Ronald Reagan regretted vetoing sanctions against South Africa’s pro-apartheid government, a top official in the late President’s cabinet said Sunday.
“I’m sure he did regret it, in fact, I’m certain that he did,” James Baker III, Reagan’s former Chief of Staff and Treasury Secretary said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” during a wide-ranging discussion about former South African President Nelson Mandela. “It was after all, I think, the only time a veto of his had been overridden in two terms. Certainly, he regretted it.”
“On the other hand,” Baker added, “once that happened and control of South Africa policy passed through the Congress, President Reagan was really determined to meet with the black leaders of South Africa and deal with the problems of apartheid, and he was able to do so.”
In 1986, Reagan vetoed a bill that would have imposed sanctions on the pro-apartheid South African government. Congress ultimately overrode the veto and the sanctions were imposed anyway.
Baker said Reagan had wanted to impose the penalties via executive order.
Baker’s recollections were part of a broader tribute on the program to Mandela, who passed away Thursday night at the age of 95.
Baker went on to describe the first time he met Mandela, just weeks after the icon was released from prison.
“I was really amazed at the soft-spokenness of this man, at the condition of this man, at the dignity of this man,” Baker said. “He had an enduring and endearing presence of dignity that I don’t think I’ve ever seen on any other person, and I just have always felt that this was an extraordinarily beautiful human being who became, of course, an icon of freedom, of human rights and of reconciliation.”
