Claim: Nelson Mandela was a president.
Evidence: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela -LRB- -LSB- mænˈdɛlə -RSB- 18 July 1918 -- 5 December 2013 -RRB- was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary , politician , and philanthropist , who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.
From 1961 to 1994 , the head of state was called the State President.