DeYoung |date=February 3, 2010 |access-date=February 3, 2010 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020302292.html |archive-date=August 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822004841/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020302292.html |url-status=live }}

{{external media | width = 210px | align = | headerimage= |title=Powell on My American Journey| video1 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?68953-1/american-journey Booknotes interview with Powell on My American Journey, 7 January 1996], C-SPAN}}

Powell gained attention in 2004 when, in a conversation with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, he reportedly referred to neoconservatives within the Bush administration as "fucking crazies".{{Cite news |last = Blumenthal |first = Sidney |title = Colin and the crazies |work = The Guardian |location = London |date = November 18, 2004 |url = https://www.theguardian.com/usa/story/0,12271,1353796,00.html |access-date = February 3, 2007 |archive-date = October 20, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123703/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/nov/18/usa.comment |url-status = live }}

In a September 2006 letter to John McCain, Powell expressed opposition to President Bush's push for military tribunals of those formerly and currently classified as enemy combatants. Specifically, he objected to the effort in Congress to "redefine Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention". He also asserted: "The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism".{{cite news |title=Sen. McCain Releases Letter from Gen. Colin Powell |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 14, 2006 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2006/09/14/GR2006091400728.html |access-date=August 25, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017121552/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2006/09/14/GR2006091400728.html }}

At the 2007 Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado,See [http://www.aifestival.org/ Official website: Aspen Ideas Festival ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070712175130/http://www.aifestival.org/ |date=July 12, 2007 }} Powell stated that he had spent two and a half hours explaining to President Bush "the consequences of going into an Arab country and becoming the occupiers". During this discussion, he insisted that the U.S. appeal to the United Nations first, but if diplomacy failed, he would support the invasion: "I also had to say to him that you are the President, you will have to make the ultimate judgment, and if the judgment is this isn't working and we don't think it is going to solve the problem, then if military action is undertaken I'm with you, I support you".{{cite web|url=http://www.aifestival.org/library/transcript/Powell-Lehrer_transcript.pdf|title=Conversation with Colin Powell|publisher=Aspen Ideas Festival|date=July 2007|access-date=February 22, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227081751/http://www.aifestival.org/library/transcript/Powell-Lehrer_transcript.pdf|archive-date=February 27, 2008|url-status=dead}}

In a 2008 interview on CNN, Powell reiterated his support for the 2003 decision to invade Iraq in the context of his endorsement of Barack Obama, stating: "My role has been very, very straightforward. I wanted to avoid a war. The president [Bush] agreed with me. We tried to do that. We couldn't get it through the U.N. and when the president made the decision, I supported that decision. And I've never blinked from that. I've never said I didn't support a decision to go to war".{{cite web |title=Powell: Support for Obama doesn't mean Iraq war wrong |publisher=CNN |date=October 19, 2008 |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/19/powell.transcript/ |access-date=August 25, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123714/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/19/powell.transcript/ }}

Powell's position on the Iraq War troop surge of 2007 was less consistent. In December 2006, he expressed skepticism that the strategy would work and whether the U.S. military had enough troops to carry it out successfully. He stated: "I am not persuaded that another surge of troops into Baghdad for the purposes of suppressing this communitarian violence, this civil war, will work".{{cite web |first=James M. |last=Klatell |title=Powell: We Are Losing In Iraq |publisher=CBS News |date=December 17, 2006 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/powell-we-are-losing-in-iraq/ |url-status=live |access-date=February 13, 2011 |archive-date=January 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130111311/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/17/ftn/main2274583.shtml }} Following his endorsement of Barack Obama in October 2008, however, Powell praised General David Petraeus and U.S. troops, as well as the Iraqi government, concluding that "it's starting to turn around". By mid-2009, he had concluded a surge of U.S. forces in Iraq should have come sooner, perhaps in late 2003.{{cite web |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009420450_apuspowell.html |title=Powell says Iraq surge should have come earlier |work=The Seattle Times |date=July 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 13, 2011 |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628183346/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009420450_apuspowell.html }}

Powell donated the maximum allowable amount to John McCain's campaign in the summer of 2007{{Cite news |last = Henry |first = Ed |title = Powell donates to McCain |publisher = CNN |date = August 9, 2007 |url = http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/08/09/powell-donates-to-mccain/ |access-date = August 9, 2007 |url-status = dead |archive-date = October 20, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123808/https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/08/09/powell-donates-to-mccain/ }} and in early 2008, his name was listed as a possible running mate for Republican nominee McCain's bid during the 2008 U.S. presidential election.{{cite news |access-date=April 14, 2008

|url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/03/05/mccain_now_has_to_pick_a_vice_presidential_nominee/ |last = Holland |first = Steve |title = McCain now has to pick a vice presidential nominee |agency=Reuters |work=The Boston Globe |date = March 5, 2008 }}

McCain won the Republican presidential nomination, but the Democrats nominated the first black candidate, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois. On 19 October 2008, Powell announced his endorsement of Obama during a Meet the Press interview, citing "his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities", in addition to his "style and substance". He additionally referred to Obama as a "transformational figure". Powell further questioned McCain's judgment in appointing Sarah Palin as the vice presidential candidate, stating that despite the fact that she is admired, "now that we have had a chance to watch her for some seven weeks, I don't believe she's ready to be president of the United States, which is the job of the vice president". He said that Obama's choice for vice president, Joe Biden, was ready to be president. He also added that he was "troubled" by the "false intimations that Obama was Muslim". Powell stated that "[Obama] is a Christian{{snd}}he's always been a Christian... But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America". Powell then mentioned Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, a Muslim American soldier in the U.S. Army who served and died in the Iraq War. He later stated, "Over the last seven weeks, the approach of the Republican Party has become narrower and narrower [...] I look at these kind of approaches to the campaign, and they trouble me".{{Cite news |title = Powell endorses Obama for president; Republican ex-Secretary of State calls Democrat 'transformational figure' |series = Meet the Press |publisher = NBC News |date = October 19, 2008 |url = https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna27265369 |access-date = October 19, 2008 |archive-date = October 30, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131030040508/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/27265369/ |url-status = live }}{{Cite news |title =Meet the Press' transcript for October 19, 2008 |publisher =NBC News |date =October 19, 2008 |url =https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna27266223 |access-date =October 19, 2008 |archive-date =September 10, 2013 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130910011917/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/27266223/ |url-status =live }} Powell concluded his Sunday morning talk show comments with "It isn't easy for me to disappoint Sen. McCain in the way that I have this morning, and I regret that [...] I think we need a transformational figure. I think we need a president who is a generational change and that's why I'm supporting Barack Obama, not out of any lack of respect or admiration for Sen. John McCain".{{cite news |last=Ohlemacher |first=Stephen |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2008-10-19-1007802625_x.htm |title=Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama for president |work=USA Today |date=October 20, 2008 |access-date=August 29, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-date=December 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201192906/http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2008-10-19-1007802625_x.htm }} Later in a 12 December 2008, CNN interview with Fareed Zakaria, Powell reiterated his belief that during the last few months of the campaign, Palin pushed the Republican party further to the right and had a polarizing impact on it.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/12/12/gps.powell.limbaugh.cnn |title=Powell on Rush Limbaugh |publisher=CNN |date=July 16, 2010 |access-date=August 29, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230111923/http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/12/12/gps.powell.limbaugh.cnn }}

When asked why he was still a Republican on Meet the Press he said, "I'm still a Republican. And I think the Republican Party needs me more than the Democratic Party needs me. And you can be a Republican and still feel strongly about issues such as immigration, and improving our education system, and doing something about some of the social problems that exist in our society and our country. I don't think there's anything inconsistent with this".{{cite web

|url = http://lonelyconservative.com/2014/02/colin-powell-republican-party-needs-me-more-than-the-democratic-party-needs-me/

|title = Colin Powell: Republican Party Needs Me More Than The Democratic Party Needs Me

|date = February 7, 2014

|website = TheLonelyConservative.com

|access-date = February 7, 2014

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140303223201/http://lonelyconservative.com/2014/02/colin-powell-republican-party-needs-me-more-than-the-democratic-party-needs-me/

|archive-date = March 3, 2014

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In a July 2009 CNN interview with John King, Powell expressed concern over President Obama increasing the size of the federal government and the size of the federal budget deficit.{{cite news |title=Powell airs doubts on Obama agenda |date=July 3, 2009 |access-date=September 17, 2010 |work=The Washington Times |last=Ward |first=Jon |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/03/powell-airs-doubts-on-obama-agenda/ |archive-date=December 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212023304/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/03/powell-airs-doubts-on-obama-agenda/ |url-status=live }} In September 2010, he criticized the Obama administration for not focusing "like a razor blade" on the economy and job creation. Powell reiterated that Obama was a "transformational figure".{{cite web |first=Carrie |last=Budoff Brown |title=Colin Powell critical of President Obama |work=Politico |date=September 19, 2010 |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42381.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 25, 2021 |archive-date=December 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214033244/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42381.html }} In a video that aired on CNN.com in November 2011, Colin Powell said in reference to Barack Obama, "many of his decisions have been quite sound. The financial system was put back on a stable basis".{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2011/11/11/bts-piers-colin-powell-intv.cnn?iref=allsearch | publisher=CNN | title=Video | url-status=dead | access-date=December 15, 2008 | archive-date=December 30, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230111923/http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2011/11/11/bts-piers-colin-powell-intv.cnn?iref=allsearch }}

On 25 October 2012, 12 days before the presidential election, he gave his endorsement to President Obama for re-election during a broadcast of CBS This Morning. He considered the administration to have had success and achieved progress in foreign and domestic policy arenas. As additional reasons for his endorsement, Powell cited the changing positions and perceived lack of thoughtfulness of Mitt Romney on foreign affairs, and a concern for the validity of Romney's economic plans.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/colin-powell-endorses-barack-obama-for-president/|title=Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama for president|publisher=CBS News|date=October 25, 2012|access-date=August 18, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027201908/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57539893/colin-powell-endorses-barack-obama-for-president/|archive-date=October 27, 2012}}

In an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos during ABC's coverage of President Obama's second inauguration, Powell criticized members of the Republican Party who spread "things that demonize the president". He called on GOP leaders to publicly denounce such talk.{{cite web |title=Colin Powell Slams 'Idiot Presentations' by Some Republicans, Urges GOP Leaders to 'Speak Out' |work=ABC News |last=Falcone |first=Michael |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/01/colin-powell-slams-idiot-presentations-by-some-republicans-urges-gop-leaders-to-speak-out-2/ |date=January 21, 2013|access-date=January 22, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-date=January 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122014437/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/01/colin-powell-slams-idiot-presentations-by-some-republicans-urges-gop-leaders-to-speak-out-2/ }}

Powell was very vocal on the state of the Republican Party. Speaking at a Washington Ideas forum in early October 2015, he warned the audience that the Republican Party had begun a move to the fringe right, lessening the chances of a Republican White House in the future. He also remarked on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's statements regarding immigrants, noting that there were many immigrants working in Trump hotels.{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/colin-powell-slams-donald-trumps-immigration-plan-163454530.html |title=Colin Powell slams Donald Trump's immigration plan |publisher=Yahoo! News |last=Stableford |first=Dylan |date=October 1, 2015 |access-date=September 14, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-date=September 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921203019/https://www.yahoo.com/news/colin-powell-slams-donald-trumps-immigration-plan-163454530.html }}

In March 2016, Powell denounced the "nastiness" of the 2016 Republican primaries during an interview on CBS This Morning. He compared the race to reality television, and stated that the campaign had gone "into the mud".{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/colin-powell-gop-race_us_56dda980e4b0000de405301a |title=Colin Powell: The GOP Race Has 'Gone Into The Mud' |last=Reilly |first=Mollie |work=HuffPost |date=March 7, 2016 |access-date=September 14, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-date=September 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913170637/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/colin-powell-gop-race_us_56dda980e4b0000de405301a }}

In August 2016, Powell accused the Hillary Clinton campaign of trying to pin her email controversy on him. Speaking to People magazine, Powell said, "The truth is, she was using [the private email server] for a year before I sent her a memo telling her what I did".{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/article/colin-powell-hillary-clinton-pinning-email-scandal-on-him |title=Colin Powell Says Hillary Clinton's 'People Have Been Trying to Pin' Email Scandal on Him |work=People |date=August 21, 2016 |access-date=September 14, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-date=September 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912194133/http://www.people.com/article/colin-powell-hillary-clinton-pinning-email-scandal-on-him }}

On 13 September 2016, emails were obtained that revealed Powell's private communications regarding both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Powell privately reiterated his comments regarding Clinton's email scandal, writing, "I have told Hillary's minions repeatedly that they are making a mistake trying to drag me in, yet they still try", and complaining that "Hillary's mafia keeps trying to suck me into it" in another email.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/09/13/colin-powell-hacked-emails/90341788/|title=Colin Powell calls Trump 'national disgrace' in hacked emails|first=William|last=Cummings|website=USA Today|date=September 13, 2016|access-date=August 25, 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=June 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627150352/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/09/13/colin-powell-hacked-emails/90341788/}} In another email discussing Clinton's controversy, Powell said she should have told everyone what she did "two years ago", and said that she has not "been covering herself with glory". Writing on the 2012 Benghazi attack controversy surrounding Clinton, Powell said to then U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, "Benghazi is a stupid witch hunt". Commenting on Clinton in a general sense, he mused that "Everything HRC touches she kind of screws up with hubris", and in another email stated "I would rather not have to vote for her, although she is a friend I respect".{{Cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/colin-powell-hillary-clinton_us_57d96524e4b09d7a6880bf1c|title=Colin Powell Attacked Hillary Clinton's 'Hubris' In Leaked Emails|website=HuffPost|date=September 14, 2016|first=Paul|last=Blumenthal|url-status=live|access-date=September 15, 2016|archive-date=September 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915181356/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/colin-powell-hillary-clinton_us_57d96524e4b09d7a6880bf1c}}

Powell called Donald Trump a "national disgrace", with "no sense of shame". He wrote of Trump's role in the birther movement, which he called "racist". He suggested the media ignore Trump: "To go on and call him an idiot just emboldens him". The emails were obtained by the media as the result of a hack.{{cite news|last=Blake|first=Aaron|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/09/14/here-are-the-juiciest-colin-powell-comments-about-trump-and-clinton-from-his-leaked-emails/|title=Here are the juiciest Colin Powell comments about Trump and Clinton from his hacked emails|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 14, 2016|access-date=June 7, 2020|url-status=live|archive-date=June 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611000603/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/09/14/here-are-the-juiciest-colin-powell-comments-about-trump-and-clinton-from-his-leaked-emails/}}

Powell endorsed Clinton on 25 October 2016, stating it was "because I think she's qualified, and the other gentleman is not qualified".{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/06/30/heres-the-growing-list-of-big-name-republicans-supporting-hillary-clinton/ |title=78 Republican politicians, donors and officials who are supporting Hillary Clinton |last=Blake |first=Aaron |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 7, 2016 |access-date=August 25, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818161636/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/06/30/heres-the-growing-list-of-big-name-republicans-supporting-hillary-clinton/ }}

Despite not running in the election, Powell received three electoral votes for president from faithless electors in Washington who had pledged to vote for Clinton, coming in third overall.{{cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/four-washington-electors-break-ranks-and-dont-vote-for-clinton/ |title=Four Washington state electors break ranks and don't vote for Clinton |work=The Seattle Times |last=Brunner |first=Jim |date=December 19, 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=December 19, 2016 |archive-date=December 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161219230802/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/four-washington-electors-break-ranks-and-dont-vote-for-clinton/ }} After Barack Obama, he was the second black person to receive electoral votes in a presidential election.{{Cite web|date=November 12, 2019|title=Electoral College Results|url=https://www.archives.gov/electoral-college/results|access-date=October 18, 2021|website=National Archives|language=en|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019042904/https://www.archives.gov/electoral-college/results|url-status=live}}

In an interview in October 2019, Powell warned that the GOP needed to "get a grip" and put the country before their party, standing up to then-president Trump rather than worrying about political fallout. He said: "When they see things that are not right, they need to say something about it because our foreign policy is in shambles right now, in my humble judgment, and I see things happening that are hard to understand".{{cite news |publisher=Yahoo! News |title=Colin Powell: Republicans Terrified Of Speaking Out Need To 'Get A Grip' |date=October 6, 2019 |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/colin-powell-republicans-terrified-of-speaking-out-need-to-get-a-grip-195747765.html |last=Russo |first=Amy |access-date=August 25, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=October 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018165321/https://www.yahoo.com/news/colin-powell-republicans-terrified-of-speaking-out-need-to-get-a-grip-195747765.html }} On 7 June 2020, Powell announced he would be voting for former vice president Joe Biden in the 2020 United States presidential election.{{cite news|last=Cole|first=Devan|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/07/politics/colin-powell-biden-trump-2020-cnntv/index.html|title=Colin Powell says he will vote for Joe Biden for president|publisher=CNN|date=June 7, 2020|access-date=June 7, 2020|archive-date=June 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607150330/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/07/politics/colin-powell-biden-trump-2020-cnntv/index.html|url-status=live}} In August, Powell delivered a speech in support of Biden's candidacy at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.{{cite web |last1=Sullivan |first1=Kate |title=Colin Powell touts Biden's character at DNC: 'We need to restore those values to the White House' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/18/politics/colin-powell-biden-convention/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=January 12, 2021 |date=August 19, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123817/https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/18/politics/colin-powell-biden-convention/index.html }}

In January 2021, after the Capitol building was attacked by Trump supporters, Powell told CNN: "I can no longer call myself a fellow Republican".{{cite news |last1=Pitofsky |first1=Marina |title=Colin Powell: 'I can no longer call myself a fellow Republican' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/533575-colin-powell-i-can-no-longer-call-myself-a-fellow-republican |access-date=January 10, 2021 |work=The Hill |date=January 10, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111015444/https://thehill.com/homenews/news/533575-colin-powell-i-can-no-longer-call-myself-a-fellow-republican }}

Powell married Alma Johnson on 25 August 1962. Their son, Michael Powell, was the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 2001 to 2005. Their daughters are Linda Powell, an actress, and Annemarie Powell. Alma died in 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2024/07/29/alma-powell-death/|title=Alma Powell, civic leader and widow of Colin Powell, dies at 86|first=Maham|last=Javaid|newspaper=Washington Post|date=July 29, 2024|accessdate=July 29, 2024}}

As a hobby, Powell restored old Volvo and Saab automobiles.{{Cite interview|access-date=June 14, 2009|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0510/17/lkl.01.html|first=Colin|last=Powell|interviewer=Larry King|title=Interview transcript|work=Larry King Live|publisher=CNN|date=October 17, 2005|archive-date=August 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828062641/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0510/17/lkl.01.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite interview|access-date=June 14, 2009|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/09/a-conversation-with-colin-powell/303436/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204025253/http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/09/a-conversation-with-colin-powell/303436/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2013|date=August 2, 2004|first=Colin|last=Powell|title=A Conversation with Colin Powell|work=The Atlantic|location=Washington, D.C.|interviewer=P. J. O'Rourke}} In 2013, he faced questions about his relationship with the Romanian diplomat Corina Crețu, after a hacked AOL email account had been made public. He acknowledged a "very personal" email relationship but denied further involvement.{{Cite web|date=2013-08-02|title=Colin Powell insists 'there was no affair then and there is not one now' with diplomat|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/colin-powell-no-affair-not-article-1.1415208|access-date=2023-07-12|website=Daily News|location=New York}} He was an Episcopalian.{{Cite web|date=October 18, 2021|title=Former Secretary of State Colin Powell Dies of COVID Complications|url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/politics/2021/october/former-secretary-of-state-colin-powell-dies-of-covid-complications|access-date=October 19, 2021|website=CBN News|language=en|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019153805/https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/politics/2021/october/former-secretary-of-state-colin-powell-dies-of-covid-complications|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Board|first=Daily News Editorial|title=Son of NYC: Colin Powell's legacy of integrity|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-edit-colin-powell-20211018-4jt4hyrxwbaphlps6eojogfiky-story.html|access-date=October 19, 2021|website=Daily News|date=October 18, 2021 |location=New York|archive-date=October 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123756/https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-edit-colin-powell-20211018-4jt4hyrxwbaphlps6eojogfiky-story.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=October 18, 2021|title=Statement from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry on the passing of Gen. Colin Powell, former secretary of state|url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/publicaffairs/statement-from-presiding-bishop-michael-curry-on-the-passing-of-gen-colin-powell-former-secretary-of-state/|access-date=October 19, 2021|website=The Episcopal Church|language=en-US|archive-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018204322/https://www.episcopalchurch.org/publicaffairs/statement-from-presiding-bishop-michael-curry-on-the-passing-of-gen-colin-powell-former-secretary-of-state/|url-status=live}}

File:Special Military Funeral for Gen. (ret.) Colin Powell at Arlington National Cemetery 211105-A-IW468-015.jpg

On 18 October 2021, Powell, who was being treated for multiple myeloma,{{Cite web|last=Macias|first=Amanda|date=October 18, 2021|title=Colin Powell, former secretary of State who made case for Iraq invasion, dies of Covid complications at 84|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/18/colin-powell-former-secretary-of-state-who-made-case-for-iraq-invasion-dies-of-covid-complications-at-84.html|access-date=October 18, 2021|publisher=CNBC|language=en|archive-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018121201/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/18/colin-powell-former-secretary-of-state-who-made-case-for-iraq-invasion-dies-of-covid-complications-at-84.html|url-status=live}} died at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center of complications from COVID-19 at the age of 84.{{Cite web|date=October 18, 2021|title=Colin Powell, Former US Secretary of State, dies at 84|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/10/18/how-colin-powell-went-bronx-dc-among-most-admired-americans/8505546002/|work=USA Today|author=Page, Susan}} He had been vaccinated, but his myeloma compromised his immune system; he also had early-stage Parkinson's disease.{{Cite news|last1=Dunham|first1=Will|last2=Mohammed|first2=Arshad|date=October 19, 2021|title=Colin Powell, top U.S. soldier and diplomat, dies of COVID-19 complications|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ex-joint-chiefs-staff-powell-dies-covid-complications-facebook-post-2021-10-18/|access-date=October 21, 2021|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021024932/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ex-joint-chiefs-staff-powell-dies-covid-complications-facebook-post-2021-10-18/|url-status=live}} President Joe Biden and four of the five living former presidents issued statements calling Powell an American hero. Then-former president Donald Trump released a statement saying "He made plenty of mistakes, but anyway, may he rest in peace!" and referred to him as a "classic RINO".{{cite web | last=Garrison | first=Joey | title='Country before self ... before all else': US presidents remember Colin Powell as American hero | website=USA Today | date=October 18, 2021 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/10/18/colin-powell-remembered-biden-former-presidents/8505549002/ | access-date=October 19, 2021 | archive-date=October 18, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018223151/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/10/18/colin-powell-remembered-biden-former-presidents/8505549002/ | url-status=live }}{{Cite web|last=Benen|first=Steve|author-link=Steve Benen|title=Trump admonishes Colin Powell the day after his death|date=October 19, 2021 |url=https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-admonishes-colin-powell-day-after-his-death-n1281919|access-date=October 20, 2021|publisher=MSNBC|language=en|archive-date=October 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020171040/https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-admonishes-colin-powell-day-after-his-death-n1281919|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Jackson|first=David|title=Amid tributes to Colin Powell, Donald Trump disparages former secretary of state|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/10/19/donald-trump-disparages-powell-day-after-his-death/8520943002/|access-date=October 20, 2021|website=USA Today|language=en-US|archive-date=October 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020171039/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/10/19/donald-trump-disparages-powell-day-after-his-death/8520943002/|url-status=live}}

Present at the funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral were President Biden and former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, along with First Lady Jill Biden and former first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, and Hillary Clinton (also representing her husband, former president Bill Clinton, who was unable to attend following treatment for sepsis) as well as many other dignitaries.{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/11/05/1052482356/watch-colin-powells-funeral-is-held-at-washington-national-cathedral|title=Colin Powell is remembered as a down-to-earth statesman and leader at his funeral|last=Naylor|first=Brian|publisher=NPR|date=November 5, 2021|access-date=November 5, 2021}}

Powell is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 60, Grave 11917.{{cite web|url=https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Notable-Graves/African-Americans/Colin-Powell|title=General Colin Powell (1937–2021)|publisher=Arlington National Cemetery|access-date=January 22, 2023}}

==Civilian awards and honors==

{{Infobox Coat of arms

|image = Coat of Arms of Colin Powell.svg

|shield= Azure, two swords in saltire points downwards between four mullets Argent, on a chief of the Second a lion passant Gules.{{cite web |url=http://www.somerset-heraldry.org.uk/Newsletters/SomersetHerSoc-Journal05Win2004.pdf |publisher=Somerset Heraldry Society |access-date=14 April 2021 |title=Journal Christmas 2004 |archive-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414172714/http://www.somerset-heraldry.org.uk/Newsletters/SomersetHerSoc-Journal05Win2004.pdf |url-status=live }}

|crest = The head of an American bald-headed eagle erased, the erasure per bend sinister Proper.

|motto = Devoted To Public Service

|notes = The coat of arms of Colin Powell was granted by the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh on 3 February 2004. Technically the grant was to Powell's father (a British subject) to be passed on by descent. Scotland's King of Arms is traditionally responsible for granting arms to Commonwealth citizens of Scottish descent.

The swords and stars refer to the former general's career, as does the crest, which is the badge of the 101st Airborne (which he served as a brigade commander in the mid-1970s). The lion may be an allusion to Scotland. The shield can be shown surrounded by the insignia of an honorary Knight Commander of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath (KCB), an award the General received after the first Gulf War.

}}

Powell's civilian awards include two Presidential Medals of Freedom (the second with distinction), the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award.

• In 1988, Powell received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.{{cite web| url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#public-service |title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=achievement.org|publisher=American Academy of Achievement}}
• In 1990, Powell received the U.S. Senator John Heinz Award for Greatest Public Service by an Elected or Appointed Official, an award given out annually by Jefferson Awards.[http://www.jeffersonawards.org/pastwinners/national National Winners | public service awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124043935/http://jeffersonawards.org/pastwinners/national |date=November 24, 2010 }}. Jefferson Awards.org. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
• In 1991, Powell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H. W. Bush.
• In 1991, Powell was awarded the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP.{{cite web |url=http://www.naacp.org/pages/spingarn-medal-winners |title=Spingarn Medal Winners: 1915 to Today|publisher=NAACP|access-date=August 27, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802063355/http://www.naacp.org/pages/spingarn-medal-winners |archive-date=August 2, 2014 }}
• In 1991, Powell was inducted into the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans.{{cite web |title = Colin L. Powell |publisher=The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans|url =https://horatioalger.org/members/member-detail/colin-l-powell|access-date=October 18, 2021|archive-date=August 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830193905/https://horatioalger.org/members/member-detail/colin-l-powell}}
• On 23 April 1991, Powell was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal "in recognition of his exemplary performance as a military leader and advisor to the President in planning and coordinating the military response of the United States to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the ultimate retreat and defeat of Iraqi forces and Iraqi acceptance of all United Nations Resolutions relating to Kuwait".{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-105/pdf/STATUTE-105-Pg177.pdf |title=Public Law 102-33 – Apr. 23, 1991 |website=gpo.gov |access-date=August 25, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=March 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306131412/https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-105/pdf/STATUTE-105-Pg177.pdf }}
• On 30 September 1993, Powell was awarded his second Presidential Medal of Freedom, this time with the additional "with distinction" by President Bill Clinton.{{cite web|url = http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=47138|title = Remarks on the Retirement of General Colin Powell in Arlington, Virginia|date = September 30, 1993|access-date = September 18, 2016|last = Clinton|first = W. J.|author-link = Bill Clinton|quote = In recognition of your legacy and service, of your courage and accomplishment, today, General Powell, I was honored to present you with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, with distinction. I want to tell all those here in attendance that this was the second Medal of Freedom you have received, the first from President Bush in 1991. And today, you became only the second American citizen in the history of the Republic to be the recipient of two Medals of Freedom.|publisher = The American Presidency Project|location = University of California, Santa Barbara|archive-date = September 19, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160919002830/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=47138|url-status = live}}
• On 9 November 1993, Powell was awarded the second Ronald Reagan Freedom Award, by Ronald Reagan. Powell served as Reagan's National Security Advisor from 1987 to 1989.{{cite web|url=http://www.reaganfoundation.org/programs/cpa/awards.asp |title=The Ronald Reagan Freedom Award |publisher=Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016075344/http://www.reaganfoundation.org/programs/cpa/awards.asp |archive-date=October 16, 2006 }}
• In 1993, Colin Powell was created an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.{{Cite news|last=Oladipo|first=Gloria|date=October 18, 2021|title=Colin Powell: key facts from his life|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/18/colin-powell-key-facts|access-date=October 19, 2021|work=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019003849/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/18/colin-powell-key-facts|url-status=live}}
• In 1998, he was awarded the Sylvanus Thayer Award by the United States Military Academy for his commitment to the ideals of "Duty, Honor, Country".{{Cite web|title=1998 Sylvanus Thayer AWard| date=September 15, 1998 |url=https://www.westpointaog.org/page.aspx?pid=494|access-date=October 19, 2021|publisher=West Point Association of Graduates|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019055410/https://www.westpointaog.org/page.aspx?pid=494|url-status=live}}
• In 1998, he was elected to the American Philosophical Society{{Cite web|title=APS Member History|url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=Colin+L.+Powell&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced|access-date=2021-12-06|website=search.amphilsoc.org}}
• The 2002 Liberty Medal was awarded to Colin Powell on 4 July in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In his acceptance speech, Powell reminded Americans that "It is for America, the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, to help freedom ring across the globe, unto all the peoples thereof. That is our solemn obligation, and we will not fail".{{cite web|title=2002 Liberty Medal Acceptance Speech|author=Powell, Colin|date=July 4, 2002|location=Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|url=http://www.constitutioncenter.org/libertymedal/recipient_2002_speech.html|publisher=National Constitution Center|access-date=January 16, 2008|archive-date=May 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516212121/http://www.constitutioncenter.org/libertymedal/recipient_2002_speech.html|url-status=live}}
• In 2003, an elementary school named after Powell was opened in Centreville, Virginia. Powell visited the school in 2013.{{cite news |last1=Graf |first1=Heather |last2=Domingo |first2=Ido |title=Fairfax County's Colin L. Powell Elementary School honors its namesake |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/fairfax-county-centerville-elementary-school-honors-former-secretary-of-state-colin-powell |access-date=14 April 2024 |agency=WJLA-TV |date=19 October 2021}}
• In 2005, Powell received the Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award for his contributions to Africa.{{Cite web|date=October 4, 2005|title=Africare to Honor General Colin Powell at 2005 Africare Bishop John T. Walker Memorial Dinner - CSPAN To Broadcast|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/200510040022.html|access-date=October 19, 2021|website=AllAfrica|language=en|archive-date=November 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120133642/http://allafrica.com/stories/200510040022.html|url-status=live}}
• Powell received the 2006 AARP Andrus Award, the Association's highest honor.{{Cite web|last=Richissin|first=Todd|date=May 2, 2006|title=AARP honors Colin Powell with Andrus Award|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2006-05-02-0605020355-story.html|access-date=October 19, 2021|work=The Baltimore Sun|language=en-US|archive-date=June 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620024828/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2006-05-02-0605020355-story.html|url-status=live}}
• In 2005, Colin and Alma Powell were awarded the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution.{{Cite web|title=Statement from Ambassador Mark Green on the Passing of General Colin L. Powell|date=October 18, 2021 |url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/statement-ambassador-mark-green-passing-general-colin-l-powell|access-date=October 19, 2021|publisher=Wilson Center|language=en|archive-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018210515/https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/statement-ambassador-mark-green-passing-general-colin-l-powell|url-status=live}}

File:10.18.21ColinPowellElementaryByLuigiNovi2.jpg, on 18 October 2021, the day Powell died]]

• Powell was a recipient of the Silver Buffalo Award, the highest adult award given by the Boy Scouts of America.{{cite web |title=List of Silver Buffalo recipients |url=https://scoutingmagazine.org/silverbuffalo/ |website=Scouting Magazine |date=August 30, 2016 |access-date=October 18, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709072231/https://scoutingmagazine.org/silverbuffalo/ |url-status=live }}
• A street in Gelnhausen, Germany, was named after him: "General-Colin-Powell-Straße".{{Cite web|url=http://www.1-33rdar.org/genpowell.htm|title=GEN Colin Powell|date=March 8, 2016|access-date=July 1, 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308044613/http://www.1-33rdar.org/genpowell.htm|archive-date=March 8, 2016}}
• In 2002, scholar Molefi Kete Asante listed Colin Powell on his list of 100 Greatest Blacks in America.Asante, Molefi Kete (2002). 100 Greatest African Americans: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Amherst, New York. Prometheus Books. {{ISBN|1-57392-963-8}}.
• In 2009, an elementary school named for Colin Powell opened in El Paso. It is in the El Paso Independent School District, located on Fort Bliss property, and serves a portion of Fort Bliss.According to the Fort Bliss Bugle, as of October 24, 2013, nine schools have been named for Colin Powell.
• In 2009, Powell was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences{{Cite web|title=Colin Luther Powell|url=https://www.amacad.org/person/colin-luther-powell|access-date=2021-12-06|website=American Academy of Arts & Sciences|language=en}}
• Powell was an honorary board member of the humanitarian organization Wings of Hope{{cite web |url=http://wings-of-hope.org |title=.: The Official Wings Of Hope Homepage :. |publisher=Wings-of-hope.org |access-date=August 29, 2010 |archive-date=December 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218201438/http://www.wings-of-hope.org/ |url-status=live }}
• From 2006, he was the chairman of the Board of Trustees for Eisenhower Fellowships.{{Cite web|url=http://www.efworld.org/about/eisenhower_fellowships_board.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830152415/http://www.efworld.org/about/eisenhower_fellowships_board.php|url-status=dead|title=efworld|archive-date=August 30, 2012|access-date=March 13, 2019}}
• In 2006, The Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem awarded Colin Powell with the Truman Peace Prize for his efforts to conduct the "war against terrorism", through diplomatic as well as military means, and to avert regional and civil conflicts in many parts of the world.{{cite web|url=http://www.afhu.org/files/HUArticles/Powell%20Friendship%20with%20Israel%20Means%20Friendship%20with%20Arabs.pdf|title=Powell: Friendship with Israel means friendship with Arabs|publisher=afhu.org|access-date=January 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502230434/http://www.afhu.org/files/HUArticles/Powell%20Friendship%20with%20Israel%20Means%20Friendship%20with%20Arabs.pdf|archive-date=May 2, 2013|url-status=dead}}
• In September 2012, Union City, New Jersey, opened Colin Powell Elementary School, which was named after Powell, and which was dedicated on 7 February 2013, with governor Chris Christie in attendance.McDonald, Terrence T. (February 8, 2013). [http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2013/02/gov_christie_attends_union_cit.html "Gov. Christie visits Union City school opening, hears Democratic mayor praise him"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426222531/http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2013/02/gov_christie_attends_union_cit.html |date=April 26, 2014 }}. NJ.com. Powell himself visited the school on 4 June 2013.Wenik, Ian (June 9, 2013). "Saluting the general". The Union City Reporter. pp. 1, 11.
• In 2014, Colin Powell was named to the National Board of Advisors for High Point University.{{Cite web|url=https://www.highpoint.edu/nationalboard/|title=National Board of Advisors|website=National Board of Advisors|access-date=August 18, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818141608/https://www.highpoint.edu/nationalboard/|url-status=live}}
• In 2024, Prince George's County Public Schools opened Colin L. Powell Academy, named after Powell, in Fort Washington, Maryland.{{cite news |title=Prince George's County prepares to open Colin L. Powell Academy |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/prince-georges-county/__trashed-26/3549368/ |access-date=14 April 2024 |agency=NBC 4 Washington |date=21 February 2024}}

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{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Cite book|last=DeYoung|first=Karen|author-link=Karen DeYoung|url=https://archive.org/details/soldierlifeofcol00deyo|url-access=registration|title=Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell|date=2006a|publisher=Alfred A. Knopf|isbn=1-4000-4170-8|oclc=71313158}}
• {{cite journal|doi=10.1002/j.1538-165X.2009.tb00642.x|title=The Rise and Fall of Colin Powell and the Powell Doctrine|journal=Political Science Quarterly|volume=124|pages=71–93|year=2009|last1=LaFeber|first1=Walter|author-link=Walter LaFeber}}
• {{Cite book|last=Matthews|first=Jeffrey J.|title=Colin Powell: Imperfect Patriot|year=2019|isbn=978-0-268-10512-9|publisher=University of Notre Dame Press |oclc=1077560739}}
• {{cite book | title = Colin Powell: A Political Biography | last = O'Sullivan | first = Christopher | publisher = Rowman & Littlefield | year = 2010 | isbn = 978-0-7425-5187-9 | location = Lanham, Maryland | url = https://archive.org/details/colinpowellpolit0000osul |url-access=registration }}
• {{Cite book |last1=Powell |first1=Colin L. |last2=Persico |first2=Joseph E. |author-link2=Joseph E. Persico |url=https://archive.org/details/myamericanjourne00powerich |url-access=registration |title=My American Journey |date=1995 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-0307763686 |oclc=7059263772}}
• {{Cite book|last=Steins|first=Richard|url=https://archive.org/details/colinpowellbiogr00stei|url-access=registration|title=Colin Powell: A Biography|year=2003|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=0-313-32266-X|oclc=51118331}}

• {{Cite book|last1=Powell|first1=Colin L.|last2=Koltz|first2=Tony|url=https://archive.org/details/itworkedformeinl0000powe|url-access=registration|title=It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership|year=2012|isbn=978-0-06-213512-4|oclc=757483449|publisher=HarperCollins}}
• {{Cite book |last=Raimondo |first=Justin |author-link=Justin Raimondo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h-Iy3rfBa4oC |title=Colin Powell and the Power Elite |date=1996|publisher=America First Political Action Committee |isbn=978-1-883-95903-6 |oclc=43444712}}

{{Sister project links|c=Category:Colin Powell

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