Desmond Tutu to receive Lincoln Leadership Prize

SPRINGFIELD -- Archbishop Desmond Tutu pulled aside a red curtain and quickly stepped back to study the painting behind it -- a portrait of the Nobel Peace Prize winner seated in a wooden chair, hand on his chin, deep in thought.

Finally, he spoke.

"I think she got the nose right," Tutu said with a laugh as the crowd of nearly 100 clapped and cheered.

The South African human rights activist has been awarded the Lincoln Leadership Prize. His portrait will hang on the second floor of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, next to a painting of the 16th President.

Tutu is the second recipient, after retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was honored in 2006.

He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 as the voice of peaceful resistance against apartheid in South Africa. He later played a major role in guiding the nation beyond its divisive past and continues to speak out for human rights.

"He's been a global leader fighting against intolerance, injustice, violence," said Deputy Gov. Louanner Peters. "So it's exciting to be a part of this process to recognize him."

Library officials said that before the unveiling, they showed Tutu rare Lincoln-related documents and artifacts about race relations that had been kept in a secured vault.

Tutu spent Monday night in the Governor's Mansion and later flew to Chicago Tuesday afternoon, where he is scheduled to receive the award from television personality Oprah Winfrey during a dinner in his honor.

He joked to reporters Tuesday that Wilmette artist Marla Friedman's painting was better than previous portraits of Tutu. Friedman, who took a month to complete the rendering, said she was honored by the praise.

"That meant everything to me," she said.