About General Colin Powell

So many words and phrases can describe the honorable General Colin Powell. My list will include Honest Broker, Respectful Listener; Charming Colleague/Leader; and Change-Maker. I have two short stories that will support my conclusion that all of these phrases describe General Powell.

In 1985, Major General Powell was the Senior Military Assistant to Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. I was the chair of DACOWITS, the DOD committee recommending changes in the role of women in the military. As chair, I had the opportunity to meet with the Secretary at least twice a month to present proposals regarding changing the role of women in the military. Before meeting with the Secretary, I always met General Powell — maybe by chance…maybe not. I never knew what he thought about the role of women in the military…but I did know that he helped me prepare arguments by asking me the following sensible questions: 1) What evidence do you have that women can do the things you argue they should do? 2) What will be the nature of the opposition to your proposals? 3) How should the Secretary respond to the opposition? Also, without a word spoken, General Powell arranged for me to travel to military bases to talk with the people outside of the Pentagon about the Committee’s proposals. I traveled to many bases in the United States, Europe, and Korea to learn what were the real issues affecting changing the role of women. There were advancements beginning in the late 1980s. I believe Colin Powell played a role in facilitating many of the changes that took place. Colin Powell — Honest Broker, Respectful Listener, Change-Maker.

My second story was years later in 2004 when Colin Powell declared genocide had occurred in Sudan’s Darfur region. Then he was the Secretary of State, and I was the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs — one of many on the State team led by Craner, Assistant Secretary for Democracy, and Taft, Chief Legal Advisor. At one of the many meetings with the already thoroughly briefed Secretary he encouraged another discussion of the pros and cons of issuing the declaration. After all of the back-and-forth discussion, Secretary Powell said to us that he had read all of the material and heard the arguments, but he had one question that was: What is the right thing to do? Colin Powell (Respectful Listener. Honest Broker, Change-Maker)

Our hearts are broken. I can not fathom a world without the sanity, brilliance, and kindness of Colin Powell. However, he will never be forgotten because he left us with ideas we need to go forward. First at the Howard University graduation in 1994

“America is a family. There may be differences and disputes in the family, but we must not allow the family to be broken into warring factions. From the diversity of our people, let us draw strength and not cause weakness. Believe in America with all your heart and soul and mind. It remains the “last best hope of Earth.”

And then Powell on Leadership: “It Ain’t as Bad as You Think! It Will Look Better in the Morning. (Honest Broker, Respectful Listener, Charming Colleague/Leader, Change-Maker)

May The Honorable General, Secretary of State Colin Powell Rest In Peace.

Constance Berry Newman
Member of the NCNW Board