Term "red states" and "blue states" emerged after 2000 presidential election. States vote predominantly for one party: Republicans in red, Democrats in blue. Swing states show varying party support between candidates
Secretary of Defense heads the Department of Defense and is second only to the president in military command. Appointed by president with Senate consent, serves as member of National Security Council. Cannot have served as active-duty commissioned officer in previous seven years. Currently Lloyd Austin serves as first African American defense secretary
Secretary of State heads Department of State dealing with foreign affairs. Office created in 1781 by Second Continental Congress. Only two naturalized citizens have served: Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright
Born in 1888, Dulles started diplomatic career at age 19. Served as legal counsel at Versailles Peace Conference at age 30. Helped prepare UN charter at Dumbarton Oaks during WWII. Negotiated Japan-US peace treaty in 1951
Republican Party emerged in 1850s as antislavery movement against Kansas-Nebraska Act. Party gained nickname "GOP" in 1870s and adopted elephant logo from Thomas Nast. Abraham Lincoln's presidency in 1860 marked party's greatest legacy. Party supported slavery's abolition through Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation
Conservative Party formed in 1834 from remnants of Tories. Whig Party dissolved in 1859, succeeded by Liberal Party