[MRM]

I never met him, but I once sat next to a distinguished older gentleman on a flight from MSP to ATL who turned out to be a retired four star Army general. He had been the Army's chief supply officer. I asked him about Colin Powell and he was very complimentary. He said that Powell was so capable that he embarrassed the powers that be when he became Chair of the Joint Staff. After that, "They" decided never to allow someone as capable as Powell to be CJS ever again. He said Powell was the kind of person who you just wanted to be around. He had such charisma that when he entered the room you wanted to go over and stand by him.

My understanding is that Powell was encouraged to run by presidents of both parties but he turned them down because of his wife. I don't recall if she had mental health issues or what the problem was, but he didn't think she could handle it if he became president.