Rise of Elaine Chao: The Life of America's First Asian-American Woman Cabinet Member

Elaine Chao's journey from a young immigrant who spoke no English to one of the most powerful women in American politics is anything but simple. As the first Asian-American woman to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet, her story stretches across continents, administrations, and controversies.

"The Rise of Elaine Chao" traces her life from her childhood in Taiwan and early years in Queens, New York, through her elite education at Mount Holyoke and Harvard Business School, to her influential roles in the Reagan, Bush, and Trump administrations. At every stage, she navigated a landscape shaped by race, gender, power, and loyalty-with sharp calculation and fierce ambition.

But Chao's rise came with questions. How did her marriage to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell affect her political career? What role did her family's shipping business play while she held public office? And how do her actions measure against the ideals of public service?

This book takes a clear-eyed look at Chao's long career-her policy decisions, her critics, and the delicate balance she maintained between private interests and public duty. More than a political profile, it's a story of immigration, identity, power, and the personal choices behind public leadership.

Whether admired or questioned, Elaine Chao's presence in the American government has shaped the conversation on who gets to lead-and how.