The Last Trek -- A New Beginning is a frank and revealing autobiography that reflects both the author and his role during a remarkable period in history. On becoming State President of South Africa in 1989, F. W. de Klerk set about dismantling apartheid. By releasing Nelson Mandela from prison in February 1990, he set in motion a chain of events which would lead to the first fully democratic elections in South Africa's history. This is the long-awaited inside story of the South African miracle by the man who sacrificed his ...
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The Last Trek -- A New Beginning is a frank and revealing autobiography that reflects both the author and his role during a remarkable period in history. On becoming State President of South Africa in 1989, F. W. de Klerk set about dismantling apartheid. By releasing Nelson Mandela from prison in February 1990, he set in motion a chain of events which would lead to the first fully democratic elections in South Africa's history. This is the long-awaited inside story of the South African miracle by the man who sacrificed his own power to make it happen. De Klerk relates numerous anecdotes, personal behind-the-scenes observations and impressions of Mandela as well as other figures who have dominated recent South African history. He also provides a fascinating insight into the workings of power and the mechanics of historic change.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Seller's Description:
Very Good in Very Good jacket. Book. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. The inside story of the South African miracle by the man who sacrificed his own power to make it happen, Blue boards with gold-color lettering on spine, map endpapers, xx, 412 pp., photos, unclipped illustrated jacket. First U., S. Edition. Mild wear, unmarked, tight binding, nice jacket.
Edition:
First United States Edition, presumed first printing
Publisher:
St. Martin's Press
Published:
1999
Language:
English
Alibris ID:
16378830656
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Seller's Description:
G. Mendel (Front Cover Photograph) Very good in Good jacket. xx, 412 pages. Small DJ flap tear. Signing event ephemera laid in. The author signed this book on the title page. Endpaper map. List of Illustrations, Preface, Introduction, Conclusion, and Index. The 35 chapters cover Roots; My Childhood; My Education; Law, Community and Politics; Parliament; John Vorster's Cabinet; Ministerial Career; The Split in the National Party; The Tricameral Parliament; The Constitutional Future of Black South Africans; The Total Onslaught; My Election as Leader of the National Party; President Botha's Departure from Politics; The First Months of My Presidency; The Pretoria Minute and the Birth of the New National Party; Violence and Operation Vula; Peace Initiatives and Commissions; Codesa 1; Governing the Country and the Referendum; Codesa II and Mass Action; The Record of Understanding; The Steyn Investigation; The Multiparty Negotiating Forum, Atom Bombs and Assassination; Progress Towards the Interim Constitution; The Nobel Peace Prize; The Zulus Ask for Independence; The Collapse of the Freedom Alliance; The IFP Comes on Board; The Election and the End of National Party Rule; The Government of National Unity; The New Constitution, Withdrawal from the Government of National Unity, Opposition and Retirement; Truth and Reconciliation; and With the Advantage of Hindsight. On becoming State President of South Africa in 1989, F. W. de Klerk set about dismantling apartheid. By releasing Mandela from prison in February 1990, he set in motion a chain of events which would lead to the first fully democratic elections in South Africa's history, on 27 April 1994. Frederik Willem de Klerk OMG DMS (born 18 March 1936) is a South African retired politician, who served as State President of South Africa from 1989 to 1994 and as Deputy President from 1994 to 1996. As South Africa's last head of state from the era of white-minority rule, he and his government dismantled the apartheid system and introduced universal suffrage. Ideologically a conservative and an economic liberal, he led the National Party from 1989 to 1997. de Klerk joined the National Party, to which he had family ties, he was elected to parliament and sat in the white-minority government of P. W. Botha, holding a succession of ministerial posts. As a minister, he supported and enforced apartheid. After Botha resigned in 1989, de Klerk replaced him, first as leader of the National Party and then as State President. Although observers expected him to continue Botha's defense of apartheid, de Klerk decided to end the policy. He was aware that growing ethnic animosity and violence was leading South Africa into a racial civil war. Amid this violence, the state security forces committed widespread human rights abuses and encouraged violence between Xhosa and Zulu. He permitted anti-apartheid marches to take place, legalized a range of previously banned anti-apartheid political parties, and freed imprisoned anti-apartheid activists, including Nelson Mandela. He also dismantled South Africa's nuclear weapons program. De Klerk negotiated with Mandela to fully dismantle apartheid and establish a transition to universal suffrage. In 1993, he publicly apologized for apartheid's harmful effects. He oversaw the 1994 non-racial election in which Mandela led the African National Congress (ANC) to victory; de Klerk's National Party took second place with 20% of the vote. de Klerk became a Deputy President in Mandela's ANC-led coalition, the Government of National Unity. He supported the government's liberal economic policies. His working relationship with Mandela was strained, although he spoke fondly of him. In 1997, he retired from active politics and since then has lectured internationally. The recipient of a wide range of awards-including the Nobel Peace Prize-he was widely praised for dismantling apartheid and bringing universal suffrage to South Africa. Derived from a Kirkus review: de Klerk is a fundamentally tragic figure:...
