Madeleine Albright’s Daughters Say She Never Forgot Her Roots as a Refugee

Anne K ALBRIGHT President ░░░░░░░░ President Obama Mrs Obama ░░░░░░░░ Clinton Secretary Clinton Speaker ░░░░░░░░ Leader McConnell Mayor Bowser ░░░░░░░░ Hogan Secretaries Blinken Carrie ░░░░░░░░ leaders and friends from ░░░░░░░░ members of Congress and ░░░░░░░░ diplomatic core Bishop Buddy ░░░░░░░░ those who are here ░░░░░░░░ all those watching from ░░░░░░░░ we speak for our ░░░░░░░░ family in thanking you ░░░░░░░░ joining in this ceremony ░░░░░░░░ celebration and remembrance Most ░░░░░░░░ you knew Madeleine Albright ░░░░░░░░ a colleague in government ░░░░░░░░ business a teacher or ░░░░░░░░ champion of democracy and ░░░░░░░░ rights To the world ░░░░░░░░ were the many hats ░░░░░░░░ wore But to our ░░░░░░░░ she also wore others ░░░░░░░░ of devoted sister aunt ░░░░░░░░ Maddy And for the ░░░░░░░░ of us the best ░░░░░░░░ ever Of course even ░░░░░░░░ moms have quirks When ░░░░░░░░ were little my sisters ░░░░░░░░ I often awoke to ░░░░░░░░ odd maternal cry of ░░░░░░░░ and atom said the ░░░░░░░░ Usually Mom had risen ░░░░░░░░ to work on her ░░░░░░░░ dissertation fix our breakfasts ░░░░░░░░ organize our backpacks When ░░░░░░░░ were at summer camp ░░░░░░░░ constantly sent us notes ░░░░░░░░ whatever was on her ░░░░░░░░ The state of the ░░░░░░░░ plumbing issues or whether ░░░░░░░░ thought it would be ░░░░░░░░ for her to take ░░░░░░░░ job on Capitol Hill ░░░░░░░░ handwriting was distinctive and ░░░░░░░░ Her Ms all looked ░░░░░░░░ Ws And so the ░░░░░░░░ on our library cards ░░░░░░░░ our mother as Wadeleine ░░░░░░░░ Now some people in ░░░░░░░░ lingo of our Czech ░░░░░░░░ like to play it ░░░░░░░░ the ears Not Mom ░░░░░░░░ loved schedules and knowing ░░░░░░░░ order of her day ░░░░░░░░ had boundless energy and ░░░░░░░░ always planning for what ░░░░░░░░ next She described herself ░░░░░░░░ an optimist who worries ░░░░░░░░ lot and we can ░░░░░░░░ attest to her worries ░░░░░░░░ was incredibly protective But ░░░░░░░░ matter how much she ░░░░░░░░ on no matter how ░░░░░░░░ of the world was ░░░░░░░░ her plate we always ░░░░░░░░ that when we needed ░░░░░░░░ she would take our ░░░░░░░░ say Here I am ░░░░░░░░ come quick Of course ░░░░░░░░ worried about her too ░░░░░░░░ after she became UN ░░░░░░░░ and militants cursed and ░░░░░░░░ rocks at her in ░░░░░░░░ Balkans The resulting t ░░░░░░░░ I got stoned with ░░░░░░░░ Albright made us smile ░░░░░░░░ the reality did not ░░░░░░░░ from then on we ░░░░░░░░ that she tell us ░░░░░░░░ advance where she was ░░░░░░░░ who she d be ░░░░░░░░ or otherwise we declared ░░░░░░░░ ll be grounded As ░░░░░░░░ got older Mom never ░░░░░░░░ to steer us in ░░░░░░░░ Direction or another She ░░░░░░░░ urged us to forge ░░░░░░░░ to be whatever we ░░░░░░░░ to be For my ░░░░░░░░ that meant at working ░░░░░░░░ and locally to help ░░░░░░░░ and communities thrive For ░░░░░░░░ that meant being a ░░░░░░░░ defender and family lawyer ░░░░░░░░ night when I was ░░░░░░░░ a client at the ░░░░░░░░ County jail and had ░░░░░░░░ call my mother to ░░░░░░░░ our dinner date she ░░░░░░░░ I was in jail ░░░░░░░░ almost had a heart ░░░░░░░░ After I became a ░░░░░░░░ she drove to Rockville ░░░░░░░░ quote watch me in ░░░░░░░░ Effective courts she said ░░░░░░░░ essential to a strong ░░░░░░░░ Mom s example meant ░░░░░░░░ to me and my ░░░░░░░░ She said that if ░░░░░░░░ or any other young ░░░░░░░░ wanted to compete successfully ░░░░░░░░ men we had to ░░░░░░░░ sure our ideas were ░░░░░░░░ And that meant being ░░░░░░░░ ALICE PATTERSON ALBRIGHT To ░░░░░░░░ Yes interrupt But when ░░░░░░░░ do make sure you ░░░░░░░░ your thoughts in order ░░░░░░░░ your facts straight This ░░░░░░░░ a lesson that Mom ░░░░░░░░ not only to us ░░░░░░░░ to generations of students ░░░░░░░░ her beloved Georgetown During ░░░░░░░░ teaching career that spanned ░░░░░░░░ 40 years she never ░░░░░░░░ her enthusiasm Often when ░░░░░░░░ asked her what she ░░░░░░░░ be doing over the ░░░░░░░░ she responded Getting ready ░░░░░░░░ Monday s class When ░░░░░░░░ replied But don t ░░░░░░░░ already know everything you ░░░░░░░░ to know She said ░░░░░░░░ s all always more ░░░░░░░░ learn Mom was devoted ░░░░░░░░ her students and particularly ░░░░░░░░ forward to the now ░░░░░░░░ role play that showed ░░░░░░░░ the realities of decision ░░░░░░░░ She taught through to ░░░░░░░░ end of this past ░░░░░░░░ when her health was ░░░░░░░░ starting to fail Going ░░░░░░░░ the hospital she took ░░░░░░░░ her a large binder ░░░░░░░░ student papers I can ░░░░░░░░ see her propped up ░░░░░░░░ bed reading and grading ░░░░░░░░ often get asked What ░░░░░░░░ of mother was she ░░░░░░░░ was the kind who ░░░░░░░░ called every day and ░░░░░░░░ twice My time was ░░░░░░░░ 35 PM How are ░░░░░░░░ boys How is work ░░░░░░░░ is your next trip ░░░░░░░░ you going running tonight ░░░░░░░░ t forget it s ░░░░░░░░ out She was also ░░░░░░░░ kind of mother that ░░░░░░░░ family celebrations very seriously ░░░░░░░░ would never miss a ░░░░░░░░ a graduation a wedding ░░░░░░░░ an anniversary And often ░░░░░░░░ days in advance to ░░░░░░░░ planning She surprised everyone ░░░░░░░░ Greg s and my ░░░░░░░░ which happened to be ░░░░░░░░ Halloween by outfitting the ░░░░░░░░ wedding party with elaborate ░░░░░░░░ masks Mom sparked an ░░░░░░░░ in all things international ░░░░░░░░ for me We grew ░░░░░░░░ devouring Czech dumplings and ░░░░░░░░ Czech Christmas carols When ░░░░░░░░ and I were 12 ░░░░░░░░ Katie was six She ░░░░░░░░ dad took us on ░░░░░░░░ first trip across the ░░░░░░░░ to visit Switzerland and ░░░░░░░░ She loved speaking French ░░░░░░░░ of the five languages ░░░░░░░░ she spoke fluently and ░░░░░░░░ us to learn as ░░░░░░░░ for her This was ░░░░░░░░ question of respect and ░░░░░░░░ lesson about understanding perspectives ░░░░░░░░ our own As I ░░░░░░░░ to work in international ░░░░░░░░ and development Mom was ░░░░░░░░ best source of guidance ░░░░░░░░ my trips I often ░░░░░░░░ her with questions about ░░░░░░░░ countries I was about ░░░░░░░░ visit which UN conventions ░░░░░░░░ relevant what she knew ░░░░░░░░ the political environment And ░░░░░░░░ course where I could ░░░░░░░░ up an extra pair ░░░░░░░░ red heels should I ░░░░░░░░ them She was always ░░░░░░░░ to give advice if ░░░░░░░░ asked though sometimes it ░░░░░░░░ with the worried tone ░░░░░░░░ a mother who knew ░░░░░░░░ much about the security ░░░░░░░░ in some of the ░░░░░░░░ where I was headed ░░░░░░░░ had friends everywhere and ░░░░░░░░ s hardly a place ░░░░░░░░ I have landed where ░░░░░░░░ have not been asked ░░░░░░░░ version of Is Madeleine ░░░░░░░░ mother How is she ░░░░░░░░ then always is followed ░░░░░░░░ We just love her ░░░░░░░░ took a particular interest ░░░░░░░░ I let her know ░░░░░░░░ I was visiting refugees ░░░░░░░░ working to help girls ░░░░░░░░ a better chance for ░░░░░░░░ education Often her voice ░░░░░░░░ grow a bit deeper ░░░░░░░░ conversation slower and I ░░░░░░░░ tell that she was ░░░░░░░░ of being an 11 ░░░░░░░░ old immigrant girl who ░░░░░░░░ the Blitz moved around ░░░░░░░░ left her homeland and ░░░░░░░░ in the United States ░░░░░░░░ 1948 with her sister ░░░░░░░░ and parents seeking refuge ░░░░░░░░ wanting a better and ░░░░░░░░ future Even though she ░░░░░░░░ one of the world ░░░░░░░░ top diplomats Mom never ░░░░░░░░ forgot where she came ░░░░░░░░ and how precarious her ░░░░░░░░ were when she first ░░░░░░░░ in the United States ░░░░░░░░ explained why Mom never ░░░░░░░░ anything for granted and ░░░░░░░░ always grateful for everything ░░░░░░░░ described herself as a ░░░░░░░░ American and took enormous ░░░░░░░░ in representing the US ░░░░░░░░ Now when I look ░░░░░░░░ my watch I know ░░░░░░░░ 6 35 PM will ░░░░░░░░ be the same for ░░░░░░░░ And I will be ░░░░░░░░ grateful Mom for everything ░░░░░░░░ ve given me I ░░░░░░░░ you so much Mom ░░░░░░░░ everything about you And ░░░░░░░░ forever KATHARINE M ALBRIGHT ░░░░░░░░ m the youngest and ░░░░░░░░ my very best to ░░░░░░░░ advantage of that by ░░░░░░░░ the rules and boundaries ░░░░░░░░ didn t work But ░░░░░░░░ also had rules for ░░░░░░░░ As Anne mentioned and ░░░░░░░░ Biden she would always ░░░░░░░░ up the phone when ░░░░░░░░ called But I still ░░░░░░░░ this one day she ░░░░░░░░ t I was in ░░░░░░░░ school and Mom had ░░░░░░░░ started her professional career ░░░░░░░░ her first job on ░░░░░░░░ Hill When I called ░░░░░░░░ office I was told ░░░░░░░░ mother can t come ░░░░░░░░ the phone right now ░░░░░░░░ she s on the ░░░░░░░░ with Senator Muskie I ░░░░░░░░ no clue what that ░░░░░░░░ As Mom tells the ░░░░░░░░ that night I ran ░░░░░░░░ to her and I ░░░░░░░░ What were you two ░░░░░░░░ on the floor She ░░░░░░░░ aptly explained to her ░░░░░░░░ daughter how the legislative ░░░░░░░░ of our country is ░░░░░░░░ on the Senate Floor ░░░░░░░░ course everyone in our ░░░░░░░░ has a favorite memory ░░░░░░░░ many of Mom Permit ░░░░░░░░ to share a few ░░░░░░░░ and I invite you ░░░░░░░░ imagine them with us ░░░░░░░░ Mom sitting on the ░░░░░░░░ with her feet up ░░░░░░░░ perched on her nose ░░░░░░░░ Knitting everything from little ░░░░░░░░ for our dolls to ░░░░░░░░ cozy woolen socks Think ░░░░░░░░ her helping us to ░░░░░░░░ a little red wagon ░░░░░░░░ with Girl Scout cookies ░░░░░░░░ the spring or campaign ░░░░░░░░ in the fall along ░░░░░░░░ crowded sidewalks and cobbled ░░░░░░░░ of our neighborhood With ░░░░░░░░ step an unspoken lesson ░░░░░░░░ hard work giving back ░░░░░░░░ civic participation Imagine Mom ░░░░░░░░ down the Colorado ski ░░░░░░░░ while wrapped in a ░░░░░░░░ parka and fuzzy hat ░░░░░░░░ more accurately snowplowing back ░░░░░░░░ forth so cautiously that ░░░░░░░░ teased her of inventing ░░░░░░░░ whole new sport uphill ░░░░░░░░ But skiing as in ░░░░░░░░ she always let us ░░░░░░░░ ahead and beamed at ░░░░░░░░ daring Think of her ░░░░░░░░ a commencement ceremony indeed ░░░░░░░░ own from that very ░░░░░░░░ decked out in her ░░░░░░░░ robes urging young people ░░░░░░░░ help one another take ░░░░░░░░ laugh often and never ░░░░░░░░ a friend behind Or ░░░░░░░░ her dark blue suit ░░░░░░░░ for her historic confirmation ░░░░░░░░ as America s first ░░░░░░░░ Secretary of State And ░░░░░░░░ is she doing in ░░░░░░░░ waiting room brushing her ░░░░░░░░ and giving us each ░░░░░░░░ Tic Tac Picture mom ░░░░░░░░ of bright pink as ░░░░░░░░ Obama clasps the Medal ░░░░░░░░ Freedom around her neck ░░░░░░░░ which she shares with ░░░░░░░░ the pride she felt ░░░░░░░░ her own parents and ░░░░░░░░ delight that her grandchildren ░░░░░░░░ grandees could witness the ░░░░░░░░ Envision her leading our ░░░░░░░░ along the magical streets ░░░░░░░░ Prague Gleefully recounting the ░░░░░░░░ about trolls and water ░░░░░░░░ And then guiding us ░░░░░░░░ the sorrowful exhibits of ░░░░░░░░ where more than two ░░░░░░░░ of our ancestors were ░░░░░░░░ during the war because ░░░░░░░░ their Jewish faith None ░░░░░░░░ With Mom the joys ░░░░░░░░ the tears were never ░░░░░░░░ separated Imagine hands that ░░░░░░░░ hers were both soft ░░░░░░░░ strong hands that exchanged ░░░░░░░░ with numberless heads of ░░░░░░░░ refugees and fighters for ░░░░░░░░ Hands that congratulated graduates ░░░░░░░░ new citizens Hands that ░░░░░░░░ our toes when we ░░░░░░░░ young took our temperatures ░░░░░░░░ we were sick held ░░░░░░░░ babies when newly born ░░░░░░░░ hands that often joined ░░░░░░░░ in prayer that people ░░░░░░░░ might live in peace ░░░░░░░░ see in your mind ░░░░░░░░ eye a King James ░░░░░░░░ dogeared and worn found ░░░░░░░░ a window she loved ░░░░░░░░ after she passed with ░░░░░░░░ handwritten note nearly decipherable ░░░░░░░░ read Micah 6 8 ░░░░░░░░ the words What does ░░░░░░░░ Lord require of you ░░░░░░░░ to do justly love ░░░░░░░░ and to walk humbly ░░░░░░░░ your God I believe ░░░░░░░░ this is truly how ░░░░░░░░ tried to live every ░░░░░░░░ of her life and ░░░░░░░░ to teach us to ░░░░░░░░ the same Dying was ░░░░░░░░ on Mom s schedule ░░░░░░░░ hole has opened in ░░░░░░░░ hearts that we lack ░░░░░░░░ power to close But ░░░░░░░░ memory of her love ░░░░░░░░ the resilience of her ░░░░░░░░ will remain with us ░░░░░░░░ with many of you ░░░░░░░░ the end of our ░░░░░░░░ For that Mom and ░░░░░░░░ so much more thank ░░░░░░░░ We love you.”