nbc's rohit kachroo is in johannesberg for us. rohit, good evening. >> ever since nelson mandela contracted tuberculosis during his years in prison he's been susceptible to lung infections. when an infection was detected last night, doctors took no chances. >> nelson mandela is said to be responding to treatment. >> nelson mandela's health. >> pray for mandela. >> reporter: the news quickly spread around the world. nelson mandela rushed to the hospital just before midnight. the third hospitalization in four months. this time officials weren't calling it scheduled or routine. >> former president nelson mandela is responding positively to the treatment he's receiving for a recurring lung infection. >> reporter: photographed with his great grandson last month, mandela looked healthy. he's 94 now, increasingly frail and rarely seen in public. south africa's current president jacob zuma spoke about the man known as madiba saying we appeal to the people of south africa and the world to pray for our beloved madiba and his family and to ke

>>> rohit kachroo, tonight. >>> in washington those widespread automatic spending cuts hit home today at the white house where tours were canceled until further notice because of staff reductions. nbc's kristen welker has the latest on the budget battle and how some republicans are already looking toward 2016. >> reporter: on this springlike day in the nation's capital, there are plenty of people enjoying the weather. but deep disappointment that the white house is closed. >> i'm confused on why they didn't do the tours in the white house anymore. and why they still do them at the capitol. >> we had this trip planned for six months, and to come here to do that and then to find out two days prior that it was canceled was kind of upsetting. >> reporter: it's all a result of the sequester. washington failed to stop these deep across-the-board spending cuts but the partisan squabbling is somewhat toned down. here's the president in his weekly address today. >> i still believe that compromise is possible. i still believe we can come together to do big things. and i know there are leaders o

we have a report from rohit kachroo, of "independent television news." >> reporter: they've heard theseson mandela is not only the most revered person in the world, but an elderly man fighting a persistent lung infection. his 94th birthday last summer was a rare chance to see him in public, surrounded by his family. another glimpsof t forr president last february. he gained weight. he looked healthier, but he's been taken to hospital twice since then. last night, he was taken from his johanesburg home to an unnamed hospital. >> the doctors are attending to him and ensuring that he receives the best possible expert medical treatment and is kept comfortable. president zuma has wished madeba a speedy recovery and appeals to >> reporter: 27 years in prison made mandela a global icon. this countries fit black president, uniting his nation. many south africans yearn for his style of leadership today. but this is a young country and though south africans celebrate his birthday, most are too young to remember the dark years of racial segregation. a figure from the history books he may be, but h