Tuesday, June 21, 2011

First lady Michelle Obama visits ex-president Nelson Mandela in South Africa


JOHANNESBURG —First lady Michelle Obama has said she hopes to inspire young adults during her visit this week to South Africa and Botswana, but she seemed inspired herself after a brief visit Tuesday with former South African president Nelson Mandela.

The unscheduled talk with Mandela, the nation’s first black president and patriarch of racial equality here, came after a visit to his foundation. Mandela, 92, who has not been seen often in recent months, is revered here. He was hospitalized in January, and rumors of his ill health have been reported in the local news media.

In photos taken of the private 20-minute visit between members of Mandela’s extended family and Obama, her mother, daughters, niece and nephew, he is sitting on his couch holding a book of his quotations that he is signing for the first lady.

Earlier, during a tabletop tour of a display of letters, photos and years of desk calendars that Mandela kept while in prison for 27 years, Obama said, “Wow,” and asked how he kept up with all of the documents.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/first-lady-michelle-obama-visits-ex-president-nelson-mandela-in-south-africa/2011/06/21/AGHs8oeH_story.html


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