Obama et Mandela: le récit de leur seule rencontre

Ils ne se seront croisés qu'une seule fois alors qu'Obama n'était pas Président des États-Unis. Mandela devait rencontrer le NAACP (mouvement de lutte pour les droits civiques des noirs) et c'est Obama qui a demandé à ce qu'on organise la rencontre. Aujourd'hui ils ont en commun un prix Nobel et le fait d'avoir été les premier noirs à la Présidence de leur pays.

 "Frank Ferrari, a Mandela associate in the U.S., reached out and asked Mandela to make time for the junior senator from Illinois. With Mandela exhausted and facing two other major meetings that day, “we declined the request to add to his schedule,” La Grange said in an email recounting the incident.

 “We were then told that Sen. Obama was expected to stand for the presidential election and he could well become the first black president of the USA,” she wrote. La Grange said she couldn’t remember who offered that description, possibly Ferrari. She didn’t necessarily buy it.

 “Personally, I met that prediction with a bit of skepticism,” she said. “But then we agreed that he could pay a courtesy call on Mr. Mandela.”

 Obama was riding in his aide’s Volkswagen Passat, headed to a meeting in Georgetown, when his scheduler called and asked whether he’d like to meet Mandela. The aide, David Katz, quickly headed to the Four Seasons Hotel.

 The two were met by Mandela’s entourage of aides. Obama greeted them and then walked toward Mandela, who was in an armchair next to a window. Obama extended his hand; Mandela apologized for remaining seated, La Grange said.

http://www.2oceansvibe.com/2013/06/28/obama-and-mandela-have-met-before-here-is-the-photograph-and-incredible-story/