KEY POINTS:
Helen Clark is in Washington this week to meet Geroge Bush and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
She will also meet a number of other women in powerful American positions.
Some of the women who matter
Condoleezza Rice
* Secretary of State
* Has repeatedly denied speculation that she will stand for President in 2008.
* Former National Security Adviser and head of the security council that sought an apology from Helen Clark over comments on the Iraq war.
* A former political science professor. Special adviser to George Bush senior on security affairs with special interest in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Was a Democrat until Jimmy Carter turned her Republican in 1982.
* A child genius, accomplished pianist, figure skater and football fanatic. Gets on well with Winston Peters and has telephoned him several times.
Nancy Pelosi
* Speaker, House of Representatives
* Elected to post in mid-term Congressional elections in November. Democrat member of the House from San Francisco since 1987. Had been the House Minority leader for five years.
* Next in line to the presidency, after the vice-president.
* Daughter of a Congressman and of Italian heritage. Mother of five, grandmother of six.
* One of her daughters, journalist Alexandra, made a film of the 2004 presidential campaign titled Journeys with George.
* The Economist rates her as having had a good start but cautions she will face problems if she takes Bush on head first over Iraq.
Susan Schwab
* US Trade Representative
* Equivalent to Trade Negotiations Minister, post held by Bob Zoellick in Bush's first term. She was No. 2 to Rob Portman who held the post before becoming director of the Office of Management and Budget.
* Has a PhD in public administration and international business. Was Dean of School of Public Policy at University of Maryland for eight years. Previously an aide to Senator John Danforth. Her late husband was a professional magician, but died last year of a terminal illness shortly after she returned from Apec in Hanoi.
Barbara Boxer
* Democrat Senator
* In post since 1992 and before a House Representative for 10 years.
* On the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, head of the subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
* Strong environmentalist. Former stockbroker and journalist and has published a novel.
* Her daughter was married to Hillary Clinton's brother.
