Mr.

Mandela became a role model

for democracy, stepping down
from the presidency after one
termand holding out the promise
of a newAfrica.
And to a world roiled by war,
poverty and oppression, Mr.
Mandela became its conscience,
fighting to overcome some of its
most vexing problems. He was a
Nobel Peace Prize laureate who
spent 27 years in prison as part of
his lifelong struggle against ra-
cial oppression.
Throughout this moral andpo-
litical fight, Mr. Mandela evoked
a steely resolve, discipline and
quiet dignity, coupled with a
trademark big, charismatic
smile. He ultimately carriedthem
into office as South Africas first
black president.
His victory capped decades of
epic struggle by the African Na-
tional Congress and other libera-
mandela continued on A21
BY SUDARSAN RAGHAVAN
AND LYNNE DUKE
Nelson Mandela, the former
political prisoner whobecamethe
first president of a post-apartheid
South Africa and whose heroic
life and towering moral stature
made him one of historys most
influential statesmen, died
Thursday, the government an-
nounced. He was 95.
The death was announced in a
televisedaddress bySouthAfrican
President JacobZuma, whonoted,
Weve lost our greatest son. No
cause was provided.
Toacountrytornapart byracial
divisions, Mr. Mandela became its
most potent symbol of national
unity, using the power of forgive-
ness and reconciliation to heal
deep-rooted wounds and usher in
an era of peace after decades of
conflict between blacks and
whites. To a continent rife with
leaders whocling topower for life,
ABCDE
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Prices may vary in areas outside metropolitan Washington. MD DC VA SU V1 V2 V3 V4
BY PAUL KANE
Comingtothe endof a year that
has bitterly divided their caucus,
House Republicans are grappling
with how bold they should be in
shaping a legislative agenda for
2014.
Some want a modest approach
focusing on oversight of the Af-
fordableCareAct, whileothersare
pushing for a broad alternative
to President Obamas health-care
plan, hopingthat it wouldstandas
evidence of apositive GOPagenda
heading into next years midterm
elections. Some believe that a jobs
agenda is critical, while others
want to craft unique proposals
related to educationand poverty.
The sprawling set of issues has
only one common denominator:
avoiding some of the self-
inflictedwounds that cost themso
dearly in recent election seasons.
One clear indication of the cau-
tious mind-set came Thursday
when House Speaker John A.
Boehner (Ohio) acknowledged
that he is helpingtotrainRepubli-
cans in how to deal with female
challengers next year, so that they
can avoid some of the offensive
remarks of GOP candidates in
years past.
Some of our members just
arent as sensitive as they ought to
be, Boehner said.
And across their ideological
spectrum, House Republicans
now say that they want to avoid
shutting downthe federal govern-
ment and other blunders that
Democrats could turn against
theminthe electionyear.
Look, we dont want to be the
obstructionists, Rep. Thomas
Massie (R-Ky.), who in October
refusedtovote tokeepthe govern-
ment open if it funded the health-
care law, said Wednesday in an
interview.
Massie is one of many aggres-
sive conservatives lowering ex-
gop continued on A24
For 2014,
GOP may
elect to be
cautious
After shutdown debacle,
Republicans are loath
to give foes ammunition
BY MICHAEL BIRNBAUM
the hague There are eight
cases and21 defendants infront of
the International Criminal Court,
and every last one of themis from
Africa. Now the continents lead-
ers are debating whether thats a
problem.
The 11-year-old court of last re-
sort was set up to take on some of
the worlds most heinous crimes.
But its choiceof cases has frustrat-
ed African leaders, who say that
comparable crimes elsewhere in
the world are being ignored and
that race is a factor in the
decision-making. With Kenyas
president and deputy president
on trial, African leaders are push-
ing for changes that some ICC
advocates say would undermine
the court completely.
At stake is the future of a court
whose creation was touted as a
major breakthrough in ensuring
that those who commit crimes
against humanity do not escape
justice a dream that African
hague continued on A14
World court
accused of
bias against
Africans
Brazen attack Bombers and gunmen
assaulted the gated Defense Ministry
compound in Sanaa, Yemen, killing doctors,
nurses and patients in a military hospital. A8
Real change? The TSA has been slow in
spending the half-million dollars it collected
from loose money left behind by travelers. A3
IN THE NEWS
HEALTH
The number of U.S.
measles cases this year
is nearly three times the
national average. A2
THEWORLD
ATexas teacher was
killed while jogging in
Benghazi, Libya. Mean-
while, U.S. efforts have
stalled in capturing sus-
pects in last years at-
tack on the U.S. com-
pound there. A12, A13
The U.N. authorized
sending more French
and African soldiers to
contain escalating vio-
lence in the Central Af-
rican Republic. A8
Stolen nuclear ma-
terial in Mexico was re-
covered without harm
except possibly to the
thieves. A10
THEECONOMY
The jobless rate in the
D.C. area climbed to 5.6
percent in October. A18
The pace of economic
growth in the third
quarter is unlikely to
last, analysts said. A16
Two million log-in cre-
dentials have been sto-
len frompopular Web
sites such as Facebook
and Google. A20
THENATION
Ninety health, environ-
mental and sportsmens
groups asked the gov-
ernment to clamp down
on the release of meth-
ane gas by the petro-
chemical industry. A24
STYLE
The Kennedy Center
said it has raised an ad-
ditional $40 million in
gifts for its campus ex-
pansion project. C3
THEREGION
Metros board voted to
keep its options open on
even bigger fare hikes
than those proposed. B1
Marylands College
Park still has much to
do before realizing its
plan to be more college-
towny. B3
Printed using recycled fiber
CONTENT 2013
The Washington Post / Year 137, No. 1
DAILY CODE (DETAILS, B2)
4 4 3 9
BY PAUL SCHWARTZMAN
Just about 24 hours after de-
claring his reelection bid, Mayor
Vincent C. Gray traveled to a
community meeting in the Dis-
tricts poorest ward, ready to
recite a list of accomplishments
to a room filled with neighbor-
hood leaders and residents.
The mayor greeted his newly
hired, sleep-deprived campaign
manager, now working without a
salary because Gray has raised no
money. A few feet away, Grays
deputy chief of staff, Sheila Bunn,
worked on her own time, collect-
ing signatures for a petition the
mayor needs to fill with 2,000
names to qualify for the ballot.
When she asked a graying man
with a mustache, he declined, a
response that caused Bunn to
playfully reproach him. Shame!
she said, before turning to her left
to ask Phillip Houghton, who also
refused.
What has he done? Hough-
ton, 39, a Southeast Washington
resident, said later. I dont feel
like things are improving.
As a mayor seeking reelection,
Gray has an array of advantages
over his opponents, not the least
of which is command of the citys
political stage, which assures him
that microphones and cameras
will follow his every move.
Yet, because of a federal inves-
tigation into Grays successful
2010 campaign a probe that
has cast a shadow over his nearly
three years as mayor he is
returning to the stump devoid of
an incumbents usual muscular
political machine.
gray continued on A14
Gray, an incumbent playing catch-up
Burdened by a lingering federal probe, D.C. mayor enters a crowded field
CLIFF OWEN/ASSOCIATED PRESS
D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray filed to run for reelection Monday,
becoming the 11th candidate for the Democratic nomination.
BY CRAIG TIMBERG
AND DENEEN L. BROWN
South Africans sang, world
leaders openly grieved and
cyberspace erupted with Nelson
Mandela tributes in a collage of
languages Thursday as word
spread that a man likened to a
living saint had died.
The passing of Mandela, 95 and
long ill, was at once thoroughly
foretold and unexpectedly jar-
ring, as people recalled his grace-
ful leadership through what ap-
peared to be an intractable racial
crisis inSouthAfricaandhis abili-
ty to embody hope for moral prog-
ress in a beleaguered and often-
unjust world.
I was driving to pick up my
boys from school. I pulled over,
said DijonAnderson, 41, a teacher
who lives in Bowie, Md. Its mon-
umental. He led an incredible life.
reaction continued on A23
He no longer
belongs to us; he
belongs to the ages
NELSON MANDELA 1918-2013
A nations healer is dead
THE PRISONER WHO BECAME PRESIDENT
South African leader was symbol of moral force
1994 PHOTO BY REUTERS
NIKKI KAHN/THE WASHINGTON POST
TOP: Nelson Mandela visits the cell where he was imprisoned.
ABOVE: Tiwanna DeMoss-Norman and Omari Norman hold
candles at the unfinished South African Embassy in the District.
Let us pause and give thanks for the fact that Nelson
Mandela lived a man who took history in his hands,
and bent the arc of the moral universe toward justice.
President Obama
A resonating cause: Young
Barack Obama found a channel
for his political identity. A23
On washingtonpost.com:
Mandelas life and death in video
and photos and on social media.