Madam Secretary -

, the first woman to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet (Secretary of Labor under FDR). :

: How the show explores international cooperation as a "fantasy" where hard work and communication can solve any dispute, contrasted with real-world complexities. Madam Secretary

Prior to Albright, the Secretary of State had been a role occupied by white men in suits—Thomas Jefferson, Henry Kissinger, James Baker. Albright, a Czech immigrant and refugee from Nazism and Communism, became the highest-ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government at that time. , the first woman to serve in a U

As Madam Secretary, Albright pursued a robust foreign policy agenda, focusing on issues such as: Prior to Albright, the Secretary of State had

Unlike Elizabeth McCord on TV, real Secretaries rarely have an "aha" moment where they solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a single episode. Instead, they operate in inches.

If you want to engage with the keyword "Madam Secretary" as a fan, start with Season 2 of the TV show (where the show finds its voice). But if you want to engage with the reality, read Albright’s Madam Secretary: A Memoir .

Dr. Elizabeth McCord is a sharp, diplomatic, and highly principled woman who reluctantly accepts the position of Secretary of State after the sudden death of her predecessor in a plane crash. She is appointed by President Robert "Bobby" McCord (no relation; played by Keith Carradine) — though later the president is Conrad Dalton (played by Kevin Kline).