WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush has tapped national security adviser Condoleezza Rice to be secretary of state.

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Rice will replace Colin Powell, who has resigned. Rice will be replaced by her deputy, Stephen Hadley.

Officials said Bush also has decided on a replacement for another cabinet vacancy. He will reportedly name domestic policy adviser Margaret Spellings to replace Rod Paige as education secretary.

Bush said Rice will take office at a critical time for the country. But he said the world will see in her the country's strength, grace and dignity.

"The secretary of state is America's face to the world and in Dr. Rice the world will see the strength, grace and decency of our country," Bush said.

Rice says she looks forward to pursuing the president's "hopeful and ambitious" agenda as secretary of state. And she says it's an honor to be asked to serve her country once again.

"Under your leadership, America is fighting and winning the war on terror," Rice told Bush.

She then thanked Colin Powell, whom she referred to as her mentor.

If confirmed by the Senate, Rice will be the first black woman secretary of state.

A New Foreign Policy Direction?

Foreign policy experts say Rice has been one of Bush's closest confidantes -- so it's not surprising he tapped her to be secretary of state.

But at the same time, some say that closeness could be a problem.

Former Clinton National Security Council member Mark Brzezinski say Rice is closely affiliated with a Bush foreign policy that has made the United States "disliked" and "mistrusted around the world."

New York University's Alon Ben-Meir (says having Rice heading the diplomatic wing will give the president a comfort level. The Brookings Institution's James Steinberg says the key is that Rice is so intimately familiar with Bush's policy -- meaning she won't have a tough transition.

Key U.S. allies are finding the the choice of Rice a bit hard to swallow.

It was Rice, after all, who was widely quoted as telling associates, "Punish France, ignore Germany and forgive Russia." That was her suggestion for how Washington should treat opponents of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in the spring of last year.

Many in Europe, Asia and the Middle East are concerned that Rice will add a more conservative, hawkish bent to U.S. diplomacy.

Palestinians say the new Bush administration must put more energy into the quest for peace. Israelis warmly welcome Rice's appointment. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom calls her "a true friend to Israel."

Meanwhile, the president has plenty of other openings to fill.

Six Cabinet members have formally announced they're leaving, and only one new cabinet member has so far been chosen. But there are reports that eight have resigned. Click here to read that full story.

McClellan said there is no timetable for naming their replacements.

Powell Plans Mideast Effort In Closing Days

Time's running short for Powell, but he'll try to squeeze in some final Mideast peace efforts while still in office.

The secretary of state will visit Israel and the West Bank early next week, on the heels of a trip with Bush to Chile and before heading to Egypt for a conference on rebuilding Iraq.

The State Department said Powell's talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders will focus on how to "move forward to peace."