I read the piece in the "New Yorker" by Nicholas Lemann, called "Without a Doubt, How the White House changed Condoleezza Rice," and found it extraordinary good. I had wondered how she came "out of nowhere", and now understand her relationship with 43. Unfortunately, it is not available online.
She comes from an upperclass Atlanta, Georgia, BG, and made her way to the top in Academia,(Provost of Stanford), in spite of Degrees from minor schools. She parlayed being "Mentored" by Snowcroft and Shultz into a middle level position with 41, and then became very close to 43.
She has no life outside of her job, and spends most of her spare time with Bush and his wife. Her loyalty and "closed mouth" approach is exceptional. If something happened to prevent Cheney from staying on the ticket, Leeman even suggests that Bush would want her as VP for his second term. That, of course, would make her a front runner in '08.
I would recommend that all here try to read it. You will have a much better idea of what goes on in the White House if you do. |
