President Barack Obama is highly influenced by Nelson Mandela, even though he met him in person only once, the White House today said adding that the anti-apartheid icon was part of an era of historic changes across the world.
"I think that Nelson Mandela had a profound impact on millions and millions of people around the world, and beginning with the citizens of South Africa, millions and millions of people who've never met him."
"And the President, as Senator, had the good fortune to meet him, but I don't think that's the reason why he had an influence on Barack Obama. That influence extends, well back in time," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said.
"I know those of us who were in college in the '80s remember the debates and protests that were happening on college campuses over divestment in South Africa because of apartheid. I think that's what the president was referencing in his own experience," he said and referred to his own experience and a college student.
"The amazing transformation that happened from that period to his release and then not much time later, just a few years, to his election as President was part of an era of historic change around the world that I think will be remembered as such for a long, long time," Carney said.
"There is no debate around the world about the fundamental goodness of this man. It wasn't always that way, but it is today," he added.
Carney said the President last spoke with Mandela in either 2010 or 2011.
"I don't have a specific date. I believe it might have been 2010 or 2011 by phone. I know that Nelson Mandela called the President when he won the presidency in 2008, and I know they spoke by phone on several occasions after that," he said.
"The First Lady and the Obamas' daughters travelled to South Africa and met with Nelson Mandela. I believe that was in 2011," he added.
"I think the President put it very well yesterday and in remarks he made when he was in South Africa earlier this year about the remarkable example that Nelson Mandela set when he was released from prison and made clear that he would embrace those who jailed him and that he would seek to help build a South Africa that judged every person by his or her character and not by his or her skin colour," Carney said in response to a question.
