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Quiz about Diplomacy and Tact US Secretaries of State

Diplomacy and Tact: U.S. Secretaries of State Quiz

Throughout U.S. history, secretaries of state have played a major role in formulating American foreign policy decisions. Take this quiz to test your knowledge on ten of these diplomats. Have fun.

A multiple-choice quiz by mrgrouchy. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
mrgrouchy

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
298,783

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
721

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Born in Bavaria, I served as secretary of state in the Nixon and Ford administrations from 1973 to 1977. Who am I? Hint

Henry Kissinger

William Rogers

Cyrus Vance

Warren Christopher

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Question 2 of 10

2. I was the nation's fifth secretary of state, serving in the Jefferson administration between 1801 and 1809. I would later become the U.S. president in 1809. Please identify me. Hint

James Madison

John Quincy Adams

James Monroe

Andrew Jackson

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Question 3 of 10

3. A graduate of Davidson College, I was the secretary of state during the Kennedy and Johnson years between 1961 and 1969. Can you name me? Hint

William Westmoreland

Christian Herter

Dean Rusk

Robert McNamara

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who served as President Franklin Roosevelt's first secretary of state for eleven years, from 1933 to 1944? Hint

Henry Stimson

Frank Kellogg

Edward Stettinius

Cordell Hull

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Question 5 of 10

5. In 1997, who became the first woman to serve as U.S. secretary of state? Hint

Sandra Day O'Connor

Condoleezza Rice

Jeane Kirkpatrick

Madeleine Albright

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Question 6 of 10

6. I worked as President Lincoln's secretary of state during the U.S. Civil War, 1861-1865. Later, I would aid in the USA's acquisition of Alaska from Russia. Can you name me? Hint

Elihu Washburne

Jeremiah Black

William Seward

Lewis Cass

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Question 7 of 10

7. A former general, I was President George W. Bush's first secretary of state, from 2001 to 2005. Can you identify me? Hint

Wesley Clark

Colin Powell

Dan McNeill

Mike Jackson

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Question 8 of 10

8. I was the secretary of state during most of the Eisenhower years, serving from 1953 to 1959. A Washington, DC, airport is named after me. Who am I? Hint

Christian Herter

John F. Dulles

Dean Acheson

Harrison Matthews

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which one-time U.S. secretary of state received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953 for his work with the European Recovery Plan? Hint

Dean Acheson

Edward Stettinius

James Byrnes

George Marshall

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Question 10 of 10

10. A survivor of the Nixon Watergate scandal, 1972-1974, I was President Reagan's first secretary of state, from 1981 to 1982. Can you identify me? Hint

Warren Christopher

George Schultz

Alexander Haig

James Baker III

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Born in Bavaria, I served as secretary of state in the Nixon and Ford administrations from 1973 to 1977. Who am I?

Answer: Henry Kissinger

Henry Kissinger played a major role in the Nixon cabinet. William Rogers was Nixon's first secretary of state, serving from 1969 to 1973.

2. I was the nation's fifth secretary of state, serving in the Jefferson administration between 1801 and 1809. I would later become the U.S. president in 1809. Please identify me.

Answer: James Madison

Madison was a highly skilled diplomat. He was instrumental in supervising the Louisiana Purchase, which greatly expanded U.S. territory. He would later become the USA's fourth president.

3. A graduate of Davidson College, I was the secretary of state during the Kennedy and Johnson years between 1961 and 1969. Can you name me?

Answer: Dean Rusk

Born in the state of Georgia, Rusk was widely criticized for his support of LBJ's Vietnam War policy. McNamara was the secretary of defense during much of the 1960s.

4. Who served as President Franklin Roosevelt's first secretary of state for eleven years, from 1933 to 1944?

Answer: Cordell Hull

Hull established a record for longevity as secretary of state. He would later receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945 for his efforts in helping to create the United Nations.

5. In 1997, who became the first woman to serve as U.S. secretary of state?

Answer: Madeleine Albright

Born in Prague, Albright moved with her family to the USA in 1948. She served in the Clinton administration between 1997 and 2001. O'Connor was appointed as a Supreme Court justice and Rice would later become the second woman to work as U.S. secretary of state.

6. I worked as President Lincoln's secretary of state during the U.S. Civil War, 1861-1865. Later, I would aid in the USA's acquisition of Alaska from Russia. Can you name me?

Answer: William Seward

In 1867, the purchase of Alaska became known as "Seward's Folly" - many people thought that the acquisition was a tremendous waste of money.

7. A former general, I was President George W. Bush's first secretary of state, from 2001 to 2005. Can you identify me?

Answer: Colin Powell

Powell was considered a major presidential / vice-presidential candidate by both Republicans and Democrats in the 1990s, but he declined all offers due to "family" reasons.

8. I was the secretary of state during most of the Eisenhower years, serving from 1953 to 1959. A Washington, DC, airport is named after me. Who am I?

Answer: John F. Dulles

Dulles was a noted anti-communist figure in the Eisenhower administration. He often worked closely with his younger brother Allen to formulate U.S. policy. Allen Dulles was a director of the CIA.

9. Which one-time U.S. secretary of state received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953 for his work with the European Recovery Plan?

Answer: George Marshall

Marshall, a former general, worked in the Truman administration from 1947 to 1949. His program to aid devastated European countries in post World War II became known as the "Marshall Plan."

10. A survivor of the Nixon Watergate scandal, 1972-1974, I was President Reagan's first secretary of state, from 1981 to 1982. Can you identify me?

Answer: Alexander Haig

Haig took over as chief of staff for President Nixon after H.R. Haldeman was dismissed in April 1973. Later, Haig would be criticized for what was called his "irrational" behavior in the hours following the Reagan assassination attempt in March 1981.

Source: Author mrgrouchy

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