A Tribute to Nelson Mandela

The James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy mourns the loss of Nelson Mandela, a great leader and humanitarian wholly committed to the creation of a multiracial, democratic South Africa.

“Nelson Mandela is one of those rare historical figures who successfully navigated the course from being a revolutionary leader to being a national statesman,” said honorary chair James A. Baker, III, while introducing Mr. Mandela to a Rice University audience in 1999.  

“During my years in public life, I had the opportunity of meeting any number of world leaders, but none, and I repeat none, is more deserving of the appellation 'great’ than is Nelson Mandela.”

View the Baker Institute's video tribute to Nelson Mandela below.

• James A. Baker, III, was the first high-level American official to meet with Mr. Mandela after his release from prison in 1990. Mr. Baker remembers Mr. Mandela in a series of media interviews, below:

Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer (Dec. 9, 2013)

CBS News with Charlie Rose (Dec. 6, 2013)

MSNBC (Dec. 6, 2013)

Fox News (Dec. 6, 2013)

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•  View photos of Mr. Mandela's October 1999 visit to the Baker Institute and Rice University below:      

• Click here to view video of Mr. Mandela's 1999 address at Rice University.