Madeleine Albright: First Lady of State

Madeleine Albright has made history by becoming the first female American secretary of state. This tough, talented and determined woman has had an unusual life that has well prepared her for her job. Born in Czechoslovakia just before Neville Chamberlain handed it over to Hitler, Albright spent her early years as a refugee, first in England, then later in the United States. Once in the U.S. Albright became an American citizen and quickly learned to be an average American teen-ager. But Albright’s intellect and her keen political sense were anything but average. This episode of BIOGRAPHY traces the life and career of this extraordinary woman.

Madeleine Albright: First Lady of the State would be useful for classes on American History, Women’s History, Current Events, Political Science and Geography. It is appropriate for middle school and high school.

• absentia
• adversity
• appeasement
• compliance
• demonstrative
• emissary
• exile
• gregarious
• grueling
• mandate
• mentor
• prestigious
• prowess
• quintessential
• relentless
• reminiscent
• replaces
• rigors
• scion
• staunch
• tarmac
• tentative
• undermine
• vindicated

1. Madeleine Albright identifies with the underdog. What is an underdog? Why does Albright identify with it?

2. Adolph Hitler came to power shortly before Madeleine Albright was born. How did Hitler change the lives of the Korbels, Albright's family?

3. What is appeasement? Why did the western powers appease Hitler in 1939? What were the results?

4. Madeleine Albright had an unusual childhood. How did her childhood prepare her for her future role as secretary of state?

5. In 1948, Josef Korbel, Madeleine Albright’s father, sought political asylum in the United States for himself and his family. What is political asylum? Why was it necessary for Korbel to seek it?

6. Senator Edmund Muskie was a mentor for Madeleine Albright. What is a mentor? How did Muskie fill this role? Do you have any mentors?

7. How did Albright’s divorce affect her?

8. Discuss the contributions of Madeleine Albright to the Democratic Party.

9. Discuss the contributions of Madeleine Albright for American women in politics.

1. Madeleine Albright’s life coincides with some of the most momentous events of the 20th century. Create a timeline showing those events.

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Air Dates

• March 26, 2003