On this day in ...... 1918 (90 years ago today) , Nelson Mandela (right) was born in Transkei, South Africa. The exceptional life of this man (mentioned too in post above) -- from lawyer to prisoner to President to global campaigner for humanity -- is set out here, in a BBC slide-show-with-soundtrack.
... 1985, Rozanne L. Ridgway (below left) was appointed Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Canadian Affairs, making her the 1st woman to head a regional bureau of the U.S. State Department. She held the post until mid-1989. Ridgway also was the 1st woman Counselor of the Department of State, serving from 1980-81, and held numerous other diplomatic posts. Now 72 years old, she serves on the boards of directors of many U.S. corporations.
