everyone here in south africa will be saying good-bye. >> not only in south africa, but all over the world, people will be saying good-bye to nelson mandela for what he did for the people of south africa, what he did for all of africa, indeed, what he did around the world. christiane amanpour is with us. i understand you have a special guest to discuss this special day. >> i do, indeed. the remainformer south african president, f.w. de clerk. mr. president, thank you for joining me. >> hello, christiane. it's a sad day, sad moment, but it's good to hear your voice again. >> well, thank you, sir. please tell me and tell the world what you feel at this moment beyond the sadness and what you can say about the man who became your partner and you became his under extremely difficult circumstances to transform your country. >> first i would like to say that i fully associate myself with the dignified and feeling statement which president jacob zuma has made. every word of what he said is true and he touched my heart. nelson mandela's biggest legacy was his commitment to reconciliation, was

south africa is where gandhi became activists. and to sigh this happening it was a day i always hoped we would see, and i never believed we would see. and to think four years later he would be elected the first democratically elected president, it is -- it's very -- it's a sad day for the world, but very hard to be sad today when you look at what this one human being achieved. if we can achieve a 10th of what he did, we will have made the world a better place. >> let's do, do we still have pictures from joe bird. as question get closer to the break here, we are do a complete reset on this story. in just a couple of minutes, but this is a picture from outside of -- i believe this is mandela's home in johan news burg. whites and plaques there together. let's go to break now, let's listen to the chanting on this day as we learn of the passing of nelson mandell that. power of the people until we restore our freedoms atÑ

investment in south africa and bans u.s. imports of south african uranium, coal, steel, and agricultural products. mr. reagan is opposed to the sanctions, but he must convince at least 20 senators to change their positions if a veto is to be sustained. both sides say that is unlikely. >> president reagan's veto was to the sustained. it was overridden by an overwhelming vote in both the house and the senate, include manager, many, many members of his own republican party. it was the first override of a presidential veto on a foreign policy issue in the century. and anti-apartheid leaders credit those sanctions and credit the private divestment movement around the united states and around the world with bringing about the pressure and the isolation that was necessary to eventually humble the apartheid regime. to humble the ruling south african government and bring them to the negotiations that eventually freed nelson mandela and brought him into the apartheid system. the fight here to do that was nothing compared to the fight

investment in south africa and bans u.s. imports of south african uranium, coal, steel, and agricultural products. mr. reagan is opposed to the sanctions, but he must convince at least 20 senators to change their position is if a veto is be sustained. both sides say that is unlikely. >> president reagan's veto was to the sustained. it was overridden by an overwhelming vote in both the house and the senate, include manager, many, many members of his own republican party. it was the first override of a presidential veto on a foreign policy issue in the century. and anti-apartheid leaders credit those sanctions and credit the private divestment movement around the united states and around the world with bringing about the pressure and the isolation that was necessary to eventually humble the apartheid regime. to humble the ruling south african government and bring them to the negotiations that eventually freed nelson mandela and brought him into the apartheid system. the fight here to do that was nothing compared to the fight i

he is the face of south africa, the new south africa, first president of a democratic multiracial south aftricafrica. he brought them back to the community. think back to sanctions, efforts by the world community to get mandela released from prison. his efforts seems to me, his example and his ability to reach out to people, just touches so many people. it helped to literally bring south africa in to the modern era. >> juan i mentioned you were among the first to interview mandela after his release from prison. tell me about that encounter. >> this is pretty incredible. i was there as a correspondent for the washington post. the occasion of his release from prison. you know it turned out he had read a book i had written about the american civil rights era. while most journalists were turned away, turned out he wanted to meet me. i was invited into his home to help him write notes to world leaders who were all congratulating him upon his release from prison. i wrote notes and thank you notes like hope to see you soon, great to be out. silly things like that. i got to sit with him as he w

>> there has been a huge divide in south africa. south africa remains a very unequal society. white south africans on average earn six times more than the average black south africans. there is a huge racial component to all of this. psychologically there are huge racial divisions. economically, a lot of the economic assets remain in white hands. recently in the last few years, that has increasingly become a big talking point in a lot of political circles. there are a lot of poor black south africans who remain unemployed, who may not feel they have benefited from the end of apartheid. >> we are bringing in ian bremer, the founder of the euro asian group. he is on the phone. what role did nelson mandela play on the world stage? >> it was unique. you look around the world today, and absent of the kind leaders and al statesmen that mandela represented. if people like gorbachev, yu and others in singapore. but he did not just capture the imagination of the country and the continent, but of the entire world in thinking about prospects of hope. there are people who have things like

ambassador to south africa. good to talk to you, let me take a moment -- appreciate it, thank you so much. >> good to have you with us on al jazeera america. ws of the passing ofhare with the former president. >> well, all of us are saddened, but he had such a successful life, that we have to celebrate his life rather than mourn his death. what are your memories of the man? maybe personal recollections. >> i first met him shortly after he got out of prison, and i remember him as a very personable man, who commanded a presence with a kind of royalty and an elegance even about his humanity. >> i know the basic question is yes, was you can provide some context for us, did you have a sense of the mission, the task, ahead of him, and how difficult and challenging it would be. >> he understood that very well, but because of the values that led him to where he was, he was able to take on this task with the second time with calmness, and integrity. what are your thoughts about the challenge ahead for the country. my las

or in africa but around the world. and in the end what he did in south africa is an example that we all need to follow. >> gay mcdougall, what was theeo on to be the great leader that he was? qus. >> he was quite a remarkableind. i don't think there's anything, he has a down home folksiness to him as well. but i think the mixture of knowing how to handle and to deal with power, that seems very much as a member of a collective. of decision makers. as a member of a liberation movement of a political party, of south africans as a whole. i would never forget the, really, transcendent moment, that i was prinched t privilegee with him. put my name forward to be on the commission. but it was a remarkable moment. for him and for his nation. and you know all of the suffering and struggle that had occurred before that moment was now telescoped through him and into the future, as he dropped miss ballot into that -- his ballot into that box. so he has been a manifestation of all of the hopes and dreams and aspirations of his count

south africa let's talk about distribution and redistribution in apartheid south africa there was also a highly distribution system. the whites controlled most of the economy and the blacks were denied political rights now let's not fight the legacy about why this was and so on and so forth when mendiola came to power and i agree with peter i mean calling him some sort of radical redistributionist it's simply flies in the face of the facts but let's assume that some redistribution was done and i think peter's on point when he says not enough was done given the legacy of apartheid were blacks were systematically frozen out of political and economic rights and denied the basic tools that are required to thrive in any kind of system be it socialist a capitalist something needed to be done i think all things considered the criticism of mandela on the part of many to sit around and franchise south africans is that a lot of the problems that jeremy was talking about have not gone away income inequality has increased. racial segregation is not the law and now but it is de facto president alai

today the whole world is standing still again to pay tribute to this greatest of south africa and africa. there is no one like him. he was one of a kind. the world -- [inaudible] he declared, as follows, during the trial in 1954, and i quote, it did not change that policy. end quote. that is promotion of nonracial and reconciliation during his tenure as president of the republic. [inaudible] speaking at the -- of the new constitution on the since 1996 he had a vision of the -- [inaudible] and i quote, let us give [inaudible] to the injustices of the past. by building a future base unequality and social justice. let us -- [inaudible] our national unity by recognizing with respect and joy the languages cultural and the region of south africa. for one another view -- create the peaceful conditions which gives peace for the -- [inaudible] and to flourish. above all, let us work together -- to banish homelessness, illiteracy, hunger, and disease. unquote. [inaudible] magnitude of challenges facing south africa in mind. he said about uniting the nation. -- [inaudible] the anger and frustration

all of the people of south africa. >> mandela is set to become the first black president of south africa. the inauguration comes on a sparkling day in may, 1994. >> will you please raise your right hand and say, so help me god. >> so help me god. >> and i looked at my children i felt life had been worthwhile. >> the newly installed president mandela face is a difficult road ahead. >> we are now ready to begin the great task of building our country. >> but mandela has no blueprint to guide him in building that country. >> he became the first president, where everything he did was like walking in sand on a virgin beach. >> coming up, mandela takes the helm of a new united south africa. >> and a beloved father figure. sleep train's interest-free for 3 event is ending soon! get 3 years interest-free financing on beautyrest black, stearns & foster, serta icomfort, even tempur-pedic. plus, get free delivery, free set-up, and free removal of your old mattress, and sleep train's 100-day low price guarantee. but hurry, sleep train's interest-free for 3 event is ending soon! superior service, best

rohi for us in south africa. now to nbc's brian williams with a look at mandela's incredible life and unwavering spirit. >> to deny any person human rights is the challenge of very humanity. >> reporter: nelson mandela called his life a long walk to freedom, a struggle to end south africa's racist system of aparthe apartheid. as a young lawyer and activist he initially advocated peaceful resistance. >> police fired point-blank into the crowd. >> reporter: south african police killed scores of anti-apartheid demonstrators. for nelson mandela, it was a turning point. >> there are many people who feel that it is useless and futile for us to continue talking peace and nonviolence against a government whose rely is the savage attack on unarmed, defenseless people. >> reporter: the anc was banned. he became an outlaw, but he refused to back down. arrested in 1962 mandela was charged with sabotage and with attempting to violently overthrow the government. he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. for decades the

margaret thatcher also opposed sanctions in south africa, that you could lose southern africa and go to mozambique, and they would all lose parts of the nation. and all we knew about mandela before he went into prison was that he had joined the communists at one point, that he had been the leader in the violent struggle against the apartheid regime. and the real genius, political genius of mandela was that he came out of prison and saw that the policies he had espoused before he sbiwent into prison w no longer effective. >> everyone agreed that apartheid was odious. the agreement was how best to pursue the breakdown. after the sanctions debate, president reagan picked an ambassador, edward perkins to south africa, who was a black american, who arg uld fued for release of mandela. and, in fact, he may have had significant influence in releasing him. >> but let's be clear, reagan vetoed -- supported veto on bills, reagan denounced mandela, called him names. he evolved after a protest movement here turned the tone and public opinion. but let's not act like reagan was a major supporter o

africa. but she's a woman of tremendous substance. she was in fact the minister of education in mozambique. she became head of the commission of the u.n. on women and children in conflict, and she even today is a member of the elders that goes in and helps to mediate conflict around the world. she's a woman of tremendous substance, a diplomate in her own right. in the last few years she stayed closer to home because her husband was failing in his health. i'm hopeful that she will get back on the world stage and, you know, take that, the lessons of nelson mandela of her own experience, life, to help mediate conflicts globally. >> it's important to notice that two powerful black women, bound together for their love of this great man, themselves were able to be kind and gracious and hospitalable to each other and not vish -- hospitable to each other and not viciously opposed to each other. it's an uncommon moment given reality tv. >> even though that was a bitter goes between nelson mandela and

he wanted to be released into a free south africa. throughout the 80's members of the south african government were looking to dismount the tiger of minority rule in which they found themselves. but it is a very danger process. >> was there a growing realization as the talks began that it was going to take a lot more. that nelson mandela's price at the end of the process was going to be higher than a lot of members of government were ready to pay? >> no, i don't think so. i think when f.w. de clerc announced th the road of negotiation on february 2, 1990, that this would end in majority rule. but it hoped that it would be majority rule with a strong constitution that would protect the rights of all south africans. >> let me go next to glenda, give people a sense of what was going on in black communities in the early 1980's. was there starting to be some hopelessness that the world was watching what was happening in south africa, that there was going to be a bitter end to this story? >> thank you, ray, yes, of course, there was widespr

like south africa itself, this crowd is young. the people here in the main have no memory of apartheid. but such is the legacy of nelson mandela, that he means almost as much to the youngsters as to the people who lived through apartheid. four hours ago president zuma broke the news to the nation and broke the hearts of millions of south africans. although this news was entirely predictable. a 95-year-old man with a serious respiratory illness who has been in hospital and receiving high intensive care at home for six months, you know, it was predictable that he would at some point pass away, but nevertheless, it was still incredibly painful. perhaps the most mournful, the most sorrowful day in the history of modern south africa. the father of the nation, the man who gave black south africans dignity and liberty and gave white south africans a secure and relatively safe future in modern south africa. he's being mourned today. nelson mandela dead at the age of 95. >> rohit, thank you. and nbc special news correspondent charlene hunt

by 1977, polaroid finally withdrew from south africa. caroline hunter, welcome to democracy now! >> good morning. >> your thoughts, first about that movement back then, the action of polaroid to your questions and your concerns and especially now in this week after the death of nelson mandela? >> polaroid pretended they did not know what was going on in south africa. 1937olaroid was founded in . in 1938, they opened their first is to readership in south africa. reflecting on the death of mandela, i think we have lost one of the greatest human beings who has ever lived. we must learn from his example that one person can truly make a difference in the life of not only his people, but the lives in the world. >> caroline hunter, you proved a person to make a difference. describe the moment when you started to make the connection. this is the early 1970s. your it done woman chemist working at polaroid in cambridge, massachusetts. when you realize the connection between apartheid south africa and your work? >> it is interesting i'm in new orle

very relevant across africa. >> dr. frasier mentions the civil war. we already talked about the example of george washington that nelson mandela followed. and mentioned, as well, he does share so many quality, doctor, with abraham lincoln in how he handled these conflicts in his political skills. >> absolutely right. if it was -- you know, bringing the opposition closer, there was a machiavellian understanding that you've got to keep your enemies close. but also a better chance to persuade and convert people with kindness. old preachers used to say you can win more followers by honey than vinegar. i think in that sense, that lincolnan since of practical politics, principally driven by one's beliefs, but also practic practical. i'm not going to be wed or tethered to an ideology. instead, i'm going to have faith in my opponent to come to the table, to negotiate and work out a compact that will save the nation. i think dr. frasier's right. one of the grand ironies, of course, is that we've applied that forgiveness to ourse

south africa today, of course, has its problems. you are alluding to those poverty shortages, anc corruption scandals. but the lose of nelson mandela will be a huge void, won't it, which is bringing people together right now as they remember his achievements. i just give you an example of a void he crossed. it was the 1999 world cup, the final match between south africa and new zealand when nelson mandela took to the field in the rugby jersey. i was there at the first match when south africa played australia. there was a stadium full of 65,000 white bull necked afrikaanas, frankly. no black face, very few indian. rugby was a white man's sport. i was sitting with nelson mandela. he went on to the ground to toss the coin. almost immediately there was a chant, "nelson mandela, nelson mandela" and i realised who was going on. i realised it was a huge outpouring of affection and genuine respect of this man, who they had previously totally vilified. i realised then, this was a spine-tingling moment what the measure of this man's achieveme

foreign investment is pulled from south africa. and mass rallies are held throughout the world on mandela's behalf. >> the fact of the matter is that apartheid is wrong. >> the free mandela campaign became the widest public campaign in the world. >> free mandela! >> free mandela! >> say free mandela! >> free mandela! >> reporter: all the while, within south africa's borders, the armed struggle continues. during all this, the government transfers mandela from robben island to a prison on the mainland in march 1982. mandela, isolated from his comra comrade, sees an opportunity. >> he puts out feelers to say, i've entertained some visitors from the government and talk about how we have a mutual government or how we end apartheid or how we have democratic elections. >> reporter: the negotiations begin in secret. the government does not want it publicly known that they are speaking with the enemy. mandela by not consulting with the anc leadership nknows they can disavow them if the negotiations go poorly. it is a risk he must take. >> t

at halfs are flying mast across south africa. they are in many countries and across the world and even though the death was widely anticipated, he was 95 and increasingly frail and receiving treatment in hospital. for many, the reality of his passing on is still donning. >> what are people saying to you about safed -- south africa without mandela? for many south africans which was articulated by jacob zuma last night when he made that initial announcement. we saw in him so much of ourselves. what many people have said to me is what he meant was we saw him as the best is out -- of ourselves. what we could become and what south africa could become. many people are saying the vision is and complete. we may have got rid of the race laws but this is sterile -- is still in an equal country. alongnequality is divided ethnic and racial lines. well people are grateful for what nelson mandela did for this country, bringing it from a apartheid past into a post-apartheid present, many feel that to fulfill his vision, a lot of work still need

it was a different south africa. , someonesouth africa is talking about peace. he is inviting investors to come to south africa because south africa is rich in minerals. people wanted to internationalize those that has they belong to them. it was a different story. now, south africans are looking and that country as if mandela wouldt preach that, it have been a different south africa that we are seeing now. >> i think that is what people are reflecting. david cameron, the prime .inister >> tonight, one of the brightest lights of our world has gone out. nelson mandela was not just a hero of our time -- >> makes sense of international news at bbc.com/news. >> funding of this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation, newman's own foundation, giving all profits to charity and pursuing the common good for over 30 years, and union bank. >> at union bank, our relationship managers work hard to understand the industry you operate in, working to nurture new ventures and help provide capital for key strategic decisions. we offer expertise and tailored solut

africa. >> that is where his legacy can be a little more controversial and south africaens feel he sold the country to foreign investors to bring them out of the post apartheid era. >> you are here to celebrate. >> the death of nelson mandela. >> we were talking about the economy in south africa, it has not gone as far as people would have liked but you still think that mandela, that is okay, we are on tv so don't call your friends just yet. you go celebrate and we will talk in a little bit. >> thank all the people of the world by coming to our country and we are so grateful for that even if they have come today to celebrate this day with us, we are so grateful, and mr. mandela our father was in prison for 27 years. we are so grateful for the world and we are celebrating but the mediva rest in peace. >> thank you, sir, this is has been happening all day by the way, this is what the spirit of the event is. you were saying this is a dichotomy saying he fought for freedom and we needed democracy

where is south africa today? what will it be without him there as this kind of life force for the new nation? >> i think that little deprivation in south africa will enormously high at the time of its transition. i think that they shall divide to a great and deep. i think that the inequality, such as to today and the inequality is racially coded and color coded. and yet, the only reason why south africa is able, with great stability and a great belief in democracy and human rights, we are able to navigate this difficult waters of material deprivation, is because nelson man della has been able to teach us patience, to teach us to give the other the benefit of the doubt. and he has been able to reconcile us in a way that has given us the space to overcome those problems systemically as we go forward. and so i want to really say that that legacy of nelson mandela, the patience and the perseverance and not to descend into anarchy and into instability, i think, persists to this day. >> ebrahim rasool, thank you so muc

south africa has lost its greatest son as madiba dies at age 95. "the new york times," south africa's conquerer of apartheid, fighter, prisoner and president and symbol. times of london, passage from his book, quote, no one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or background or religion. people must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. "the washington post," a nation's healer is dead. the prisoner who became president, south african leader, was symbol of moral force. and in "time" protester, prisoner, peacemaker, nelson mandela, 1918-2013. joining me now for more on all of this is washington's -- joining me from washington is leela mcdowell, washington correspondent for arise tv, with nelson mandela when he was released from prison and i'm joined by ron allen who is leaving for south africa later this morning. thank you both for being here this morning. leela, i would like to start with you. you were a witness to history

much of africa. a lot of that struggle was violent including when nelson mandela was ahead of congress and taking place in the cold war. the reagan administration considered them marxist and terrorists and they were insilt rated with communism. they didn't have universal support. that struggle to get south africa booted out of the olympics when tommy smith and john k john carlos. they were also protesting south africa and rhodesia being in the olympics. this deeply touched africans in the olympics. every american with a basic sense of decency. >> we are covering the passing of nelson mandela who passed away late this afternoon at the age of 95. just moments ago, president obama spoke about the impact that mandela had on the president's life. >> i cannot fully imagine my own life without the example that nelson mandela set. so long as i live, i will do what i can to learn from him. >> joan walsh, you get the feeling watching the president right there how profoundly affected he was by this man's life.

we'll post our apartheid south africa. i have been nice will the hokkaido in addition to the whitley the push to get it the old people are a team in the political activity in south africa that was to be the key was on the whole crew monday and i went into hiding. and at the euro happen all the options you can try at the armstrong. we know what happened after that call. the try of the group in ireland and the leaders of the season the apartment and into the ocean the young man who was working patient who was angry was when the two week as the model used this week on the porch looking at he underwent an hour or so the duration. even when the warden the presumption to commission appointed by the week. archbishop who wrote about yesterday. due to the pan and the beach. our nation in africa. god will not go on fumes. just to live with them. before we go and we are in the back door to two. look at some of the other issues of course that around this two on the table this important summit is taking place in paris with the sale of

the republic of south africa. the government -- brothers and sisters, today we are one extended family united by the africans soil. a towering giant who gave his life to humanity because he was selfless. he believed in the worth of every human being. especially humanity. because he believed in one united south africa. he shows forgiveness over retribution, reconciliation and peace. and south africa but it took us in namibia, but he was prominent brother. for those compatriots -- some who are here with us today -- he is here. he was an inspiration for the people of namibia in our struggle for freedom. and a symbol of fundamental human rights. peace and justice, not only for the people of south africa but for humanity itself. to celebrate his life and the fulfillment of the ideals he sacrificed. to our brothers and sisters of south africa, which shared the strength in the common struggle against apartheid. let us continue to gather, the struggle for problems for our people, guided by the principles of democracy, qua

africa loves him. africansace in south hearts reading, thank you for our dignity. us on the phone from johannesburg, france from bloomberg news. thank you for your time. you tried to get as close to the mandela home as possible. describe the scene now. we seem to have lost franz live from johannesburg. we will try to get back to him as soon as we can. president obama praising his achievements saying he served as an example for himself and many others. and nifty his fierce and unbending will do sacrifice his own freedom for the freedom of others, he transformed south africa and moved all of us. his journey from a resin or to a the promisebodied that human beings and countries can change for the better. his commitment to transfer power and reconcile with those who jailed him set an example that all humanity should aspire to. >> bloomberg's kathleen hunter joins us from washington with more reaction. what are we hearing from the white house at this hour? >> from the speech we saw from president obama, the comments he made, one of the most striking was when the preside

the chinese have invested so much in africa. >> all across south africa. >> they have taken over if not taken over u.s. influence in the investment here. >> from a foreign policy perspective this country and much of africa has been turning east and they are very acutely aware for themselves that the financial and diplomatic clout that they look to in the future comes from china. >> one person not here is the dalai lama. government here said they didn't have time to process his visa basically. the real reason is they didn't want to insult china. >> that has happened before because the dalai lama was also defected from going to his 80th celebration a few years ago. the authorities have used this excuse essentially of visa processing to avoid a rather sticky diplomatic question. >> there is archbishop tutu. >> kofi annan. >> a monitor here that is difficult to see. >> they are from the same neighborhood as nelson mandela and extraordinary leader in the anti-apartheid movement. >> absolutely. i think they became the voices of the struggle while he was away. remember also desmond tutu is sti

as he is here in south africa. but, you know, this is a global icon. there is perhaps no one like him anywhere else in the world. the most revered man in the world, perhaps. a figure who as you say, al, already mourned not only here in south africa but right across africa and right across the world. >> ambassador young, you worked a lot in africa and still do. give us a sense of what his impact to the entire continent was. all right. i think i've lost mr. young -- ambassador young. rohit, let me ask you. in terms of the president -- >> reporter: but the presenter was asking -- >> rohit, are you with me? yes, rohit. the president of the united states said that the first political engagement he ever had in life was involved in anti-apartheid demonstrations as a college student. that's the kind of impact he's had globally. and it is that generation that is now many of us in our 50s and older. but you're telling me there are people half our age and younger that are out there that are celebrating his life tonight. >> re

>> 1994 was the peak of the good time in south africa. then now with the other politics and other parties fighting, it's quite tense right now. >> it's not like it was before where everybody's -- you know, it's black and white. literally. we're unified on this. they're unified on that. >> these days, the party that freed the country from white rule, the anc, is not universally loved anymore. in recent years they've been criticized for inaction, corruption and cronyism. and opposition parties are gaining strength. >> anything that's maybe new to us, i think we're trying to navigate reality. how do you deal with so many opinions? the party that you loved the whole time, that brought about this freedom, is fumbling the ball. so what do you do? in democracy, you should act. >> smileys. fire roasted sheep's head. lips shrivelled back in a joker like rictus of deliciousness. chopped into tasty, tasty bits and eaten with cold beer? yes, of course, yes. just needs a little salt and pepper. >> good stuff. that looks good. >> it's pap. >> what is i

console and comfort south africa, africa and the world. may his long walk to freedom be enjoyed and realized in our time by all. may he rest in peace and rise in glory. 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 t

few in south africa ever saw. that changed in february 1990 when he walked out of prison and returned to his sow wetto a free man. >> i have spoken about freedom in my lifetime. your struggle. your commitment and discipline. it had relieved me to stand before you today. >> nelson mandela left the negotiations to the government that kept him in prison for so long, finding in national party leader fw dekirk a man he could do business. it was a process threatened by violence. the smile disappeared as the anc leader publicly berated those he held responsible. but for nelson mandela, the process was not personal. >> we are not deal with a man, an individual. we are dealing with a government, a system, a party. >> as the country was pushed towards a democracy, nelson mandela and dekish were awarded the "the new york observer." >> south africans in 1974 went to the polls. among them an incann dessant nelson mandela, voting for the first time. he became the president of a country in which he had been an outlaw. one in whi

what's happening in africa is happening in africa. there aren't these causes like international communism that tie the whole world together. apartheid was like that. the anti-apartheid movement was like that and mandela was like that. just before he was released, programs one of the contributing causes, there was a huge 70th birthday party for nelson mande mandela. it was held, i think, in london. every rock star in the world, politicians. it was this great global event. so mandela represents the last of the great global causes. i would be be surprised if, what you see is a very odd collection of people. what mandela was able to do and this was, you were talking about his political brilliance. he brought together all kinds of, it was a strange motley collection. when he became president of south africa. everyone wondered, is he going to be pro western? the african national congress, his organization, had been supported by revolutionaries, by gadhafi, by castro, he steers his country in the direction of pro western, pro markets, pro de

he is almost like a saint. >> pelley: for south africa, he was "madiba," the father of a nation. >> africa! amandla! ( cheers ) ( national anthem plays ) captioning sponsored by cbs >> pelley: good evening. sunday in south africa will be a national day of prayer in honor of nelson mandela, a day to reflect on all that he did for his country and on the inspiration he was for freedom- loving people all over the world. ever since he died thursday evening at the age of 95, mourners both black and white have been gathering at his former home in soweto, celebrating the father of the new south africa who fought for the liberation of the black majority and then led a peaceful transition to a multiracial democracy as south africa's first black president. nelson mandela is one of the towering figures of the 20th century, whose story will be told for centuries to come. it is a story that we will tell over the next hour, beginning with martha teichner, who reported from south africa during some of mandela's many years in prison and covered the day few thought would ever come. ( laughing ) >> we, all o

in. >> in south africa democracy has survived. i think they have a chance to gain a better case in south africa that's the points i'm trying to make. >> what if nelson mandela had served more than one term? >> i don't know in receipt strow spectd what hstrow -- retrospece would have felt. his impact is still going to be profound. they're sorry he's gone but they celebrate vividly and enthusiastically the great contribution that he made in their lives. and i think that spirit of nelson mandela is embedded deeply in the heart and soul and consciousness of the south south africans and that's why i hope this country is going to realize the hopes that nelson mandela had with it. >> stay tuned. i continue with my conversation night with the combatants in their training base. >> welcome back to being "talk to al jazeera." i'm ali velshi. we are in johannesburg, south africa and we are here with former united states president jimmy carter and we are talking about the passing of nelson mandela. we had occasion to be on the same plane comin

god bless africa! thank you. [cheers and applause] former president nelson mandela died in his home in johannes berg on thursday. he spent my seven years in prison after being convicted for his anti-apartheid activities. prison,s release from he was elected president of the country in 1994, serving just one term. current south african president has ordered flags to be flown at half mast. nelson mandela was 95. >> coming up on c-span tonight, a hearing on expiring unemployment benefits followed by the house majority cantor and the year-end agenda in the u.s. house. later, treasury secretary jack lew gives a speech on the dodd- frank regulations. unemployment insurance benefits are set to expire on december 28. withday, a hearing witnesses representing some of the 1.3 million people who will be affected if these benefits expire. this is 90 minutes. >> good morning, everyone. thank you for joining us for this hearing. good morning everyone. thank you very much for joining us for this hearing of this most serious mat

robin journeyed to south africa three years ago. and last night, she described her experience to diane sawyer on "world news." >> when i broke to graca machel, the woman he married on his 80th birthday, and i asked her, what is her husband's legacy going to be? and she said, a visionary leader. and it is the quality, the quality of leadership. >> robin went on to say that mandela wanted to right the wrongs and give each one of us the feeling that we could do the same thing, too. >> mandela also showed the world the meaning of true forgiveness. by the time he walked out of prison, he had formed an unlikely bond with one of his jailers. abc's david muir explains. >> reporter: christo brand peers out over the water, to the former prison on robben island, where he first reported for duty at 18. >> they informed us we're going to meet the biggest criminals in the history of south africa. >> reporter: nelson mandela was nearly 60. already in prison for more than a decade. still forced to sleep on the floor. the young jailer's family was a

he believed in the idea that separate and equal did not work in south africa. it would not work anywhere else. we had to be equal and not separate in order for us to work. and i think when we look back he made a big difference, and he will continue to make a difference when we realize what he did as a lawyer, as a politician, as a father, a grandfather, and really as a father of a nation. >> chris bishop, nelson mandela told one of his biographers that he doesn't think he's ever fully told the story about just how close south africa came to chaos and civil war on multiple fronts in that transition from apartheid all the way through to a democratically elected president. there was an assassination of another black leader at that time where things were getting very tense and close to coming apart. can you imagine any one else being that first democratically elected president of south africa and holding the country together? >> you have to understand where this country came from, just before the elections there was an uprising in the northwest of the country, in b

investment in south africa and bans u.s. import in south africa coal, steel and uranium products. both sides say that is unlikely. >> it was not sustained. it was overridden in the house and the senate. it was the first override in a sentry. they credit those sanctions and the divestment movement around the world with bringing about the pressure and the isolation that was necessary to eventually humble the apartheid regime that eventually freed nelson mandella. the fight here, to do that, was nothing compared to the fight in south africa. joining us now, california former congressman and oakland mayor, congressman, nice to see you. thank you very much for being here. >> it is my honor to be here. >> a little known fact in history is that a group of african american employ owes of the polaroid company that took pictures of black south africans were inspired by the organization of the congressional black caucus because they were concerned about trying to make a statement of divestment, and its cooperation from the apartheid effort. i met with them and i kept reswro deucing it for 15

what is the future of south africa without nelson mandela? well, i think a lot of the ground work has been laid by him and his followers and i'm optimistic about the future of south africa. there are a lot of things that need to be done economically, of course, but at least there is now freedom and a form of democracy there in south africa. >> all right, secretary baker, we thank you.,, >>> why does nelson mandela's life mean so much to so many different kinds of we'll talk to mandela's biographer and friend of 30 years plus bob simon of "60 minutes" who was there for mandela's historic walk to freedom. that's ahead on "cbs this morning." ♪ i will be king ♪ and you ♪ you will be queen ♪ savor the season with the rich, irresistible flavors of mccafé lattes and mochas -- all made with 100% rainforest alliance certified espresso. ♪ right now, indulge in the decadent new white chocolate mocha, and just for the holidays the tradition of peppermint mocha is back. both festive flavors are here, but not for long. there's something for ever

but inside south africa, that media was heavily sanctioned. the world staterred to see it, and only the united states and great britain at the time, held out against sanctions in south africa. today we are their great friend, and south africa refers to americans. >> but not in 1980. >> in those days we were the greatest enemy pass. ronald ragan and mar rat thatcher did everything they could to make sure that he was not a freeman. >> it is valuable to take a trip back in time to get fit someone who saw it through younger person's eyes. poll sixes refused to welcome him to the city. stage add boycott known as the quiet riot, and natasha joins us live from miami beach with more on that. john, some people consider is this a very dark chapter, not only in the history of miami beach, and miami, but the entire south florida region. that's because half a dozen leaders on top of the governor snubbed him. now, you have to remember on a night like tonight, what their thoughts were more than 20 years later. we would have loved to interview them, but they

will he be traveling to south africa for the memorial? >> no trip has been announced yet by the white house but it seems likely the president and possibly first lady would go over for the services when they happen over the next week or two. the president was so candid yesterday speaking about the influence that nelson mandela had in his life. he said he could not imagine living his life without the example that nelson mandela set. >> tell us more about president obama's last trip to south africa and when he first met mandela as a senator. >> reporter: president obama was in south africa in june. nelson mandela was very sick at that point. the white house said out of respect for him and his family they were not going to have the obamas go and meet him. instead, he took his wife and daughters to nelson mandela's cell on robben island. he said it was a privilege and honor to be there. the first and only time they met is right after president obama was elected senator in 2005. it was at a hotel here in washington. the president, then senator,

mandela brought about in south africa. my visit with him in '96, i had the privilege of spending nearly an hour with him in his office in south africa. the thing that struck me the most about mr. mandela, when you are in the presence of someone viewed by his countrymen as george washington, abraham lincoln and martin luther king it's intimidating. the thing that struck me is how open and engaging and humorous he was. we had a great time talking and laughing. i said to myself, an icon should not be this happy and laughing. you know, i expected a stone figure and i found a very -- >> doctor, can you reflect on how nelson mandela impacted those that you managed during your tenure at universities like howard? >> caller: sure. i was president of howard for 13 years. during that time, prior to my becoming president, mr. mandela received an honorary degree from howard. it was the first honorary degree he received from an american university. we are proud of that. mr. mandela, when i visited with him reminded me of his visit to wa