President George H.W. Bush names Army Gen. Colin L. Powell as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

(10 Aug 1989) President George H.W. Bush named Army Gen. Colin L. Powell, a veteran of both the battlefields of Vietnam and the corridors of power in the White House, as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Thursday. Powell, 52, will become the youngest officer and the first black ever to hold the nation’s highest military post. The nomination drew immediate praise on Capitol Hill and is expected to easily win confirmation in the Senate. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: