and wages in Canada; Income and wages in the
United States; Recession of 1990-1991; Welfare re-
form.
Powell, Colin
Identification Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, 1989-1993
Born April 5, 1937; New York, New York
General Powell’s leadership during the Gulf War cata-
pulted him into the national spotlight and caused many
to think of him as a suitable candidate for major national
office.
Colin Powell’s distinguished military career began
in 1958 and included valorous combat service and a
succession of increasingly responsible command
and staff positions, frequently in the offices of high-
ranking political figures. In 1987, he was named na-
tional security adviser to President Ronald Reagan.
His appointment as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff (JCS) in October, 1989, made him the highest-
ranking military official in the new administration
of President George H. W. Bush and put him in the
forefront of several key issues that would dominate
the national agenda for the next four years.
Powell was called on almost immediately to or-
chestrate a military intervention in Panama to oust
dictator Manuel Noriega. The lessons learned from
this operation were important when he was called
on to marshal U.S. forces against Iraq’s Saddam
Hussein, who invaded neighboring Kuwait in Au-
gust, 1990. For the next seven months, Powell was
the public face of the U.S. military buildup aimed at
protecting Saudi Arabia, Kuwait’s neighbor, and
evicting Iraq from Kuwait. Powell promoted a strat-
egy that would commit overwhelming force to the
operation once the American public was solidly be-
hind the effort. The United States’ unqualified suc-
cess solidified the American public’s esteem for
Powell, whose candor and integrity made people
feel confident in his abilities.
Both during and after the Gulf War, Powell was ac-
tive in developing a new strategic mission for the
U.S. military, reducing force size and eliminating
many nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, although he was
still on active duty, Powell was approached by both
Republican and Democratic political strategists re-
garding his willingness to serve in high political of-
fices. Then and later, Powell turned down such op-
portunities. When Bill Clinton was elected president
in 1992, Powell remained in his position as JCS chair-
man and almost immediately became embroiled in
debates about Clinton’s wish to permit gays and les-
bians to serve openly in the military. In 1993, Powell
retired from active duty, although not before engag-
ing in confrontations with members of Clinton’s
cabinet over potential U.S. involvement in Somalia
and Bosnia.
After retiring, Powell committed himself to pub-
lic speaking and writing his autobiography,My Amer-
ican Journey, which became a best seller in 1995. Pres-
sure to become a candidate for president continued,
fueled in part by Powell’s immense popularity.
Finally, in 1995, Powell made a public announce-
ment that he would not run, effectively quelling
efforts by both parties to have him be their standard-
bearer. Two years later, he founded America’s Prom-
ise, a nonprofit organization committed to improv-
ing educational and employment opportunities for
American youth.The Nineties in America Powell, Colin 685
Colin Powell.(U.S. Air Force)