Rice can now put State behind Bush

The U.S. Senate confirmed President Bush's choice of Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state after Democrats used the nomination to condemn Bush's pursuit of the war in Iraq.

The Senate voted 85-13 in favor of Rice after more than 10 hours of debate over two days, allowing her to succeed Colin Powell. The dissenting votes came from 12 Democrats and independent James Jeffords of Vermont. It was the second-highest vote count ever against a nominee for secretary of state, a Senate historian said.

Rice, 50, becomes the first black woman to hold the office of U.S. secretary of state. Powell was the first African-American to hold the job. Madeleine Albright, who served right before him under Democratic President Bill Clinton, was the first woman.

"It's a proud moment for this Senate and indeed for the American people," said Senate Republican leader Bill Frist of Tennessee. "I'm disappointed that Dr. Rice's nomination was caught in the maw of partisan politics."

Rice took the oath of office at 7:08 p.m. EST in White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card's Office, spokesman Fred Jones said.

Rice is due to arrive today at the State Department for her first full day on the job. Among her most immediate priorities is finishing the task of choosing replacements for top department officials who are leaving along with Powell.

Bush already has nominated U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick to serve as deputy secretary. Other expected vacancies include the undersecretaries for economic affairs, political affairs and arms control, and the assistant secretaries in charge of the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said on Cable News Network after a meeting at the White House that Rice is likely to travel soon to the Middle East, where Israeli and Palestinian officials resumed talks today. "It will be a very positive signal that Americans will be involved," Shalom said.

Rice was Bush's national security adviser in his first term and is a close friend. She will help ensure a State Department less likely to oppose Bush on such decisions as the Iraq war, said Gary Schmitt, president of the Project for the New American Century, a Washington-based policy study group.

Rice's influence might give lower-level experts in the department with specific suggestions for policy improvements a better chance to be heard in White House debates, Schmitt said.