After working four years at the US State Department, Colin Powell received this assessment on his performance. Scott Mcclellan, White House spokesman, said,“Secretary Powell is doing an outstanding job over at the State Department and he has helped us accomplish many great things to make the world stronger and safer and we appreciate his service."

Colin Powell was selected to be the Secretary of State in the George W. Bush administration. This followed a distinguished military career of over twenty years. During the first term of US President George W. Bush's administration, Powell was widely regarded as a moderate force. But some experts say his influence waned in the run up to the war on Iraq.

Dennis Johnson, professor of George Washington University, said, "I think in the rough and tumble of the war in Iraq - going against our UN allies and isolating people - Colin Powell probably felt that he was on the outs. "

Last February, Powell addressed the United Nations. He laid out the Bush Administration case for military intervention in Iraq, based on its alleged pre-war evidence of weapons of mass destruction. Later, no evidence of WMD was found, leaving Powell as the spokesman for a policy constructed on faulty evidence. Another setback for Powell -- no major progress achieved in the Middle East peace process. But Powell also prepared to participate in the more light-hearted part of his job.

Some observers say Powell's political style was characterized by attempted consensus building. But this came amid an administration that wasn't perceived as placing much value on such endeavors.