Colin Luther Powell, who died on Monday at the age of 84 from complications related to COVID-19, was a trailblazing US military leader and national security official who served as America’s first black Secretary of State at the start of the 2003 Iraq war.

Powell was a long-time Republican tapped for top positions in the administrations of presidents ranging from Ronald Reagan to George H.W. Bush and finally George W. Bush – but who would cross party lines to endorse the Democrats Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden in presidential races.

Financial Times