NelsonMandelawasthefirstblackpresidentofSouthAfricaandalegendaryfigureoftheAfricanNationalCongress,orANC.From1964to1990,MandelawasimprisonedforopposingSouthAfrica'swhiteminoritygovernmentanditspolicyofracialseparation,knownasapartheid.Insteadofdisappearingfromview,Mandelabecameamartyrandworldwidesymbolofresistancetoracism.In1993Mandelaandthepresidentwhoreleasedhim,F.W.deKlerk,sharedtheNobelPeacePrize.Mandelawaselectedthecountry'spresidentin1994.Heserveduntil1999,whenhewassucceededbyhisdeputyThaboMbeki.Mandela'sautobiography,LongWalktoFreedom,waspublishedin1994.

　　NelsonMandela,PoliticalLeader

　　Mandelahasbeenmarriedthreetimes:totheformerEvelynMasefrom1944to1957,toWinnieMadikizelafrom1958to1996,andtoGracaMachelin1998...Mandela'swifeWinniebecameapowerfulfigureinherownrightwhileMandelawasimprisoned;however,herentanglementinaseriesofscandalsledtothecouple'sestrangementin1992,herdismissalfromhiscabinetin1995,andtheirofficialdivorcein1996.