Lawmakers remember Madeleine Albright’s ‘remarkable’ legacy after her death: ‘Lived out the American dream’

Lawmakers reacted to the passing of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Wednesday, together with previous and present politicians from either side of the aisle.

Albright, 84, died early Wednesday, in keeping with a press release launched by her household.

“We’re heartbroken to announce that Dr. Madeleine Okay. Albright, the sixty fourth U.S. Secretary of State and the primary girl to carry that place, handed away earlier at present. The trigger was most cancers. She was surrounded by household and mates. We’ve got misplaced a loving mom, grandmother, sister, aunt, and pal,” her household stated in a press release. The assertion went on to explain her as “a tireless champion of democracy and human rights.”

MADELEINE ALBRIGHT DIES OF CANCER AT 84

Former President Invoice Clinton, beneath whom Albright served as the primary feminine secretary of state, was fast to touch upon her passing.

“Few leaders have been so completely suited to the occasions by which they served,” wrote Clinton. “As a baby in war-torn Europe, Madeleine and her household had been twice pressured to flee their residence. When the top of the Chilly Conflict ushered in a brand new period of worldwide interdependence, she turned America’s voice on the UN, then took the helm on the State Division, the place she was a passionate pressure for freedom, democracy, and human rights.”

Clinton moreover acknowledged that he and his spouse, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, had been grateful for Albright’s friendship since they left workplace.

He added, “As a result of she knew firsthand that America’s coverage choices had the ability to make a distinction in individuals’s lives around the globe, she noticed her jobs as each an obligation and a chance. And she or he made probably the most of them in advancing peace, safety, and shared prosperity: ending ethnic cleaning in Bosnia and Kosovo; supporting the enlargement of NATO into Central Europe; combating the proliferation of nuclear weapons; broadening U.S. efforts to strengthen civil society, cut back poverty, and relieve debt in creating international locations; elevating issues about local weather change and environmental degradation on the world stage; and rather more.”

Former President George W. Bush additionally remarked on Albright’s passing with a written assertion touting that Albright “lived out the American dream.”

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright sits subsequent to New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key in the course of the Clinton World Initiative’s annual assembly in New York, Sept. 29, 2015.
(Reuters/Lucas Jackson, File)

“She lived out the American dream and helped others understand it. As a younger lady in Czechoslovakia, she fled the Nazis, and years later, she fled Communism. When she arrived in the USA as a younger lady aboard the SS America in 1948, she by no means dreamt that she would turn into our nation’s first feminine Secretary of State. She served with distinction as a foreign-born international minister who understood firsthand the significance of free societies for peace in our world,” Bush wrote.

Former President Barack Obama stated Albright was a “champion for democratic values” and recounted considered one of his favourite tales with the previous Cupboard secretary.

“As the primary girl to function America’s high diplomat, Madeleine Albright helped deliver peace to the Balkans, paved the best way for progress in among the most unstable corners of the world, and was a champion for democratic values. And as an immigrant herself, she introduced a novel and essential perspective to her trailblazing profession.”

“One in every of my favourite tales: At a naturalization ceremony, an Ethiopian man got here as much as Madeleine and stated, “Solely in America might a refugee from Africa meet the Secretary of State.” She replied, ‘Solely in America might a refugee from Central Europe turn into Secretary of State.’”
 
“It’s due to individuals like Madeleine that the story of America is, finally, considered one of hope – an upward journey. Michelle and I ship our ideas to the Albright household and everybody who knew and served with a really exceptional girl.”

“Madeleine Albright was one-of-a variety and first-of-a-kind. As a refugee who fled the Nazis and Soviet Communism, she embodied the American dream together with her inspiring life story and lengthy and distinguished profession main America’s international coverage, finally rising to turn into our nation’s first feminine Secretary of State,” wrote Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

“Whereas she could have been small in stature, she was a titan in American historical past and statecraft. Her brilliance, passionate patriotism, and sharp wit made her a formidable presence on the world stage and her story impressed girls and women throughout the globe. My ideas are with Secretary Albright’s household as our nation pays deep gratitude for her years of service and remembers her life and legacy,” the senator added.

Born Marie Jana Korbel on Might 15, 1937, Albright immigrated to the USA from Czechoslovakia together with her household in 1948 following a communist coup. Her household was Jewish and transformed to Roman Catholicism when she was 5 years previous. Three of her Jewish grandparents died in focus camps.

“You didn’t need to share each considered one of Secretary Albright’s coverage views to understand her devoted management on behalf of our nation,” stated Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “I genuinely loved the occasions we set to work collectively on shared pursuits, together with the continued venture of serving to safe a democratic future for the individuals of Burma. Secretary Albright understood keenly that the USA of America is a worldwide energy with world pursuits and world duties and should act accordingly.”

Albright served within the administration of former President Invoice Clinton, first as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations after which as secretary of state throughout his second time period. As secretary of state, she performed a job in urging the Senate to ratify enlargement of NATO into former Soviet nations and safe nuclear non-proliferation agreements.

Former President Jimmy Carter talks with Secretary of State Madeline Albright in New York, Jan. 8, 2001.

Senate Overseas Relations Committee member Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., wrote a press release grieving the demise of his “pal and mentor.”

“I’ve been honored to know Secretary Albright for many years, and to have had the blessing of realizing her humor, brilliance, expertise, and noteworthy insights into world affairs. By way of her position as a stateswoman, President of the Truman Students Basis, Chair of the Nationwide Democratic Institute, and in so many different methods, she made a lifetime of distinction. She used her expertise as a refugee who fled communism to turn into one of many actual giants of American international coverage and drew on that service to mentor the subsequent era of leaders,” Coons wrote.

Albright additionally helped persuade Clinton to go to conflict towards Yugoslav chief Slobodan Milosevic.

Following her service within the Clinton administration, she remained outspoken and important of the Bush administration’s international coverage following 9/11.

“Madeleine Albright was a towering determine in American diplomacy, a tireless champion for democracy, and a pricey pal,” stated Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia. “I’ll miss her clever counsel.”

Fox Information’ Jon Brown contributed to this report.