charles ogletree is in boston with us this morning., the modern influence that he has had. you think about president obama who meets him, and we have the pictures of it back in 2005. he's still a senator, and mandela had been encouraged to meet with this rising star in the democratic party, and this was their only meeting at the four seasons hotel in washington, the president reflecting on the life and times of mandela from the white house on thursday. >> i'm one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from nelson mandela's life. my very first political action, the first thing i ever did that involved an issue or a policy or politics was a protest against apartheid. >> and it's interesting, he being too young for the civil rights era, reverend jackson, but first to charles ogletree, this was the connection point was apartheid. this was the inspiration nelson mandela, who he could experience realtime, the joy of that deliverance realtime. >> that's exactly right. i was a student at stanford when i heard the movement about divestm

and charles ogletree who marched for mandela's freedom and subsequently met with him several times. welcome to all of you. it's a great privilege to have this conversation. i want to begin in south africa with charlene hunter-gault and have her set the scene with this national period of mourning and reflection and celebration. good morning, charlene. >> reporter: right now, david, it is pouring down rain, and in south africa rain is a sign of good for tutune, so maybe it is honor of mandela. up until this moment, people have been dancing in the streets, they've been singing songs, they've been recalling aspects of nelson mandela's health, and we're near his house where i first interviewed him when he got out of prison. so this is not a sad time, even though there are tears she had from time to time, but south africa adored the world that mandela created, and they are celebrating his life in every possible way that you could think of, including dancing in the streets. >> which is good to see. well, charlene, you'll be with us. it's kind of loud where you are and you'll be joining our

. >>> robin joins me again and charles ogletree, professor at harvard law school. activist said moral leaders go to places that are sometimes unlikely and unexpected for their cause. it's okay to see them as a hero but a hero with flaws. what do you make of that statement? >> i think he's a great hero, and i think the flaws need to be taken into context. he's a man who suffered a lot, spent 27 years in jail, treated differently because he was a part of the apartheid system, many people in africa didn't have support. i like what he was able to do and he's a transcended guy who will have impact not just now but well into the 21st and 22nd century because of what he's able to do. >> it's interesting to see throughout the history of the struggle, professor ogletree, the defiance, campaign, working with colored south africans, indians to get a unified response and then the evolution from non-violence from civil disobedience to an armed struggle when they found they basically couldn't get any headway using civil disobedience. >> right, and i think the thing that's missin

also, charles ogletree, a law professor at harvard.t 1:00 eastern, "this week those quote with dick durbin and republican senator portman. "fox news sunday" tests include rand paul, ezekiel , a former adviser to president obama. union" talksof the with congressman michael mccaul and a member of the select committee on intelligence. at 4:00, "face the nation" from cbs. bob schieffer talks with my angelou -- maya angelou. the sunday network t.v. talk shows are on c-span radio and brought to you as a public service by the networks and c- span. rebroadcasts begin at noon eastern with "meet the press." "state of the union." all on c-span radio, across the country on xm satellite radio. you can download our free app for your smartphone or listen .nline at c-spanradio.org >> i got upset with the because they told us [indiscernible] and then they never showed up anymore. was walking in the white house and met this woman who was one of the press people. nobody ever covers my meetings. she said mental health is not a sexy issue. found out what w