Merge to: Condoleezza Rice Condolleeza Rice, formerly a specialist on the Soviet Union at Stanford University, became George W. Bush's National Security Advisor in 2001. After Colin Powell's resignation, she became Secretary of State. As National Security Advisor, Rice was the chair of National Security Council's Principals Committee, which failed to meet with Richard Clarke on the Al Qaeda threat in spite of his urgent requests, thus allowing the 9/11 attacks. The existence of these meetings was disclosed in April, 2008, and reported on ABC News on April 9, 2008.