First African American Senator:
Hiram R. Revels
(Republican-Mississippi)
First Asian American Senator:
Hiram L. Fong
(Republican-Hawaii)
First Hispanic American Senator:
Octaviano Larrazolo
(Republican-New Mexico)
First American Indian Senator:
Charles Curtis
(Republican-Kansas)
First Woman Supreme Court Justice: Sandra Day O’Connor
(Appointed by Republican R. Reagan)
First African American
Secretary of State:
Colin Powell
(Appointed by Republican G.W. Bush)
First Female African American
National Security Adviser:
Condoleezza Rice
(Appointed by Republican G.W. Bush)
First African American
Secretary of Education
Rod Paige
(Appointed by Republican G.W. Bush)
First Female Asian American
Secretary of Labor
Elaine Chao
(Appointed by Republican G.W. Bush)
First Female African American
Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice
(Appointed by Republican G.W. Bush)
First Hispanic American
Attorney General
Alberto Gonzales
(Appointed by Republican G.W. Bush)
The above mentioned individuals all possess a few common
characteristics. They all overcame obstacles through hard work,
discipline, and perseverance. They did this without the assistance of
Affirmative Action, Jesse Jackson, or Al Sharpton.