Washington ? The Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to confirm Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state, despite sharp criticism by some Democrats over her role in planning and selling the Iraq war. Rice is the first black woman to serve as the nation’s top diplomat.

“Condi Rice is a fine, fine public servant, greatly admired here in America and greatly admired around the world,” President Bush said during a news conference shortly before Rice’s 85-13 confirmation by the Senate. “And she will make a great secretary of state.”

Rice, 50, who’d served as national security adviser since 2001 and is one of Bush’s most trusted aides, was sworn in at a private ceremony Wednesday night at the White House. She was scheduled to report today to the State Department to take over from Colin Powell.

Rice’s confirmation is the culmination of what one supporter, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., called “a great American success story.” She’s risen from the youthful experience of racial discrimination in the segregated South to one of the nation’s most storied jobs.

“Dr. Rice possesses this rare combination of management and administrative experience, of policy expertise, of academic scholarship and, not least importantly, personal integrity and character,” said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.

Rice also made some unwanted history Wednesday when 12 Democrats and independent Sen. James Jeffords of Vermont voted against her nomination, an almost unprecedented outburst fueled by anger about the Iraq war. It was the second-most “no” votes ever for a secretary of state, according to the Senate Historical Office. In 1825, Henry Clay was confirmed 27-14.

“It should send a message,” said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who led opposition against Rice. “Even if there were only two or three votes, the debate should send a very important message about candor and the whole truth and about being accountable and responsible for the things you say.”