. >> the difference between the way f.w. clarkdled the need for change and inevidencible election, democratic election of nelson mandela, legitimate election, truly legitimate for the first time, for him to recognize his role in history to be a patriot at that point is so different than the way mitch mcconnell handled the election of obama, so different. to set it up that way, juxtaposition, they were willing the mcconnell people on the far right were ready to destroy obama whereas to succeed in a country he loved, f.w. clark was willing to see it transformed to black rule so it would be done successfully so he would have, his country, have a better future. >> to hear the reaction, thanks for being with us. leo, do you agree with those comments? is there apartheid in america today? >> sure. i can tell you two states right away, idaho, where mark fuhrman lives and utah. they don't permit blacks to go to those states. they have clubs all white and -- idaho, listen, let me be clear, you think that's funny? people like me can't go to

people stop you on the ,,,, a picture of f.w. clark, the man that nelson mandela negotiated with to bring the end to apartheid watching as they worked hard and negotiated hard to bring an end to apartheid and the release of nelson mandela. >> reporter: that is very true. it's what you hear here. nelson mandela is not just a hero to black south africans which make up the vast majority of the country, he is a hero to everybody here, including the white south africans, the former white regime was a very brave one. they were forced into it by economic sanctions and other kinds of pressures and the moral rectitude of the battle that was being fault. his greatest gift he was being remembered for was not just long walk to freedom, the long fight for liberation but the reconciliation he saw afterwards, bringing everybody into the fold, saying this was and is a country for everybody. the inequality economically and socially is much less than it used to be. a lot of brave people coming together here on this very historic day. >> mark phillips, w

. >> reporter: in 1989 south africa's hardline president p.w.bota resigned, replaced by f.w. clark slowly began to dismantle apartheid. the ban on the anc was lifted, and on february 11th, 1990 nelson mandela walked to freedom. >> nelson mandela, free at last and back among his people. >> i thank you all in the name of peace. >> reporter: 27 years in prison had not weakened mandela's resolve. >> as long as the government has not -- >> reporter: but he also urged restraint, even forgiveness telling blacks to "throw their guns into the sea" and reassuring anxious whites. >> we want them to feel safe. >> reporter: mandela's courage and sacrifice were recognized around the world. in america he was welcomed as a hero. mandela and declerk were awarded the nobel peace prize in 1993. the following year in the first mixed race election in south africa's history, nelson mandela was elected president. >> today is the day like no other before it. >> reporter: we were the first to interview him on that first morning as president-elect. mandela tempered south africa's joy when he said healing hi

. >> i also saw a picture of f.w. clark, the man that nelson mandela negotiated with to bring the end to apartheid watching as they worked hard and negotiated hard to bring an end to apartheid and the release of nelson mandela. >> reporter: that is very true. it's what you hear here. nelson mandela is not just a hero to black south africans which make up the vast majority of the country, he is a hero to everybody here, including the white south africans, the former white regime was a very brave one. they were forced into it by economic sanctions and other kinds of pressures and the moral rectitude of the battle that was being fault. his greatest gift he was being remembered for was not just long walk to freedom, the long fight for liberation but the reconciliation he saw afterwards, bringing everybody into the fold, saying this was and is a country for everybody. the inequality economically and socially is much less than it used to be. a lot of brave people coming together here on this very historic day. >> mark phillips, w

whereas to succeed in a country he loved, the f.w. clark was willing to see it transformed to black rule. >> mandela had much more in common with clarence thomas and a lot of conservatives than he does mandela. but the left doesn't care. >> you also had rick santorum on o'reiley comparing obama to apartheid, you had al sharpton comparing today's republican party to apartheid. is that analogy getting stretched and overused? >> way overused. and, again, they're trying to super impose this on their own agenda, their own politics. and i think in the media buzz, that's exactly what's going on. but let me just say, i remember being in south africa at the time of mandela's release. and you know what's interesting? the newspapers couldn't print the name until he was released. you couldn't have a picture. >> none of us knew what he looked like. but i want to get chris in on this question of partisanship and using the mandela legacy to score points for your side. >> we should remember that nelson mandela was a politician and it's okay to talk about h

f.w. dick clark who slowly began to dismantle apartheid.he ban was lifted and on february 11th, 1990, nelson mandela walked to freedom. >> nelson mandela, free at last, and back among his people. >> reporter: 27 years in prison had not weakened mandela's resolve. >> the government has not responded. >> reporter: but he also urged restraint, even forgiveness, telling blacks to, quote, throw their guns into the sea and reassuring anxious whites. >> whites are fellow south africans and we want them to feel safe. >> reporter: mandela's courage and sacrifice were recognized around the world. in america, he was welcomed as a hero. mandela was awarded the peace prize in 1993. the following year, nelson mandela was elected president. >> today is a day like no other before it. >> reporter: we were the first to interview him on that first morning as president elect. mandela tempered south africa's joy when he said healing his country would it take time. >> it cannot be done overnight. it will take a year, two years, even as much as five years. >> rep

f.w. dick clark who slowly began to dismantle apartheid. ban was lifted and on february 1990, nelson mandela walked to freedom. >> i ask you all in the name -- >> 27 years in prison had not weakened mandela's resolve. >> it will go on as long as the government has not responded to us. >> reporter: but he also urged restraint, even forgiveness, telling blacks to quote throw their guns into the sea and reassuring anxious whites. >> whites are citizens and we want them to feel safe. >> mandela's courage and sacrifice were recognized around the world. in america, he was welcomed as a hero. mandela and declerc were awarded the nobel peace prize in 1993. the following year, in the first mixed race elections in south africa's history, nelson mandela was elected president. >> today is a day like no other before us. >> we were the first to interview him on that first morning as president-elect. mandela tempered south africa's joy when he said healing his country would take time. >> it cannot be done overnight. it will take a year, two years, even as

he had done research and that his research indicated that a telephone call took place between f.w. de clarkret thatcher wherein he asked her what should i do. margaret thatcher's response was, the dellums bill passed on a voice vote two years ago. it passed just recently on a record vote. the democrats now control the senate. it will pass the senate. it will become law. he said, then what should i do. her response was, free mandela and begin to negotiate a new south africa while you have leverage, because that divestment bill calls for global cooperation and you will have no leverage. whether he's right or wrong, history is history, and he said that while that bill never became law, it hung over south africa like the sword of damocles. >> well said. thank you so much ron dellums and bill keller. we'll be right back after this. like a milk-bone biscuit. ♪ say it with milk-bone. ♪ stacy's mom has got it goin' on ♪ ♪ stacy's mom has got it goin' on ♪ ♪ stacy's mom has got it goin' on ♪ [ male announcer ] the beautifully practical and practically beautiful cadillac srx. get the best offers of t

f.w. de-clark who slowly began to dismantle apartheid.he ban of the anc was lifted and on february 11th, 1990, nelson mandela walked to freedom. >> nelson mandela, free at last and back among his people. >> i greet you all in the name of peace. >> 27 years in prison had not weakened mandela's resolve. >> as long as the government has not responded to our citizens. >> but he urged strength, telling blacks to throw their guns into the sea and reassuring whites. >> we want them to feel safe. >> mandela's courage and sacrifice were recognized around the world. in america, he was welcomed as a hero. mandela and the clerk were awarded the nobel peace prize in 1993. the following year in the first mixed race election in south africa's history, nelson mandela was elected president. today is a day like no other before us. >> we were the first to interview him on that first morning as president elect. mandela tempered south africa's joy when he said healing his country would take time. >> it cannot be done overnight. it is going to take a year, two