For Albright and Rice, Josef Korbel Is Tie that Binds

[lavenderdiva]

this today on NPR: For Albright and Rice, Josef Korbel Is Tie that Binds

link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5516648

Josef Korbel may be one of the most influential Americans you've never heard of. He died in 1977, but his legacy lives on in his two most famous students: his daughter, Madeleine Albright, and his star pupil at the University of Denver, Condoleezza Rice.

Korbel was an up-and-coming Czech diplomat in 1948 when the communists staged a coup in his country. He fled Europe and ended up at the University of Denver, where he went on to found the school's Graduate School of International Studies.

Both women say Korbel inspired them to pursue public service, and echoes of his abiding belief in the merits of American-style freedom are clear in their public statements.

The current and former secretaries of state talk to Guy Raz about Korbel's influence as a mentor and, in the case of Albright, as a father.

Rice says that one thing she thinks she shares with Albright is "the belief that democratic values are at the heart of peace and stability in the world."

But Albright, the first woman to serve as secretary of state, recalls what Rice said to her when Albright contacted her in 1987.

"Madeleine, I don't know how to tell you this," Rice told Albright, "but I'm a Republican." (Albright served in the administration of President Bill Clinton, a Democrat.)

Albright says she thinks her father would be upset by developments in U.S. foreign policy.

"It's ruined America's reputation," Albright says. "He cared so deeply about America and felt so strongly about what an important source of authority it was."

But Rice has a different interpretation of Korbel's philosophy.

"When we're faced with questions about why you are willing to risk so much on behalf of people in the Middle East, Iraqis or Afghans, it's hard for me to believe that he would have wanted them abandoned to tyranny," she says.

Madeleine Korbel (the future Madeleine Albright) with her father, Josef Korbel are pictured in 1943 on Christmas Eve in England

[MadMaddie]

1. If Condi truely believes that...why hasn't she proposed attacking

North Korea, China, Nepal and many other tyrannical countries....she is such a flawed human....and the nerve of her to disrespect Madeline Albright and her father...

[lavenderdiva]

2. I think Condi must have missed a lesson or two...

How 2 students have such disparate views is beyond me. Mr. LD was the one who originally told me about this interview he heard on NPR. In the NPR piece, they interview Madeleine Albright, and she states that when she became Secretary of State, she called Condi to come work for her! When Condi received the call, she told Ms. Albright, 'You do realize I'm a Republican?' Apparently, Ms. Albright first learned of Condi's high regard of Mr. Korbel at Mr. Korbel's funeral. At his funeral, there was this really large floral piece. Ms. Albright asked 'Who sent that?', and it was learned that it was from Condi, and how highly she regarded Mr. Korbel.

In the link I provided, there is also written another article about Mr. Korbel. In it, it states that he was a lifelong Democrat. That is why I think Condi must have missed some classes or twisted/skewed some of what she was being taught.

[MadMaddie]

3. She missed the lessons or she had her mind made up on

certain topics already.....

:hi:

[lavenderdiva]

4. yeah, she seems the type that would say, 'Don't confuse me with facts'

don't ya think? :hi: