for nelson mandela, it was another day in the life of nelson mandela. he's meeting people who are so inspired by him and taken with what he has achieved, and all he does is make you feel comfortable, like you are the important one. >> it's good. tilt it down. >> the reflection. the portrait metaphor of "the man in the mirror" is a metaphor for south africa. his spirit. what he represents is in every single one of the people here. for the portrait it was strong for me that we needed to reflect upon ourselves about what nelson mandela had achieved, and nelson mandela's life. i think given access to shoot that portrait was a life-changing experience for the whole group. we were all very nervous. i photographed him a few times before, but not a proper portrait sitting. there's an intimacy to that. i looked up. all the crew were crying. the 2012 birthday shoot was a special shoot. sending that intimate time with the family and madeba. the family adore him and cherish the time they had with him. for many of the family they lost him for 27 years. to have this

not only nelson mandela the political leader, not only nelson mandela the former president of south africa, but for nelson mandela, the father of the nation. nelson mandela put his life on the line to bring an end to apartheid and minority white dominance in the country. on thelooks back segregation that brought the country worldwide infamy. >> apartheid was efficiently born in 1948. it divided south african society into four races -- white, black, colored, asian. public places such as the beach and cinemas and hotels were largely reserved for whites. blacks were not allowed to vote or hold property in white areas. many black people were resettled .n reservations the government granted independence to four of them but then used the independence to strip many black south africans of their citizenship. economic and commercial needs required a black workforce, which cause many black families to be separated. it was a terrible system for family life. just look at what happens to black workers in the mines. they were all taken and were living in hostels next to the minds whether families -- whi

nelson mandela, who spent 27 years in prison. he was the first black elected president of stojakovic in 1994. let's learn more about his life. >> a freeman taking his first steps into a new south africa. >> from prisoner to president. nelson mandela's 1990 release from jail signaled the end of south africa's racist policy of apartheid. he would go on to become the untry's first true democratically elected leader. >> i, nelson mandela do here swear to be faithful to the republic of south africa. >> born to a chief of a small village, mandela was one of 13 children and the first member of his family to attend school. in the 1930's he began opposing authority and the authorities that made colored south africans second-class citizens. as white south africa became more aggressive, so did he. as the head of the armed wing of the african national congress, mandela led violent sabbatini town hall attacks and was arrested and tried in 1962. he would spend 27 years in jail, but he was never forgotten. eventually international and internal

and on february 11th, 1990, nelson mandela emerged. [ speaking foreign language ]. >> nelson mandela speaks after 27 years. >> progress and fellow south africans i greet you all in the name of peace. democratic and freedom for all. i stand here before you not as a profit, but as a humble servant for you, the people. >> after 27 years in prison, when nelson mandela was released, he led the negotiations for the anc for the end of apartheid and apartheid was dismentaled. in 1994, nelson mandela was elected the first president of south africa in the first election ever held in that country where all adult citizens were welcome to vote regardless of race. in voting that took three days, april 27th is now a national holiday in south africa. it's called freedom day. and when it came time to sign the new constitution for south africa, which eliminated all vestiges of law by race, president nelson mandela went to sharpville to sign the constitution. today, nelson mandela died at home. his family says it was his wish to be buried in the town that he was born. joining us now is congressman lewi

such a full life led by nelson mandela. if you could speak about the escalating international pressure to release him back in 1990, what was that like? this must have been a real global effort. >> it was indeed. it began before that. during the reagan years, initially president reagan is very much against apartheid and he was led to the position finally of opposing apartheid by george schultz. a rising star and a strong presence on foreign policy than a senator from indiana. there was a global push for this from faith leaders and from anti-segregationists here in this country. we heard just now the secretary general of the united nations that no one has done more. no one in our era and generation has done more to fight discrimination than the moral leadership and example of this man who suffered for 27 years yet came out of prison with his wife winnie at his side and she has been imprisoned for 18 months at that time. in the anc, they came out of prison and marched in that march and from then on, his days in prison spoke of

some of the staff members of the nelson mandela foundation have served nelson mandela for over 20 years. it's encouraging to them to see how they have pulled together in the last ten days. we're hoping that we at the nelson mandela foundation together with the other two legacy institutions, nelson mandela children's fund and the mandela house foundation will help keep the legacy alive. >> reporter: we've had much talk of the legacy over this mourning period. what is the tangible legacy that you all see through organizations like yours? >> you look at madiba loved children, for example, and the work of the nelson mandela children's fund, it's important that we support their work to ensure that the children are treated well, that we don't have stories of children that are raped. that we have stories of children that go missing. those things then get reduced. in terms of the mandela foundation, there's issues of leadership in the continent. if we can have a change in terms of how the continent leads, where leaders stay forever, we can then have the legacy of mandela. then in the nelson man

more on your final thoughts on nelson mandela? >> it's not lost on me, we saw strikes of fast food workers in over 100 cities. and nelson mandela was a statesman and a lot of things, but he was also an organizer. he was sentenced to a five-year jail sentence in 1961 for organizing a three-day national strike of workers. this is before he got the life sentence. and i just want to remind viewers that it took thousands if not millions of ordinary people to do extraordinary things in south africa to lead to freedom, so we should absolutely honor nelson mandela and never forget his legacy but also recognize the names of folks that we'll never know who he helped to organize to stand up to lead to freedom and liberation in south africa. >> nelson mandela always said it looks impossible until it is done. joy reid, your thoughts? >> he changed the culture, my cultural orientation was a man from the congo. but he also changed the culture from popstars to sports celebrities. you had the whole world ice late south africa and agree to the mora

nelson mandela was only 30. he soon became convinced peaceful demonstrations would never be enough to uproot the structure, so he helped form and run an armed grill ha movement. a campaign of bombings in materially 60's, led to his arrest along with others in the movement. convicted by spare as death sentence, he would send more than a quarter of a century, 27 years behind prison walls. 18 of those at the notorious robin island. the pump condemnation, and growing domestic unrest chipped away at apartheid until finally mandela was released from prison. it was february 11th, 1990, the streets flowed with joy. vowing never to go back about what he called the black held of apartheid. >> your commitment, and your discipline, has lift me to stand before you today. but freedom wasn't easy. negotiating to reform the government, had to play peace keeper, trying to temper escalating violence between his party and supporters of the freedom party, who wanted no part of negotiations with the government that had held them dow

nelson mandela, nelson mandela, there's no one else like you. there's not much else to say, is there? it's an old antiapartheid struggle song. this song has carried through generations of activists in this country. it was no doubt illegal during the apartheid days. it was like a rallying cry to nelson many della when he was locked up in jail. nobody was seen his face. there was a sense he was cut off from the revolution. it became a war cry, a lament, it became a memory for people to sing over and over against the same words -- nelson mandela, nelson mandela, there's no one like you. in the last year particularly we've seen the call kind of a call of thanks. it was sung a lot outside the hospital when these night vigils like this emerged when he was battling that lung infection in opt for three months. it really has become such a simple acknowledgement of a man whose life was so great, so extraordinary, and as barack obama said, it was the arch of history that defines his life. also what i think is key about his images that you're seeing on your

but he studied nelson mandela's writings and works. he said the first political action was to attend an anti-apartheid rally. the president toured mandela's cell on robin island after he took office. and mrs. obama, michelle obama, along with her daughters, sasha and malia, they visited mandela, reading a book with him. and also talking with him. obviously, mandela, south africa's first black president, a huge inspiration to the u.s.'s first black president and his family. >> tahman bradley, live in washington for us this morning. >>> you heard tahman reference that memorial service that will be held in a football stadium. it's part of a logistical nightmare south african officials are facing. >> it's likely that most of the living u.s. presidents will travel to south africa. dozens of other dignitaries will attend. the event is being likened to organizing a world cup, plus a coronation and inauguration at the same time. >> bill clinton was in power when nellman mandela took power. we will remember him as a man of uncommon grace and co

nelson mandela, nelson mandela. [cheers and applause] this song is one of the most accurate descriptions of this icon, the founding -- democratic south africa. the old separation movement in the continent. his passing meant an unprecedented outpouring across the world. yet this administration, admiration and celebration. everyone has had a nelson mandela moment. let us begin before by thinkian all heads of state international delegations, we extend our deepest gratitude to for the message for condolences that we continue to receive. be nelson mandela family, south african people and the african continent feels stronger today because we are being completed by millions throughout the world. .. the people and their leaders in an effort to halt the forward march, ordinary forms of organizations would be rendered impossible, but the spirit of the people cannot be quenched until victory is won. the cycle became much about life. and the rest has changed. in the 1940s, the long walk to freedom, it became a volunteer in chie

we begin with nelson mandela. it would have been ground breaking enough to become south africa's first black president, but he was so much more not only to

amen. ♪ nelson mandela ♪ nelson mandela ♪ nelson mandela ♪ nelson mandela ♪ nelson mandela ♪ nelson mandela ♪ ♪ madiba ♪ madiba ♪ >> lester holt, this is coming after some of the organized prayers. a little musical interlude. >> and we'll soon be hearing from the friend and family of nelson mandela here. and you see that picture right there captures so much. people of every color who have come to represent what we call the new south africa here, a true tribute to mandela as you look across this crowd here that has withstood a steady light to moderate rain all morning long. we've also been watching, of course, brian, a collection of dignitaries, and you can't really overstate the complexity of the operation of getting the celebrities, the politicians, the world leaders in here safely. the south africans said they have been studying a plan for quite some time and have been working with their counterparts in the u.s. and other countries to get everyone here safely. we were on that issue of security, we were able to get in today without screening. the crowd then were bussed in. they may

they all played nelson mandela on the big screen. >> and this boy's courageous journey inspired nelson mandela, and enkozi johnson, packed arenas and captured a nation's heart with his simple message. >> we are all the same. >> announcer: >>> good evening. thank you for joining us. tonight, we bring you a different kind of story about nelson mandela who died yesterday at 95. it is already saturday morning in south africa, and overnight his flag-draped coffin began its journey back to his ancestral home to be buried. but long before he became a global father figure, when mandela was locked for decades in a prison cell, a loan l lone voice, protesting brutal racial policies. this broadcast made a commitment to cover his struggle when few others were. "nightline" has been there every step of the way on his long walk to freedom. here's abc's john donvan with our story. >> in the epic that is the story of nelson mandela as south africa, a small but important chapter happened to have been played by an american news program. ♪ this one, "nightline." on a february afternoon in 1990, tv stati

. >> talk about the life of nelson mandela, and what he means to so many people. >> nelson mandela is a symbol of hope, freedom, a time in this world, and in our country and theirs when equality did not s did not reign free and is a symbol for young americans growing up understanding him in history books and i had the pleasure of meeting him when i lived in south africa. i understood why he captured the hearts of a generation and world. >> there's the picture. tell us about that picture and what happened. >> there it is, there i am with reverend jessie jackson. he's taking the phone so the reverend can put his wife on the phone to give a hello. the morning i met former president nelson mandela. he spoke to me in an incredible voice that is unique and said, "morgan, are you here to visit me." he was reading four papers, one in africans, english, zulu. his mind was sharp. he was brilliant, vibrant, all the things you would expect. >> when you lived in south africa, what was it like when you were there? >> when i was there it was surprisingly still very racially tense. this is something

nelson mandela would do that. you couldn't help but smile when you saw him doing that little chicken wing movement with his arms. many times in africa, people laugh and sing and dance through their sadness and their sorrow. these are people celebrating nelson mandela's life. if you didn't know this was a funeral, he would not know this was a funeral. they are in a stadium. a lot of cheering. people are very happy on this particular day to give what they call the old man a long good-bye. we are in the process of a ten-day funeral service for nelson mandela. >> you always hope at a time like this, that this will somehow cause a recognition of the possibilities of south africa that nelson mandela dreamed of. >> people will tell you there is still work to do in south africa. everyone knows there is still work to do. we will see it remains to be seen what will happen after the death of nelson mandela in this country. bill whittaker is inside the stadium. i know the weather is very dreary. a friend says, that's why we h

nelson mandela, first black south african president. but nelson mandela was on the u.s. terrorist list until 2008. extraordinary. >> absolutely. and to some extent, it's a little dismaying, you know, at a personal level, i feel somewhat nausiated, to be blunt about it, by the level of hypocrisy of some leaders who are lauding nelson mandela today and in the days since his death who were against the poll says that he stood for and are trying to whitewash his legacy to brush over the fact that he was a freedom fighter and believed in redistribution of wealth and land particularly. that he showed a great deal of solidarity with the palestine cause; that he vehemently opposed the war in iraq; that he stood by the cast roes and cubans. we are looking at hamid karzai from afghanistan. he is arriving, talking about the spread of his reach and word. some people might find controversial. >> he was one of the elders, and we saw them arriving. what sort of impact have they made? i think they have taken the message of nelson mandela to heard. if you look at the kind of work that peo

. >> nelson mandela and the new president is no nelson mandela. south africa has some problems in front of of them. >> we'll take a break. after a break, this is al jazeera america. >> we are back, welcome back to the continuing coverage of the death of nelson mandela. look at this. this is the apollo theatre in harlem. >> that's beautiful. >> memory of nelson mandela. >> remember the days before apartheid was over, you could go to harlem and buy the stalls that the guys were selling, "free nelson mandela." it was nelson mandela central. >> i was actually in a room, in a theatre, and i can't remember the year. i've been trying to think of the year, and he was there. i saw stephen harper of canada, all of canada mourns with the family, and the citizens of south africa, the world had lost one of its great moral leaders. do we have a picture of nelson mandela the rugby team? >> yeah, there was a movie made about that. >> yes. >> this is just a very telling moment. black people in south africa, played soccer, that's the june form that he is wearing wh

here to pay tribute to the life of nelson mandela. as you described, world leaders, they're shown on the screen from time to time. people roaring their approval as they see one after another enter the stadium. and this is a stadium that has just been filled with song. with music. the south african liberation movement was a revolution in song and there are times it feels this whole stadium is one vast choir and an excellent one as well. well. you asked about it here, you can join in, there's no question about it. it's that kind of day, despite the rain. in african tradition, i'm told rain at a funeral means the person was blessed. it's been pouring here in soweto. and there's no doubt that nelson mandela is a blessing to south africa and to the world. that's what we're seeing here. it is a thrill to be here, no question about it. through this cold and soaking rain. the spirit of the place, warming this event, without question. george? >> i think we'll hope that it rains all day long there in south africa. let's go outside the stadium,

nelson mandela. saying, "meeting nelson mandela at his house in johannesburg was a truly memorable moment in life for me. he was an angel." >>> and as we pay tribute to nelson mandela, a celebration of his life. >> truly. these artists are coming out more and more throughout the entire day we get updates via e-mail of who was tweeting out next. presidents tweeting out and not only the people who are in hollywood. of course we leave you with one example of the way his life inspired artists everywhere. we'll be right back. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> if you are like us, your facebook and twitter feeds are filling up with quotesnelson >>> if you are like us, your facebook and twitter feeds are filling up with quotes by nelson mandela. >> his words inspired justice in his own nation and the better part of the last century they moved men and women just about everywhere. here's nelson mandela in his own words. >> south africa is a -- there's room for all the various races in this country. to spend 27 years at the

nelson mandela was a keen sports fan. he was a boxer and follow the strict exercise regime in prison. sport has the power to change the world. >> his most memorable statement on sport came five years after he had shown what could be done. in 1995, a year after becoming his nation's first lack president, south africa hosted the rugby world cup. president unified his people with the simplest of acts. donning the journey -- the jersey that had been synonymous with white south africa. are 43 million south africans. >> this landmark woman would have been impossible had he not saved the emblem itself. a symbol of apartheid to many doesrotected after teams -- defied sports and sanctions to play around the world. mandela had supported that sporting band and believed it earlierim come to power than otherwise. >> this was one of the biggest blows. >> many years later the former boxer would deliver one of his punches. they were entrusted with hosting the 2010 world cup. this was his last public of parents -- appearance. world cup st

nelson mandela married a gain. the bride was graca mandela, a union celebrated by all. >> my wife and i. >> a union that lasted for the rest of his life. >> my wife and i say thank you very much. >> but before he died there was a chance for the world to thank him. on a chilly winter's night nelson mandela made a last appearance at an event. acknowledging the crowd and stirring hearts as the world cup football final was held for the first time in africa. staging a number of miles away from the sow wetto home where nelson mandela lived. in recent times there was a fleeting sight of ambulances carrying him to and from hospital. a chest infection diagnosed when he was in prison continuing to reoccur. the images were broadcast on state television, a grinning jacob zuma visiting his presidential predecessor, unaware of what was going on around him. the only visible reaction to the flash of a camera as nelson mandela was thrown into the public domain. the images come and go. this will be left behind, the colours of a demo

until the last breath nelson mandela fought the odds as he had done all his life. >> nelson mandela's legacy were emblazoned in the sky all those years ago. above all the legacy is found in the minds of ordinary south africans, black and whid, the people he led to freedom. >> jessie duarte was nelson mandela's special assistant. she told us what it was like working with him. >> we had a good working relationship. madiba was a strict employee, but strict in the sense of much more strict on himself. he was punk tul -- punk tulle. he had great ideas about meeting people. he needed to meet the people of south africa and talk to them about the future and where we needed to go. he spent a great deal of time talking to the people at home and engaging as he did with many african leaders to talk about un iteming the countryman. madiba's greatest wish was to reunite the african continent and believes we should un item the people of south africa. in many ways he was a symbol of freedom in progress. on a personal note, you know that he's gone, but will live on in the hearts of many people. i was

much more on the words and life of nelson mandela. he fought tirelessly for the rights and liberty of all south africans. famously saying "our march to freedom is irreversible. we must not allow fear to stand in our way." >>> now for others stories making news this morning. vice president biden wrapping up his visit to china on thursday. he raised the issue of the treatment of u.s. journalists in the country. nearly two dozen journalists from different u.s. publications are in daenk of not having their visas renewed by year's end. biden argued newspaper should be able to report the truth without fear of consequences. during an msnbc exclusive interview chris matthews asked president obama who would be a better president, joe biden or hillary clinton? here's his answer. >> both hillary and joe would make outstanding presidents and possess the qualities that are needed to be outstanding presidents. >>> police have arrested an 18-year-old for allegedly stealing a part from the porsche involved in the crash that killed paul walker. the su

everybody says nelson mandela. because he embodies that moral courage, greater even than physical courage, and that ability to put aside his own bitterness, resentness, sacrifice and all that he lost over those 27 years and all the majority of the people there lost in that undignified and appalling racist regime. and built a future of tolerance and democracy. and that is quite incredible. and so people really do say that he is their hero and tributes are being paid from, as you know, from down street, from all over the world. i spoke to f.w. de klerk, the former president. he said that he was a very, very good man to negotiate with. he really respected him. he was surprised the first time he met him because mandela was so tall and dignified and ram rod straight, he said. and they had a decent working relationship. not without its arguments and spats. >> certainly not without that. christiane, bernie, stand by. up next, there's a huge reaction on social media to nelson mandela's death. political figures and celebrit

> thanks to nelson mandela. >> thanks to nelson mandela's south africa's fight is kept inside. ring. >> it's changed, all the fighting. >> right here, the equipment that nelson mandela would have used. >> out back a security guard showed me equipment nelson mandela would have used. mem bris -- memories of a boxer who showed a different fight. is >> and michael is here with sport. i didn't realise nelson mandela was a boxer. >> a good boxer. >> let's turn to the nfl. adrian peterson, minnesota vikings, was carted off the field with an ankle injury after a tackle by arthur brown. he won the vible player award. he was questionable to play due to a groin injury. he was the leader with 1200 and 8 yards. history made in park city utah. the united states had all three podiums in a world cup world cup bob sled event. el-lana my exercise aja evans took home gold, jaumie grooubel and lol low jones tie toed silver. both of those are track competitors. >> one of the four medals won by jesse owens at the 1936 olympics in berlin sold for $1.46 million - the highest praise paid for a piece of

he met nelson mandela shooting his film 12 disciples of nelson mandela. well, it is a pleasure to talk to you, what are your moments at this hour? >> well, deeply saddened with this great man, he stood for so much. and his vision was so powerful. all the years and also -- becoming president and giving up the power. >> the power -. >> and i think it is so t for our people. >> and we have such a great loss. >> hang on, i know you want to echo this point. it was a big deal. >> yeah. and stepping down may have been his biggest legacy. and -- about 80% of them stayed on about nine terms too long. >> we were just talking about zimbabwe. >> when he came on, he held a lot of prompt, nelson -- look, he was an older guy, he put in his time 27 years at rob been island and being president. the fact that he moved on, there are nobody who perfect what has happened in south africa, and that his successors lived up to his mantle, but at least he had successors. >> yeah, i would agree. you know he -- when nelson mandela was went underground after sharkville, the south afr

that is nelson mandela. that is his legacy. >> a potentially major breakthroe in a fight against cancer. doctors in new orleans say new experimental treatment could mean a cure for people with leukaemia. it alters white blood cells so it attacks cancer cells. doctors say they have had shockingly high rates. >> officials are discouraging people from submitting paper applications, worried that they will not be processed in time. december 23rd for coverage to start in january. championship saturday in college football. all the highlights ahead in sport. >> no tobacco, no smoke or smell, but risk. some are pushing to have electronic cigarettes regulated. >> welcome back. in los angeles, the city council is considering new regulations regarding electronic cigarettes. they are supposed to be safer. some states regulate them like tobacco. they may be set to join their ranks. >> some so popular they are all that this store sells. no tobacco, no smoke. it's called vaping. >> it's a step in a smarter direction in comp

there will be more about nelson mandela on a cbs news special, nelson mandela: father of a nation. that's tomorrow night at 9:00, 8:00 central time. i'll see you then and i'll see you again. question leave you now with the. captioning sponsored by cbs captioned by media access group at wgbh access.wgbh.org >>> as of tonight we now know the schedule of official events celebrating the life and mourning the passing of nelson mandela. >> more on that in a moment, but first topper is tracking this storm system that threats to give us our -- threatens to give us our first taste of winter weather. >> right now it's producing rain for us and snow out toward ohio and pennsylvania. it will move slowly south and east. this storm clears us tonight. then a second storm comes and get us over the weekend. we'll zoom in. we've got snow and a mix towards pittsburgh but all for rain for us, a little bit of a mix occurring west of the divide toward garrett county, but for us this is the latest image, just rain keeping the roads wet this friday night. the good news is we won't see freezing temperature

nelson mandela. he says, it is time to let go. i said -- yes. he said, it is time to repeal the legislation. tavis: what is amazing is he calls you to tell you that. -- in thisntry country we did not take him off the terrorist list until -- after the nobel peace prize. i went into his house and he said i never thought you would be in my house. tavis: thank you both. i appreciate it. with the passing of nelson mandela, the world has lost a towering force for moral leadership and a kind and inspiring human being. his courage and strength in the face of unrelenting violence and his compassion for those who try to destroy him have inspired all of us who shared in his lifetime and will -- he will continue to inspire generations no doubt for years to come. i want to share a personal memory i have of the man. i was a young assistant to tom bradley and nelson mandela was coming to our city. for days prior i could not sleep through the night. mandela was coming to los angeles and i was plotting about how to position myself to meet him, shake his hand and

abraham lincoln, the great emancipator, stand with nelson mandela, the liberator. >> nelson mandela himself recalled a visit to london 45 years earlier. close when we visited , weminster abby in 1962 joked that we hoped that one day a statue of a black .resident would be erected here [applause] back months later, he was in london to celebrate his 90th birthday. he met the queen. he attended a concert in his honor. speaking at the lectern carrying his number, he called for no let up in the battle against poverty and aids. >> after nearly 90 years of your hands time for to lift the burdens. .t is in your hands now i thank you. [applause] that was a sense of the determination and the strength and the energy of a campaign that spanned six decades. really underlining what a remarkable life he led. close we're used to the story. it is at a time like this where you cannot reflect on what he achieved and to recognize those milestones in his life. three decades in prison and how that transformed him, not just as a man but as a leader. obviously, he was south africa's first black president and the wa

nelson mandela was 95 years old. he has been suffering from a very serious illness for the last six months, particularly badly. and so this was a predictable piece of news, but painful nonetheless, so painful for south africans who call nelson mandela the father of their nation, the father of democracy. the man who was in 27 years in prison, much of it spent in solitary confinement. helped to end the years of racist rule by the apartheid regime in south africa. and for that, there are so many millions of south africans who owe him so much. >> it's profoundly moving to see the generation that you were referring to born free outside of the home of mandela. it's so striking. there is so few examples of the kind of liberation in the last 20 years. there's almost nothing that compares to it in terms of the change brought about in the fates and futures and lives of every one of these people by mandela and his co-strugglers in this great struggle. >> reporter: that's right. there is no one in the world like nelson mandela a

i think that spirit you're hearing outside nelson mandela's home is part of that notion that nelson mandela has transitioned to a different place. we almost think of him as a super human person. i've thought in those months when we were there in south africa, when he first went to the hospital over these weeks and months and through his wisdom he's been preparing the nation an his this world for this. and one of the things that will happen in the immediate af ma aftermath of his passing will be south africa coming together as nelson mandela wanted him to come together. i suspect those not outside singing tonight will hear the news but sad for a moment but it will bring the nation together sort of like the soccer matches did when the country hosted the world soccer cup a few years ago. i guess the one hope one would have is these remembrances of mandela will make a difference in his country today. he so much wanted his country to be united. >> we will join you in hoping for exactly that as dawn breaks across south africa, from washington. let's take a moment here and look back at this life i

gene, you met nelson mandela. take us back that day and share with us your feelings today on what turned out to be the last day of his life. >> i did meet nelson mandela. it was in 1994. it was an official visit to washington that he made and we invited him to lunch at "the washington post" and he accepted. so i was the foreign editor then and it's the kind of lunch that we'd have at "the washington post" in the company board room but we had to get a special big room with lots of tables because every top editor, any editor that had any claim to be in that room was going to be there and, in fact, today several of us were e-mailing because we're trying to pin down exactly what was that date and refresh our recollections. and everyone had this vivid recollection of the man and it was something more than dazzling charisma. it was more than that smile of his that was like sunshine when he trained it on you. but there was -- you know, this is what i wrote about him in the column i wrote for tomorrow. there was steel in

it quickly gathered pace ♪ free nelson mandela ♪ 21 years in captivity >> reporter: and nelson mandela became the most famous political prisoner on the planet. within months of his release he was holding peace talks and then in 1994 with apartheid abollished nelson mandela became president himself after south africa's first all race elections. >> i have fought very firmly against white domination. i have fought very firmly against black domination. i cherish the idea of the new south africa where all south africans are equal. >> reporter: nelson mandela served just one five year term but remained perhaps the most influential figure in south african politics. certainly the most loved for what he went through, the dignity he displayed, and the change he brought about. but typically for him, mandela gave all the credit to his fellow citizens. >> south africa pass the generations, but it is you, the people, who are the true heros. >> serving one term but very influential. our senior foreign correspondence. i'm being told he is not available right now. we do have a live reporter there on th

nelson mandela was the face of reconciliation and a new beginning for south africa. brian is the human rights attorney in south africa part of the movement prior to his release from prison in 1991. reflected on the role he played once he was released. it was a time celebrated around the world. inside south africa, it was a precarious time. >> immediate contribution was to reach out and speak about reconciliation. >> i cherish the idea of south africa where all south africans are equal. >> far right wing politicians are prodding them. mandela convinced the supporters it would render africa a wasteland. >> being able to reach out to people and somehow connect humanity with theirs. and disarm, largely, his political opponents. >> while there was post apar tide violence, mandela was the right man at the right time. now with the face of the movement gone, there is an eye toward a future rooted in mandela's past. a future in the hands of young people like these college students in washington for the south afr

mandela. >> what in your view was nelson mandela's legacy? >> that person who had any other means of survival could fight the racism in this country, spend 27 years in prison and come back and not revenge on the people that emprisoned him, that i think for me that [ inaudible ] should not happen if we follow the legacy of what nelson mandela stood for. >> about half of the current population wasn't even born when nelson mandela was in power, but his ideas, visions and legacy live on. >> nicholas is in the capitol where people also revere mandela. >> this is one of the main arteries here, and it is named after nelson mandela. this road leads to this building, the national assembly. it's more than a symbol. it's a tribute to those who look for peace and dialogue before violence and conflict. wh nelson mandela came here in 1962 for the first time. and he came to get support - support -support -- [ technical difficulties ] >> here he is revered just like everywhere else in the world. he came here and went straight to an aland where slaves were ta

there will be more about nelson mandela on cbs news special, nelson mandela, father of a nation, for many of you, it will be on tomorrow night at 6:00. i will see you then. and i will see you sunday on 60 minutes, we are going to leave you now with the empire state building bathed tonight in the colors of the south african flag. for all of us at cbs news all around the world, good night. captioning sponsored by cbs captioned by media access group at wgbh access.wgbh.org game pla ackle any trouble at candlestick this weekend. good eve >>> these two teams don't like each other. >> hoping to avoid scenes, bay area police come up with their game plan to tackle trouble at candlestick this week. good evening, i'm ken bastida. >> i'm juliette goodrich. the 9ers-seahawks game at candlestick on sunday is big and security will be tight. hidden among the fans undercover cops. they will make sure taunting stays friendly. linda yee reports. >> reporter: juliette, you know, football is about tough hitting and tackles. cops want to make sure the action stays on the playing field and not in the stan

nelson mandela is at rest. let us now be guided and inspired by the spirit he gave all of us, the flame of human rights, the beaker of hope. nelson mandela fought throughout his life for each and every one of us. it is the duty of all of us who loved him to keep his memory alive in our hearts and to embody his -- in our eyes. may he rest in peace. thank you. thank you very much. >> we just heard from the u.n. secretary general, ban ki-moon. he hit several important themes for the south african people. and some of them were, of course, the rainbow nation, hoping someday the dream is realized as a rainbow world and pointing out that nelson mandela said he wasn't just one man. the crowd loved that, of course. we are waiting for the u.s. president barack obama. he is supposed to be speaking upcoming. right now, we have jim acosta with us. you came with the president, obviously. >> that's right. >> what did you see in terms of security in the process of getting here, what was it like. >> lots of security, chris. the

you for sharing nelson mandela with us. his struggle was your struggle. his triumph was your try you tr. in through speeches both white and black south africans mourned around the country together. >> there is nothing that we can do more for this country. i just want to say thank you to him. >> reporter: mandela's vision of today's rainbow nation was formed when he was an activist in the think of south africa's apartheid rule. his multi cultural embrace was evidence with his friendship circle as world leaders paid thanks some using his clan name, madiba. >> like the south africans who mourn madiba with their chants, we proudly carry african blood in our veins. >> we stand proud of you, madiba, bringing venues of freedom, solidarity, equality, sacrifice, and human dignity. >> reporter: for all his life he has strived for the liberation of africa nations and championed the dignity of the african people. >> many honored mandela's crusade for con sol days. >> there are many people who feel-- >> in 1961 after years of stalled pe

nelson mandela, mr. nelson mandela, a free man taking his first steps into a new south africa. >> reporter: it was a long walk nelson mandela took, a walk that lasted nearly a century, a walk to freedom and human dignity. a walk he ended up taking the whole world on along with him. >> on behalf of our rainbow nation, i welcome you all. >> reporter: nelson mandela towered over them. a moral and political leader of surpassing strength, implacable determination, and profound decency. >> i am a product of africa. and the long-cherished dream of a rebirth that can now be realized. so that all of our children may play in the sun. >> reporter: mandela was born in 1918 into the royal family of the tembu people, but he grew up under apartheid, the vicious system of racial segregation and oppression by which the white minority ruled south africa. it's hard today to imagine the pure evil of that system. abject poverty for blacks and severe restrictions on travel, education and employment. whites enjoyed all of the

at the time, nelson mandela was in his early 40s. he had joined the african national congress, the anc, way back in 1944. the anc and the other major organizations opposing apartheid in south africa had been organized as nonviolent movements, nonviolent resistance, and nonviolent organizing. but after sharpville, they decided that maybe that wasn't enough. after sharpville, they decided they would form a paramilitary wing, and nelson mandela was one of the anc leader who is went underground to help start it. they said they would target government buildings and strategic infrastructure and they would try to sabotage the state. after sharpville, the government of south africa started mass arrests of anc leaders and other activists. they banned the anc. they made it illegal to be a member of that group. nelson mandela was arrested for treason in 1961, he was acquitted and he was convicted of traveling illegally. they sentenced him to five years hard labor on south africa's version of alcatraz, which is robin island. while he was already

nelson mandela would do that. you couldn't help but smile when you saw him doing that little chicken wing movement with his arms. many times in africa, people laugh and sing and dance through their sadness and their sorrow. these are people celebrating nelson mandela's life. if you didn't know this was a funeral, he would not know this was a funeral. they are in a stadium. a lot of cheering. people are very happy on this particular day to give what they call the old man a long good-bye. we are in the process of a ten-day funeral service for nelson mandela. >> you always hope at a time like this, that this will somehow cause a recognition of the possibilities of south africa that nelson mandela dreamed of. >> people will tell you there is still work to do in south africa. everyone knows there is still work to do. we will see it remains to be seen what will happen after the death of nelson mandela in this country. bill whittaker is inside the stadium. i know the weather is very dreary. a friend says, that's why we h

>> we 11ed just a few hours ago that nelson mandela had passed away. the at the time is still a shock, and it is a great shock. >> thank you for having us, and i want to send out condolences on behalf of the family. where condolences to the family, and also to the people of south africa. the biggest thoughts are trucage, humility, somebody's great vision, passion, for life. and they are not saying any minute to do good. i apologize for not calling it the right time, trance africa. what was it like to meet him? >> oh, everything that was more than -- and i knew it would be anxious, and excited and dealing with -- more tremendous then i have half. a meeting with him. and just anything that is said about him, even after the meeting you just multiply it even more. the man is a great leader, but with humility, somebody who was able to bring together many many different people together. >> also being able to articulate his prince. s. his passions. but at the sate time, being able to emphasize with others. and it takes this tremendous person to do that. so ev

>> we need nelson mandela. that is our leader. >> teichner: pressure to free mandela built in and outside south africa. >> free mandela, free mandela! >> teichner: and then, in february 1990, south african president f.w. de klerk made a historic announcement. >> the government has taken a firm decision to release mr. mandela unconditionally. >> teichner: a moment forever seared into our memory. after more than a quarter century behind bars, nelson mandela stepped into the light. >> amandla! >> teichner: mandela at 71 emerged looking not like a broken prisoner, but like a king. >> he had won. but mandela is famous for his smile, but that smile is not there. and i believe he was deeply aware of the enormous challenge and responsibility that now lay on him. ♪ >> we will reach the goal of liberating the black people of this country within our lifetime. >> teichner: nelson mandela was free, but the fight for freedom was far from over. >> pelley: when we come back, "60 minutes'" bob simon reflects on mandela's jour

likely see the likes of nelson mandela again. so it falls to us as best we can to follow the example that he set to make decisions guided not by hate but by love. to never disdown the difference that one person can make. to strive for a future that is worthy of his sacrifice. for now, let us pause and give thanks for the fact that nelson mandela lived. a man who took history in his hands. and bent the arc of the moral universe toward justice. >> president obama is expected to travel to south africa to attend the memorial service for mandela. at the united nations tonight, the security council paused for a moefl silence in mandela's honor. ? south africa, crowds of mourners have gathered to celebrate the life of the former president. robin is in south africa with the story of his incredible life. >> reporter: nelson mandela's struggle for freedom defined his life. he was born in the row motor hills of south africa's eastern cape. he was given the name which means troublemaker. he was only given the name nelson by a school teacher

[applause] >> if any of you heard nelson mandela, you sounded just like nelson mandela. it was frightening. notice the great portrait of nelson mandela behind me at the top of the staircase. i will be lobbying soon to replace that with a more current photograph. san francisco is indeed blessed and has been for many, many years. and then somebody comes along and enhances that even more. and only one time has somebody been four times a cabinet member, closest thing we will ever have to a president is the chief of protocol's secretary. charlotte is the chief of protocol, george scultz is her secretary. so on her stairs, in this rotunda, charlotte will present to you her husband and secretary, george schultz. [applause] >> thank you charlotte for that brilliant introduction. we're here to mourn and celebrate the life of nelson mandela. i have on a dark suit and a bright tie to symbolize those sentiments. what did we make of his life? in reflection and thinking about it, he was a man of action he fought continuously, effectively, and as his effects grew, his african national

you for sharing nelson mandela with us. his struggle was your struggle. his triumph was your try you triumph. in through speeches both white and black south african s mourned around the country together. >> there is nothing that we can do more for this country. i just want to say thank you to him. >> reporter: mandela's vision of today's rainbow nation was formed when he was an activist in the think of south africa's apartheid rule. his multi cultural embrace was evidence with his friendship circle as world leaders paid thanks some using his clan name, madiba. >> like the south africans who mourn madiba with their chants, we proudly carry african blood in our veins. >> we stand proud of you, madiba, bringing venues of freedom, solidarity, equality, sacrifice, and human dignity. >> reporter: for all his life he has strived for the liberation of africa nations and championed the dignity of the african people. >> many honored mandela 's crusade for con sol days. >> there are many people who feel-- >> in 1961 after years of sta

nelson mandela lived for that ideal and he made it real. to achieve more than could be expected of any man. and today he's gone home and we've lost one of the most influential, courageous and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this earth. he no longer belongs to us. he belongs to the ages. through his fierce dignity and unbending welfare sacrificing his owning live for the freedom of others, madiba, sacrificed, for others, in the belief that human beings can change for the better, reconcile those who jailed him, set an example that all humanity should aspire to where in the lives of nations or our own personal lives. and the fact that he did it all with grace and with humor and ability to acknowledge his own impeimperfections, only makes te man more remarkable. he set once, i'm not a saint, unless you consider a saint a sinner who keeps on trying. i'm one of the countless millions who draw inspiration from nelso nelson mandela's lif. my very first political action, the very first thing i ever did that involv