Secretary of State Colin Powell resigns

This is not original reporting. All information has been compiled from Reuters, The Guardian and The Washington Post.

Secretary of State Colin Powell resigned today, Monday, Nov. 15 along with three other cabinet members. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice is scheduled to take his place.

Agriculture Secretary Ann Venneman, Education Secretary Rod Paige and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham all announced their resignations today following the resignations of Attorney General John Ashcroft and Commerce Secretary Donald Evans last week. Powell is the highest-level member of the Bush cabinet to step down and has been one of the more moderate members of the cabinet, reportedly disagreeing with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on several occasions. He has often been seen "as a voice of moderation in an administration dominated by right-wing hawks," according to Reuters, but despite his popularity among many Americans, The Guardian stated that Powell would most likely be remembered for his role in presenting flawed evidence of WMDs in Iraq.

Powell has told his staff that he will continue to work hard in the following months until he leaves office, stated Reuters. His priorities are working for the Israeli peace process, helping defeat the Iraqi insurgency and deterring North Korea and Iran from their suspected nuclear weapons programs.

According to The Washington Post, Powell always intended to serve only one term but admitted that he does not know what he will do now. In his letter of resignation, Powell only made clear that "the time has come for me to step down as Secretary of State and return to private life," according to The Washington Post.

Powell was raised by his Jamaican parents in New York. He attained the rank of four-star general during his military service, which included two tours in Vietnam. He later became the first black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff before becoming the first black Secretary of State.