When Condoleeza Rice became President George W. Bush's second secretary of state, she vetoed a suggestion that she make John Bolton her second in command on grounds that he had betrayed his friend, Colin Powell, and been nothing but a source of trouble since Powell had brought him over to the State Department.
She feared Bolton would not follow her orders and decided against any clash that raised the possibility of insubordination, she wrote in her 2011 book Highest Honor, A Memoir of My Years in Washington.
In fact, said Rice, during Powell's tenure as secretary of state,
Further, Rice said, once she transitioned from national security adviser to head of the State Department, she rebuffed some in the administration who had pushed Bolton for the number two post at State because "I did not want to repeat Colin Powell's experience," adding, "I wasn't sure that I could fully trust John to follow my lead at State, and I didn't want a clash later on should John be -- or appear to be -- insubordinate." P 306
Still, said Rice, she was happy to see him placated with the post of ambassador to the UN, where "his skepticism was an asset." And, he would have little reason to tangle with her from that post yet still there was continuing friction.
She feared Bolton would not follow her orders and decided against any clash that raised the possibility of insubordination, she wrote in her 2011 book Highest Honor, A Memoir of My Years in Washington.
In fact, said Rice, during Powell's tenure as secretary of state,
John Bolton, the ... under secretary for arms control and international security, oversaw the department's bureau that developed proliferation policy. John had been Colin's "neocon hire," in deference to the President's desire to have his administration reflect the full range of opinions in the Republican Party. But John was loyal to his ideological soulmates, not to the secretary of state, and was a constant source of trouble for Colin.P 158Rice added that the Bolton schism would persist throughout the eight years of Bush's two terms.P 158
Further, Rice said, once she transitioned from national security adviser to head of the State Department, she rebuffed some in the administration who had pushed Bolton for the number two post at State because "I did not want to repeat Colin Powell's experience," adding, "I wasn't sure that I could fully trust John to follow my lead at State, and I didn't want a clash later on should John be -- or appear to be -- insubordinate." P 306
Still, said Rice, she was happy to see him placated with the post of ambassador to the UN, where "his skepticism was an asset." And, he would have little reason to tangle with her from that post yet still there was continuing friction.
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