PALM BEACH -- For eight years she was a Washington insider, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in Palm Beach Thursday night.
Dr. Rice received an award from the Anti-Defamation League.
Three weeks after leaving her post in Washington, Dr. Rice reflected on the past eight years.
Joking Condoleezza Rice says, “It's been an extraordinary eight years. And, I'm glad it's over."
On a more serious note, Dr. Rice acknowledged the criticism of the Bush Administration’s handling of the Middle East. Criticism she’s confident will temper over time.
"I know today's headlines and history are rarely the same," says Dr. Rice."We laid a foundation that will one day change the Middle East and change it for the better."
Dr. Rice was presented with the Anti-Defamation League’s Distinguished Statesman Award. The award is given to world leaders committed to promoting peace, and human and civil rights.
While Secretary of State, she created a special envoy monitoring anti-Semitism around the world. She was part of the effort to try and bring peace to the Israeli and Gaza region.
"Terrorism against anyone, anyplace, anywhere, anytime can never be justified. It's not something that can be written off as freedom fighter,” says Dr. Rice.
She also spoke of the change in Washington and the optimism in the United States.
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Dr. Rice says, "We had to be optimistic to finally elect an African-American as President of the United States.”
Dr. Rice says optimism will continue pushing the country forward.
