CLEAR ALL
Major speeches and letters from the life and career of South Africa’s first black president, organized by date, topic and readers’ favorites.
What began as a statement by an accused prisonor became, over the 29 minutes it took Mandela to deliver it, his best known and most important speech. It was a recounting of his story up to that point, an expression of his views and a morally forceful argument on behalf of his cause.
Excerpts from 'An ideal I am prepared to die for' and other memorable speeches by Mandela.
Nelson Mandela was given an honorary doctoral degree from Harvard University in a special fall convocation on September 18, 1998. Introduced by former University President Neil L. Rudenstine, Mandela delivered an address in the Tercentenary Theatre of Harvard Yard.