During the 2000 campaign I went to an event that featured Barbara Bush, McCain's wife, Laura Bush and others, including Dr. Rice. She made some brief comments regarding Stanford and the power of education. Nothing thrilled her more than to see Americans of all backgrounds in a classroom, that to her was what America represents.
Since we were late to a standing room only event we ended up on the exit route and I was able to shake hands with Dr. Rice. She seemed rather stunned when I told her she was the reason I attended the event and warmly shook my hand. She is not an imposing figure at all, much more petite than what she appears on television. Her great power is her mind and I love her confidence in that power, she knows that she doesn't need to trade in her femininity to compete.
I thought this was very impressive:
She earned her bachelor's degree in political science, cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Denver in 1974 (where she enrolled at the age of 15); her master's degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1975; and her Ph.D. from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981.