Madeleine Albright's brooches

( John Taylor / Museum of Arts and Design, New York / October 12, 2012 )

Secretary of State diamond eagle: Albright purchased the eagle from the Tiny Jewel Box, her favorite shop in Washington, D.C., to wear when she was sworn in as secretary of State without realizing the antique had a rather complicated fastening system. "I'm there with my one hand on the Bible, the other hand swearing allegiance to the Constitution, and all of a sudden I look down and this pin is just swinging there, and I thought it¿s going to fall on the Bible and it's going to distract everybody." It didn't fall, but it was memorable nonetheless.