NSA resigns from Board of Trustees
By MAUREEN SMITHE
Assistant News Editor
Serving the Notre Dame community has long been Condoleezza Rice's focus. Now the '75 grad will shift her focus away from the Golden Dome and look towards the Capitol's dome. She has stepped down from Notre Dame's Board of Trustees due to her new role as the national security advisor to President Bush.
"It's obvious that she is an excellent example," said government professor Daniel Lindley. "She's one of the more prominent graduates in our history."
Dennis Brown, associate director of Notre Dame public relations, said she has a strong commitment to both University and national politics.
"[Rice] has been a prominent individual both in government and higher education for the past 15 years. We've always been proud of her accomplishments and also happy that she's been willing to serve the University," Brown said.
As national security advisor, Rice's duties have yet to be clearly defined. Lindley cited several theories floating around political journals regarding the prominence of the National Security Council [NSC] during the Bush administration.
"The NSC staff appears to be shrinking as compared to the Clinton administration," Lindley said. "The national security advisor could lose a lot of influence relative to staffers in the previous administration as Cheney aims to take an active role. He is just as beaurocratically savvy but with lots more political experience [than Rice]."
With the Bush administration still settling into the White House, Lindley said that potential in-fighting by staffers and political players could reduce Rice's role. However, he also pointed out that Bush made his decision based on a long and positive history with Rice.
"President Bush has surrounded himself with smart and powerful people. [Rice] has been friends with Bush for a while and he feels comfortable with her," Lindley said.
Since 1981, Rice has also been a member of Stanford University's political science faculty, serving as the university's provost from 1993-99.
Students at both schools can look to her as a positive example, Brown said.
"Dr. Rice is a delightful person and an incredibly bright individual. She has made several contributions to this country and will continue to do so. She is someone students can look to as a role model," Brown said.
She previously served from 1989-91 in the administration of Bush's father as director and senior director of Soviet and East European affairs in the National Security Council. Rice received an honorary doctorate of law from Notre Dame and delivered the 1995 commencement address.
All News Stories for Wednesday, February 14, 2001
