Secretaries Of State

Profiles In Courage Awards Of JFK Presidential Library 2022–Defending Democracy

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library has given out “Profile In Courage” Awards since 1989.

The award recognizes public officials at the federal, state, or local level whose actions demonstrate the qualities of politically courageous leadership in the spirit of John F. Kennedy’s Pulitzer Prize winning book of 1957.

This year, Congresswoman Liz Cheney, Republican of Wyoming; Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Democrat of Michigan; House Speaker Russell “Rusty” Bowers, Republican of Arizona; Wandrea’ ArShaye Moss, Elections Department Employee, Fulton County, Georgia; and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine are being given the award for “Defending Democracy At Home And Abroad”.

All of the above, except for Zelenskyy have been involved in fighting Donald Trump and the “Big Lie” about the Presidential Election of 2020.

Liz Cheney has been unwavering in her support of the investigation of the January 6, 2021 Insurrection at the US Capitol, despite having lost her House leadership position, and facing a tough reelection primary in Wyoming.

It is worrisome that too many Secretaries of State across the nation are being challenged for reelection, with the purpose being to “fix” the results of upcoming elections, including the 2022 Midterms and the 2024 Presidential Election. This struggle includes Jocelyn Benson of Michigan.

And Elections Department employees are being threatened in their commitment to fair and unbiased election counts, including Wandrea’ ArShaye Moss of Georgia.

And some Republicans on the state level are resisting Donald Trump conspiracy theorists about the election of Joe Biden, including Arizona House Speaker Russell “Rusty” Bowers.

And Zelenskyy has been miraculous and courageous in defending Ukraine against Russia, seen by many as a modern Winston Churchill!

Nancy Pelosi Will Be Ranked One Of All Time Greatest Speakers Of The House, As Well As Most Powerful Woman In American History

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is assured a ranking as one of the all time greatest Speakers of the House, as well as the most powerful woman in American history.

She will rank in the category of Sam Rayburn, Thomas “Tip” O’Neill, Henry Clay, John W. McCormack, Nicholas Longworth, Champ Clark, Thomas Reed, Thomas Foley, James K. Polk, and Joseph Cannon. She is already 11th longest serving, and if she remains as Speaker through 2022, her planned date for retirement, she will be 5th longest serving, only behind Sam Rayburn, Henry Clay, Thomas “Tip” O’Neill, and John W. McCormack.

At the age of 79, with her birthday being March 26, she will become the oldest Speaker in American history on February 5, 2020, when she surpasses Sam Rayburn, who died 51 days before his 80th birthday. So she will reach 80 in March, very alert, competent, and totally in charge, and President Donald Trump is very much afraid of her, like he has never been of any other woman.

Understand that Nancy Pelosi is the most powerful woman in American history in her position, two heartbeats away from the Presidency. The highest ranking women otherwise have been multiple Secretaries of State–Madeleine Albright, Condoleezza Rice, and Hillary Clinton, all four heartbeats away from the Presidency. There has also been four Supreme Court Justices—Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan. Additionally, there were two prospective Vice Presidents–Geraldine Ferraro and Sarah Palin. But that is the list, a short list, and only Nancy Pelosi has reached the pinnacle of power, and at a time of a challenge of a corrupt President, who would love to have absolute power, but has been stopped dead in his tracks by the woman from San Francisco!

Presidents, Presidential Nominees, Presidential Seekers, Supreme Court Justices, And The Position Of Secretary Of State

Many followers of American history, government and politics may not be aware of the large number of Presidents, Presidential nominees who lost the White House, and Presidential seekers who failed to win their party’s nomination, who have been Secretary of State, the most important cabinet position. And also there are four Secretaries of State who have served on the Supreme Court of the United States.

The following Presidents have been Secretary of State earlier:

THOMAS JEFFERSON
JAMES MADISON
JAMES MONROE
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS
MARTIN VAN BUREN
JAMES BUCHANAN

The following have been Presidential nominees, but failed to win the White House:

HENRY CLAY
JOHN C CALHOUN
DANIEL WEBSTER
LEWIS CASS
JAMES G BLAINE
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
CHARLES EVANS HUGHES

The following sought their party’s Presidential nomination, failed to win it, but went on to be Secretary of State:

WILLIAM SEWARD
EDMUND MUSKIE
HILLARY CLINTON

Additionally, four Secretaries of State have served on the Supreme Court, with three of them being Chief Justice:

JOHN JAY
JOHN MARSHALL
CHARLES EVANS HUGHES
JAMES F BYRNES (Associate)

This is of great interest now as we have Senator John Kerry, 2004 Democratic Presidential nominee, under serious consideration by President Obama to be his second term Secretary of State!