Condi: the Condoleezza Rice Story. - book review

Black Issues Book Review, March-April, 2003 by Tracy Grant

by Antonia Felix Newmarket Press, November 2002 $19.95, ISBN 1-557-04539-9

In Condi: The Condoleezza Rice Story, readers will find a wealth of often-touted trivia about one of the Bush administration's top advisors: she was the youngest person and first black woman to be named provost of Stanford University, she is, at 48, the youngest ever National Security Advisor, and she remains the brain trust of the President regarding foreign policy. But author Antonia Felix uncovers some lesser-known aspects of Rice's life that provide a detailed background of her upbringing, one that was bound to lead to her extraordinary achievements. Without access to Rice--perhaps it was a matter of national security--Felix had to rely on relatives and colleagues to pull together information for the book. Nevertheless, Felix creates a well-researched and thorough biography.

Of course, the book details the discovery of Condoleezza Rice by the Bushes during Ronald Reagan's presidency, when she was a political science professor at Stanford. Condi documents Rice's role as the architect of George W. Bush's nuclear weapons policy during his campaign, as well as being his tutor on the Soviet Union. The book's greatest appeal, however, may be the chapters on the Rice family, who stressed education and achievement early on, even from slavery. Felix observes how as a house slave, one of Dr. Rice's ancestors had access to more privileges and thus learned to read and write. Her parents, maternal and paternal grandparents were all college graduates, and they all managed to shield young Condi, psychically, from the unrelenting racism and Jim Crow laws that were a way of life in Birmingham, Alabama. Felix found it noteworthy that Rice is unmarried, and her previous engagement and boyfriends are mentioned, including a former NFL player. On a lighter note, her love of shoes may allow more people to identify with her, as well as her love of football and baseball.

Felix's biography shows that Rice is clearly loved by the many people whose lives she touched, long before arriving in Washington. It also shows her absolute devotion to the Bush administration, though the book is not intended to be about presidential politics. While Condi lacks any firsthand interviews from Rice, it is a significant biography of the National Security Advisor.