1977: Clifford Alexander Jr, became the first African-American Secretary of the Army.

Clifford Alexander's hard work, academic excellence, and talent for administration were demonstrated from an early age. After graduating from the top-rated Fieldston School in New York, Alexander won admission to Harvard University, where he was the first African American to be elected student body president.

Alexander graduated with honors from Harvard in 1955, and then enrolled in Yale Law School, graduating three years later. After a six-month tour of active duty in the National Guard, Alexander settled in New York to start his legal career.

By 1961, he was newly married to Adele Logan, and had become executive director of a city housing agency. This work brought him to the attention of President Kennedy's administration, and in 1963 he was offered a job with the National Security Agency. Following Kennedy's assassination, Alexander became a deputy special assistant to President Johnson.

In this capacity, he advised Johnson during the turbulent 1960s civil rights era. He helped to shepherd the Voting Rights Act of 1965 through Congress and in 1967 was named the head of the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission. He resigned from the agency in 1968, shortly after President Nixon took office, and returned to private practice.

President Jimmy Carter tapped Alexander to serve as Secretary of the Army in 1977. In this capacity, Alexander oversaw the transition of the armed forces to an all-volunteer force, and managed a budget of over $34 billion.

After he left office in 1981, Alexander founded his own consulting firm, Alexander and Associates.

1990: Nelson Mandela, South African Black Nationalist, was freed after 27 years in prison.