I was sorry to hear about former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s passing last week. Albright was an accomplished academic and savvy diplomat who had the distinction of being the first woman to serve as the nation’s top emissary.
News outlets recounted her myriad achievements and explored her life and character. Her clever use of wearing jewelry to convey her moods and symbolize her stances was also touched upon.
Albright was famous for her many and varied brooches. Smithsonian Magazine ran a story in 2010 that focused on her famous collection of pins. Albright told the magazine her jewelry wearing custom began after the first Gulf War, when she was assigned as an ambassador to the United Nations. Albright said the U.S. had pushed for sanctions against Iraq under Saddam Hussein. She said Iraq’s state-controlled media described her as a serpent. So she wore a snake pin soon afterward. Albright