Marshall and Powell--Soldiers to Statesmen a Contrast in Diplomatic Leadership

United States history books reveal the proud tradition of American soldiers who rose to the top of their military careers and later became prominent senior statesmen at the highest levels of government. Some pundits may argue, however, that military men are unsuited for "civilian positions in the national security structure" because, soldiers prefer "bombing'em back into the stone age" rather than using the soft power of diplomacy.1 On the contrary, officers such as George Washington and Dwight D. Eisenhower are just two examples of soldiers who not only possessed a "military mind" but also displayed effective skills in senior diplomatic posts.2 When discussing soldiers who rose to the top of their military professions and later became senior statesman, it is impossible to ignore the careers of George C. Marshall and Colin L. Powell.