Madeleine Albright was the first woman to serve as the Secretary of State of the United States. Albright was a central figure in President Bill Clinton's administration, first serving as US ambassador to the United Nations before becoming the nation's top diplomat in his second term. Albright has received numerous awards for her contributions to diplomacy, democracy and world affairs, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2012. Albright, who helped steer Western foreign policy in the aftermath of the Cold War, died earlier today. She was 84 years old.
