Colin Luther Powell (April 5, 1937 – October 18, 2021) was an American politician, statesman, diplomat and retired four-star general who served as United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005.
Powell was born in New York City in 1937 and was raised in the South Bronx, his parents having immigrated to the United States from Jamaica. Powell was a professional soldier for 35 years, during which time he held many command and staff positions, including a stint as Ronald Reagan's National Security Advisor from 1987 to 1989 while simultaneously maintaining his commission as a three-star general.note
He eventually rose to the rank of four-star general, becoming Commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command in 1989. His last assignment, from October 1989 to September 1993, was as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest military position in the Department of Defense. During this time, he oversaw many crises, including the invasion of Panama in 1989 and Operation Desert Storm in The Gulf War against Iraq in 1990–1991. He formulated the Powell Doctrine which limits American military action unless it satisfies criteria regarding American national security interests, overwhelming force, and widespread public support. Toward the end of his military career, Powell was so highly regarded that there was serious discussion of making him the first five-star general since Omar Bradley. He left military service in 1993 having asked for and been granted early retirement.
He returned to public service in 2000 as the United States Secretary of State under Republican President George W. Bush. His term was highly controversial regarding his inaccurate justification for America's Iraq War as part of The War on Terror in 2003, famously giving a speech before the United Nations regarding the rationale for the Iraq War (complete with holding a model vial of anthrax), which he later admitted contained substantial inaccuracies. He was forced to resign after Bush was reelected in 2004.
As the first African-American Secretary of State, Powell and his successor, Condoleezza Rice, were the highest-ranking African Americans in the history of the federal executive branch (by virtue of the Secretary of State standing fourth in the presidential line of succession) prior to Barack Obama's election as President of the United States.
In 2016, while not a candidate for that year's election, Powell received three electoral votes from Washington for the office of President of the United States. While being treated for multiple myeloma, he died from complications of COVID-19 on October 18, 2021.
In Media
Film- Cruel Intentions: He's mentioned when Cecile's mom denies disapproving of Cecile dating Ronald because he's Black, basically pulling a Some of My Best Friends Are X by citing that she's donated money to Colin Powell's foundation. Ronald is not impressed.
- DC 9/11: Time of Crisis: He is played by David Fonteno.
- Fahrenheit 9/11: He is among the many Bush administration officials who appear as themselves via archive footage.
- Vice (2018): He is portrayed by Tyler Perry.
- W.: He is played by Jeffrey Wright.
Live-Action TV
- Saturday Night Live: He was satirized numerous times; Tim Meadows first played him in The '90s, then by Dean Edwards on a 2001 sketch, then by Finesse Mitchell in a sketch lampooning his forced resignation in 2004, and finally by Kenan Thompson in a 2006 sketch where he is portrayed similar to Fred Sanford from Sanford and Son.
- In SeaQuest DSV, a portrait of Colin Powell is hung in Captain Oliver Hudson's office. Powell is said to be a former US president.
