10 Political Rivalries That Played Out Like Hollywood Dramas (5 of 6)

Lyndon B. Johnson vs. Robert F. Kennedy

The friction between President Johnson and Senator Robert Kennedy was as emotional as it was political in nature. Once allies during John F. Kennedy’s administration, the two political figures were greatly divided by factors like civil rights, the Vietnam War, and the legacy of the Kennedy family. The rivalry symbolized the internal battles of the Democratic Party during the 1960s, which only ended with Kennedy’s assassination in 1968.

Nelson Mandela vs. F.W. de Klerk

In South Africa, the rivalry between Nelson Mandela and President F.W. de Klerk began as the embodiment of the conflict of apartheid, but evolved into an extraordinary partnership between the two. Imprisoned for 27 years, Mandela became a symbol of resistance across the world. De Klerk released Mandela and negotiated democratic reform. Their cooperation resulted in South Africa’s first multiracial elections in 1964, and both men were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize that same year.