    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [March 27, 1998]
    [Pages 454-455]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters During a Visit to Robben Island With President
    Nelson Mandela of South Africa
    March 27, 1998

        Ahmed M. Kathrada. Ladies and
    gentlemen of the media, this is not a press conference. You've had your
    share in Cape Town, and we don't believe in double features. [Laughter]
    But what we want to do now is, our President is going to hand over to
    President Clinton a quarry rock, with his little finger, authenticated
    by our President that this is a genuine quarry rock from the quarry
    where he worked for 13 years.
        President Mandela. It's a great honor and
    a pleasure because, as we have said on many occasions, our victory here
    is victory in part because you helped us tremendously. Thank you very
    much.
        President Clinton. Thank you.
        Mr. Kathrada. May I just say that this
    is not a press conference. Any question must be confined to Robben
    Island and Robben Island only, please.
        Q. We're just interested in your experience. We'd like to hear
    firsthand from you about your experiences in this cell.
        President Mandela. Well, there were
    pleasant--[laughter]--and unpleasant experiences,

    [[Page 455]]

    and it depends how you look at the situation. As you know, right down
    the centuries and in many parts of the world, there are men and women
    who are able to turn disaster--what would crush many people--to turn
    that disaster into victory. And that is what these men here, like Mr.
    Kathrada and others, did.
        And so when I come here, I call back into memory that great saga in
    which the authorities, who were pitiless, insensitive, and cruel,
    nevertheless failed in their evil intentions. They were responsible for
    that.
        Q. President Mandela, can we just ask you, is there--you've been
    back to the island many times----
        President Mandela. Let's come closer,
    please.
        Q. You've been back to the islands many times. Can you tell us what
    the special significance is of this particular visit with the American
    President?
        President Mandela. There is no doubt
    that, as I said at the press conference, that the visit by President
    Clinton is a high watermark in relation to all the visits that we've
    held. And coming to Robben Island is something more important, with that
    significant achievement of coming to South Africa. And we appreciate
    that very much.
        Q. President Clinton, what are you feeling?
        President Clinton. Well, my first thought was to thank God that the
    person who occupied this cell was able to live all those years in that
    way without having his heart turn to stone and without giving up on his
    dreams for South Africa.
        The other thing that I would say is that I think this is a good
    object lesson in life for all young people. You know, 99.9999 percent of
    the people will never have a challenge in life like the one Mr.
    Mandela faced when he spent all these years
    in prison. But everyone has difficulties, everyone faces unfairness, and
    everyone faces cruelty. And the one thing that is beyond the control of
    anyone else is how you react to it, what happens to your own spirit,
    what happens to your own heart, what happens to your own outlook on
    life.
        And he is the world's foremost living example of that. And every
    young child, I wish, could think about his or her life that way, and
    there would be a lot more happiness in the world and a lot more
    generosity, because then no one would feel compelled to react in a
    certain way because of what others said or others did. It's a very
    important thing about living.

    Note: The exchange took place during a tour which began at 1:15 p.m.,
    led by Robben Island Council Chair Ahmed M. Kathrada, a former prisoner
    at Robben Island.