Kofi Annan, Man of the World

Secretary General
When, in 1996, the U.N.'s most powerful member, the United States, began to lobby against the re-election of sitting Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Annan was suggested as a strong alternative. As no African had ever served as the organization's leader, his nomination gained support among the African nations, who often feel that their interests are under-represented in the General Assembly. Annan himself enjoyed an enormous amount of good will from other member nations and he outlasted the opposition of the French — who pushed for the selection of a nominee from a Francophone nation — to be selected as the body's Secretary-General on December 17, 1996, above.