
About this episode
When Colin Powell died on October 18 at the age of 84 from COVID-19 complications, he left behind a long, decorated career in Washington and the U.S. Army. He spent much of his life in the military, eventually rising to the rank of four-star general, and went on to become the first Black Secretary of state and chairman of the Joint Chiefs. But, as he discussed in a 2012 interview with NPR's Robert Siegel about his memoir It Worked For Me, Powell's reputation was tarnished when he used faulty evidence to push for the Iraq War: "I'll never leave it behind."
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Get every episode summarized
Each time NPR's Book of the Day publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from NPR's Book of the Day

To combat the 'Artificial State,' Jill Lepore says to look to science fiction
NPR's Book of the Day
Sep 8, 20267:32completed

Author Liane Moriarty on her long-awaited sequel to 'Big Little Lies'
NPR's Book of the Day
Sep 7, 20269:42completed

New music books take on Paul Simon's 'Graceland' and the history of music and pr...
NPR's Book of the Day
Sep 4, 202617:19completed

New book evaluates President Biden's legacy as midterm elections approach
NPR's Book of the Day
Sep 3, 202610:35failed