Washington (CNN) -- At one time, Susan Rice seemed to be on a trajectory that would take her to the secretary of state's office in President Barack Obama's second term.

But that trajectory changed Thursday when the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations withdrew her name from consideration to succeed current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

In a letter to the president, Rice explained her decision to pull herself out of the running.

"I am highly honored to be considered by you for appointment as Secretary of State," the letter read. "However, if nominated, I am now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy, disruptive and costly -- to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities. That trade-off is simply not worth it to our country. ... Therefore, I respectfully request that you no longer consider my candidacy at this time."

A former administration official with knowledge of Rice's decision said this was Rice's decision; the White House did not ask her to stand down.

Obama said that while he regretted Rice's decision to withdraw he would continue to rely on her advice.

Rice's path began decades ago with the help of family friend Madeleine Albright, the woman who became the first female secretary of state.

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Albright, while serving under President Bill Clinton, recommended that he tap Rice for a high-level State Department post on African affairs in the late 1990s.

Albright had previously served with Rice's mother, Lois Rice, on a school board in Washington and watched Rice grow up with her own daughters. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who was headed to be Secretary of State before Clinton?
2. Who pulled herself out of the running?
3. Who was considering her appointment ?
4. Did he ask her to stand down?
5. Who was her family friend?
6. Who was the first female secretary of state?
7. Serving under whom?
8. Who was Rice's mother?
9. Did she know Madeling Albright?
10. How"
11. Who would Rice have succeeded if she took the position?
Answer: 1. Madeleine Albright
2. Susan Rice
3. Obama
4. No
5. Madeleine Albright
6. Madeleine Albright
7. Bill Clinton
8. Lois Rice
9. Yes
10. served a school board
11. Hillary Clinton

The University of Oxford (informally Oxford University or simply Oxford) is a collegiate research university located in Oxford, England. It has no known date of foundation, but there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world's second-oldest university in continuous operation. It grew rapidly from 1167 when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris. After disputes between students and Oxford townsfolk in 1209, some academics fled north-east to Cambridge where they established what became the University of Cambridge. The two "ancient universities" are frequently jointly referred to as "Oxbridge".

The university is made up of a variety of institutions, including 38 constituent colleges and a full range of academic departments which are organised into four divisions. All the colleges are self-governing institutions within the university, each controlling its own membership and with its own internal structure and activities. Being a city university, it does not have a main campus and instead its buildings and facilities are scattered throughout the city centre. Most undergraduate teaching at Oxford is organised around weekly tutorials at the colleges and halls, supported by classes, lectures and laboratory work provided by university faculties and departments. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Do we know when Oxford was founded?
2. How far back is there evidence of teaching?
3. Why did it grow quickly in 1167?
4. What is "Oxbridge"?
5. Which two?
6. How many constituent colleges does Oxford have?
7. Does it have a main campus?
8. Where are its buildings and facilities?
9. What happened in 1209?
10. What is the oldest university in the English-speaking world?
11. Do all the colleges govern themselves?
12. How is most undergrad teaching organised?
13. What are the supported by?
14. And what else?
Answer: 1. no
2. 1096
3. Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris
4. the combination of two ancient universities
5. Oxford and Cambridge
6. 38 constituent
7. No
8. they are scattered throughout the city centre
9. the university of Cambridge was established
10. the university of Oxford
11. yes
12. weekly tutorials
13. classes
14. lectures

CHAPTER III

THE WANDERER'S NECKLACE

On the morrow early I lay awake, for how could I sleep when Iduna rested beneath the same roof with me--Iduna, who, as her father had decreed, was to become my wife sooner than I had hoped? I was thinking how beautiful she looked, and how much I loved her; also of other things that were not so pleasant. For instance, why did not everybody see her with my eyes? I could not hide from myself that Ragnar went near to hating her; more than once she had almost been the cause of a quarrel between us. Freydisa, too, my nurse, who loved me, looked on her sourly, and even my mother, although she tried to like her for my sake, had not yet learned to do so, or thus it appeared to me.

When I asked her why, she replied that she feared the maid was somewhat selfish, also too fond of drawing the eyes of men, and of the adornment of her beauty. Of those who were dearest to me, indeed, only Steinar seemed to think Iduna as perfect as I did myself. This, so far as it went, was well; but, then, Steinar and I had always thought alike, which robbed his judgment of something of its worth.

Whilst I was pondering over these things, although it was still so early that my father and Athalbrand were yet in bed sleeping off the fumes of the liquor they had drunk, I heard Steinar himself talking to the messengers from Agger in the hall. They asked him humbly whether he would be pleased to return with them that day and take possession of his inheritance, since they must get back forthwith to Agger with their tidings. He replied that if they would send some or come themselves to escort him on the tenth day from that on which they spoke, he would go to Agger with them, but that until then he could not do so. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who did the mother not like?
2. What was her name?
3. What was the problem?
4. She she the only one who disliked her?
5. How many other people?
6. Who?
7. Did it create issues with anyone?
8. With who?
9. Did anyone approve of her?
10. Who?
11. Was this a great comfort?
12. Why not?
13. Why did her dad disapprove of the engagement?
14. Who was his dad napping with?
15. Why were they napping at the time?
16. Was Agger there?
17. Who were they speaking to?
18. About what?
19. Did he leave with them?
20. When would he leave then?
Answer:
1. the maid
2. Iduna
3. she feared the maid was selfish and too fond of drawing the eyes of men
4. No
5. Two
6. Ragnar and Freydisa
7. Yes
8. Ragnar
9. Yes
10. Steinar
11. No
12. Steinar and he had always thought alike, which robbed his judgment of something of its worth
13. He didn't
14. Athalbrand
15. They were sleeping off the fumes of the liquor they had drunk
16. No, he sent messengers.
17. Steinar
18. to return with and take possession of his inheritance
19. No
20. on the tenth day from that on which they spoke