Madeleine Albright honored by Biden, other world leaders

WASHINGTON (AP) — World leaders and Washington's political and foreign policy elite paid their respects to Madeleine Albright, who was America's first female secretary of state.

Some 1,400 mourners gathered Wednesday at Washington National Cathedral, led by President Joe Biden and predecessors Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

Biden delivered a tribute to Albright and said her name is synonymous with the idea that America is "a force for good in the world.”

Albright died of cancer last month at age 84.

Albright rose through the ranks of Democratic Party foreign policy circles to become ambassador to the United Nations.

Clinton selected her as secretary of state in 1996.