Colin Powell through the years

Richard Cheney, U.S. Defense Secretary during the Gulf War, and then Chairman of the Armed Forces Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell (R), address U.S. troops deployed in Saudi Arabia as part of operation Desert Shield during the Gulf crisis, in a December 21, 1990 file photo. According to reports, Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush decided on July 24, 2000 to offer the vice presidential spot on the Republican White House ticket to Cheney. Senior Republican sources in Washington said Bush would call Cheney soon and appear with him July 25. Cheney had previously told associates that if asked, he would accept the nomination. Bush had also been courting Powell for the Vice President's job, but Powell said he was not interested. HB/ (Reuters)

Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell salutes his old boss - former United States President Ronald Reagan - in front of a poster during a party February 6 in honor of Reagan's 85th birthday. The president did not attend the birthday party, held at Chasen's Restaurant in West Hollywood (Reuters)

Summit general chairman Colin Powell (R) points to the audience thanking people for their support as he stands with first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton (L), former President and first lady George and Barbara Bush outside historic Independence Hal, during closing ceremonies for the President's Summit for America's Future in Philadelphia, April 29. Powell called the three-day summit, organized to draw attention to America's social youth and support system, a success. VOLUNTEER (Reuters)

President Bush presents Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Colin Powell with a Congressional Gold Medal at the White House December 10, 1992. The Los Angeles Times reported today that Powell was receiving increasingly serious consideration by President-Elect Bill Clinton for the post of Secretary of State.     REUTERS/Gary Cameron (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS) BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE (REUTERS/Gary Cameron)

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell (3R), on his first trip to the Balkans, meets the international community's High Representative to Bosnia Wolfgang Petritsch (C) and Commander of the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) General Michael Dodson (L), at the Sarajevo airport, April 13, 2001. MZ (Reuters)

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak (R) meets U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell February 24, 2001 to discuss the Middle East peace process and the Iraqi issue. U.S. President George W. Bush will hold talks with Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak in Washington in April to consolidate already strong ties between the two states, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Saturday. MS (Reuters)

Texas Governor and Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush shakes hands with General Colin Powell (Ret.) as General Norman Schwarzkopf (Ret.) looks on at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio September 7, 2000. Bush and the Generals spoke about the decline of the U.S. military under the Clinton administration. RTW/RCS (Reuters)

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell (L) poses for photographers with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat as they meet for talks in Ramalllah February 25, 2001. Powell continues his whirlwind Middle East tour for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. AJ/CRB (Reuters)

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and former British Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher attend a flag raising ceremony in Kuwait to mark its 40th National Day and the 10th anniversary of liberation from Iraq's seven-month occupation. Thousands of people, including government officials, (Reuters)

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell (L) and Israeli Prime Minister elect Ariel Sharon meet in Jerusalem for talks February 25, 2001. [Powell continues his whirlwind Middle East tour for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.     ] (Reuters)

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell,flanked by his Kuwait counterpart Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah speaks to reporters February 25, 2001. The ex-General is in Kuwait to discuss Washington's new tough policy toward Iraq and attend the celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of Bagdad's defeat in the Gulf War. SM/AA (Reuters)

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell (R) points as he shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov in Cairo February 24, 2001. Both men both men are expected to discuss arms control, Iraq and Middle East peace. Powell said his meeting with Ivanov would be a "get acquainted session" and the start of the engagement between the new Bush administration and the Putin government in Moscow. (Reuters)

U.S. President-elect Bush (L) listens as retired General Colin Powell speaks to supporters and the press after Bush annouced Powell would serve as his Secretary of State in the his administration during a ceremony in Crawford, Texas, December 16, 2000. Powell served as Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff under former President Bush's administration. (Reuters)

Republican presidential candidate Texas Governor George W. Bush (L) and General Colin Powell take questions from the media in Austin, May 25. Bush and Powell were together to sign "The Governor's Promise Partnership" which focuses on helping children with their education needs during a ceremony at the Governor's Mansion. JM (Reuters)

Gen. Colin Powell holds up a copy of the America's Promise 1999 Report to the Nation during a speech at the National Press Club in Washington, May 17. America's Promise is the volunteer organization chaired by Powell to improve the lives of youth in the United States. WM/JP/AA (Reuters)

Former Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chief of Staff General Colin Powell walks down Pennsylvania Avenue on his way to meet Israeli-Prime-Minister Shimon-Peres December 11 (Reuters)

General Colin Powell, retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, signs a book in San Francisco September 25 (Reuters)

Retired General Colin Powell speaks at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia on July 31, 2000. Earlier in the day Texas Gov. George W. Bush was formally nominated for president of the United States. PM/RCS (Reuters)

(Original Caption) Secretary of State Colin Powell listens as President Bush speaks on trade promotion authority at the Department of State. (Photo by �� Brooks Kraft/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) (Getty Images)