Powell Says He Has Been Racially Profiled

In an interview with CNN's Larry King, some of which you can see at left, Powell recalled a particular incident at a Washington airport when he worked for the Reagan administration.

"Nobody thought I could possibly be the national security advisor to the president, I was just a black guy at Reagan National Airport," he said. "And it was only when I went to the counter and said is my guest here waiting for me, that someone said, 'Oh, you're General Powell.' It was inconceivable to him that a black guy could be the national security advisor."

On the Gates arrest, Powell said the Harvard professor could have been more patient with the police officer, Sgt. James Crowley.

"I think Skip, perhaps in this instance, might have waited a while, come outside, talked to the officer and that might have been the end of it… I think he should have reflected on whether or not this was the time to make that big a deal," Powell said.

When asked how he deals with it, Powell said the following: "Do you get angry, yes. Do you manifest that anger – you protest, you try to get things fixed. But it's a kind of better course of action to take it easy and don't let your anger make the current situation worse."

"There is no African-American in this country who has not been exposed to this kind of situation," he added.

In the interview, which airs in full tonight, Powell also weighed on Sarah Palin's recent resignation as Alaska's governor. He called Palin a "fascinating figure" and that she is worth watching in the future.

"We will have to see what her plans are," he said. "I do not know if she is doing all of this for political purposes or just to start a new life in the wonderful world of speaking. And we will all be watching with great interest."