Madeleine Albright, a refugee brought to U.S. shores after fleeing Nazis and communists who went on to become the first woman to serve as secretary of state, died on Wednesday of cancer. She was 84 years old.
Albright had a long and storied career in foreign policy, serving as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 1993-97 before reaching the pinnacle of diplomacy: secretary of state. She was the first woman to hold the position and the highest-ranking woman in government at the time.
“Madeleine was always a force for goodness, grace, and decency—and for freedom,” said President Biden in a statement after her death.
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