Michelle Obama in South Africa

AP Photo/ Debbie Yazbek, Nelson Mandela Foundation

First Lady Michelle Obama with former South African President Nelson Mandela at his home, in Houghton, South Africa, June 21, 2011. Mrs. Obama met with the iconic South African leader Tuesday on the second day of a week-long trip to southern Africa. According to White House officials, Mrs. Obama, daughters Malia and Sasha, and her mother, Marian Robinson, were viewing some of Mandela's personal papers at his foundation when he sent word that he wanted to meet them. It was Mrs. Obama's first meeting with the prisoner-turned-president.

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First Lady Michelle Obama, accompanied by her daughters, Malia, left, and Sasha, meet former South African President Nelson Mandela at this home, in Houghton, South Africa, June 21, 2011.

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First lady Michelle Obama walks with Nelson Mandela's wife, Graca Machel, as she visits the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 21, 2011.

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First lady Michelle Obama stands with daughter Sasha, her mother, Marian Robinson, and Graca Machel, wife of Nelson Mandela, as they listen to Verne Harris as he shows them artifacts from Nelson Mandela's imprisonment during their visit to the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 21, 2011.

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First lady Michelle Obama meets with children during a visit to the Emthonjeni Community Center in Zandspruit Township, Johannesburg, South Africa, June 21, 2011.

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First lady Michelle Obama hugs children during a visit to the Emthonjeni Community Center in Zandspruit Township, Johannesburg, South Africa, June 21, 2011.

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First lady Michelle Obama walks with children during a visit to the Emthonjeni Community Center in Zandspruit Township, Johannesburg, South Africa, June 21, 2011. Also seen at rear are daughters Sasha and Malia Obama, mother Marian Robinson, niece Leslie Robinson and nephew Avery Robinson.

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First lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Sasha, left, and Malia, march with children during a visit to the Emthonjeni Community Center in Zandspruit Township, Johannesburg, South Africa, June 21, 2011.

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First lady Michelle Obama, with daughters Sasha, center, and Malia, take turns reading to children from "The Cat in the Hat," by Dr. Seuss, during a visit to the Emthonjeni Community Center in Zandspruit Township, Johannesburg, South Africa, June 21, 2011.

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First lady Michelle Obama, along with daughters Sasha, center, and Malia, take turns reading to children from "The Cat in the Hat," by Dr. Seuss, during a visit to the Emthonjeni Community Center in Zandspruit Township, Johannesburg, South Africa, June 21, 2011.

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First lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Sasha and Malia, dance with children and caretakers during a visit to the Emthonjeni Community Center in Zandspruit Township, Johannesburg, South Africa, June 21, 2011.

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First lady Michelle Obama, along with her mother Marian Robinson, back to camera center, daughters Malia and Sasha, second and third from left, nephew Avery Robinson, fourth from left, and niece Leslie Robinson, rear center, dance with children and caretakers during a visit to the Emthonjeni Community Center in Zandspruit Township, Johannesburg, South Africa, June 21, 2011.

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Marian Robinson takes a bow as her daughter, first lady Michelle Obama, looks on, after dancing with children during a visit to the Emthonjeni Community Center in Zandspruit Township, Johannesburg, South Africa, June 21, 2011. Pictured at rear, from left to right: Daughters Malia and Sasha; nephew Avery Robinson and niece Leslie Robinson.

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Malia and Sasha Obama are embraced by children as they accompany their mother, first lady Michelle Obama on a visit to the Emthonjeni Community Center in Zandspruit Township, Johannesburg, South Africa, June 21, 2011.

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First lady Michelle Obama poses for a photo with young women leaders during her visit to the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 21, 2011.

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First lady Michelle Obama, with daughter Sasha, obscured center, and Malia, rear right, visit the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 21, 2011.

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First lady Michelle Obama, left, and her mother Marian Robinson, right, look on as daughters Malia, second from right, and Sasha, black jacket, are given blankets as they land in Pretoria, en route to Johannesburg, South Africa, June 20, 2011, as they begin their week long trip to Africa.

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First lady Michelle Obama holds a bouquet of flowers, while daughters Malia, center, and Sasha, are draped in blankets given to them upon landing in Pretoria, en route to Johannesburg, South Africa, June 20, 2011, as they begin their week long trip to Africa.

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First lady Michelle Obama holds a bouquet of flowers, while daughters Malia, right, and Sasha, are draped in blankets given to them upon landing in Pretoria, en route to Johannesburg, South Africa, June 20, 2011, as they begin their week long trip to Africa.

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