There was a period of time when Colin Powell and Madeline Albright worked closely together.

Well, it was very interesting because we really did argue because that's what you're supposed to do.

At the time, Albright was ambassador to the UN.

Powell was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, both served under President Clinton.

When you meet as principals in the situation room, it's important for people to state their views.

And he and I were coming at things from a different perspective.

And that's because Powell was a holdover from the previous Republican administration.

Albright told NPR Stevens that their arguments were centered on conflicts in the Balkans.

She supported a stronger US troop presence. Powell didn't.

When he wrote his book, he said, I practically gave him an aneurysm with my

way that I wanted to use force in the Balkans. And so I called him up.

And I said, Colin, an aneurysm, and he said, yes, you didn't understand that our soldiers weren't

toy soldiers. Now Albright would go on to become the first female Secretary of State.

And Powell would succeed her as the first black Secretary of State.

Today, Powell's tenure is looked at as a time when the US overstepped its military bounds.

He helped lead the invasion of Iraq. And he famously argued in favor of the strategy to the UN.

Leaving Saddam Hussein in possession of weapons of mass destruction for a few more months or

years is not an option, not in a post-September 11th world. The colleagues.

Those weapons were never found. Powell later admitted that his intel turned out not to be credible.

And the war in Iraq has now outlived him. But Madeline Albright says Powell should be known for more

than that. He was a grateful American. He knew that public service was important. He knew where

he came from and what had to be done. Consider this. Colin Powell will be remembered as a trailblazer

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