17 Headline-Making Moments on The Oprah Show

Nelson Mandela—2000

In 2000, Oprah interviewed "universal hero" Nelson Mandela, the first black president of postapartheid South Africa. After spending 27 years in prison, he was freed, declared himself free of bitterness, and worked for reconciliation between the whites and blacks of his nation. "It is one of the greatest honors of my career to welcome Nelson Mandela," Oprah said.