Albright, Madeleine Korbel (1937-...), served as secretary of state of the United States from 1997 to 2001. She was the first woman to hold the post. President Bill Clinton appointed her to the office. Albright had served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (UN) from 1993 to 1997. At the UN, she became known as an outspoken supporter of human rights and the use of UN peacekeeping forces in troubled areas.