Liberian President Details Her Path to Power

JIM LEHRER:

Now, the path to power for a unique African leader. Margaret Warner has a book conversation.

MARGARET WARNER:

Founded by former American slaves in 1847, the West African nation of Liberia descended into chaos at the end of the 20th century. Successive coups and 14 years of civil war took 250,000 lives and devastated the country's infrastructure.

Much of the carnage was perpetrated under the regime of strong man Charles Taylor, who was forced into exile in 2003 and is now being tried for war crimes in The Hague.

Today, Liberia is trying to recover under the leadership of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. A Harvard-educated economist and former World Bank official won a landslide victory in late 2005, becoming Africa's first elected woman president.

She is in the U.S. promoting her memoir, "This Child Will Be Great." It chronicles the triumphs, but also the many hardships on her path to the presidency. And she joins me now.

And, Madam President, thanks for being with us.

ELLEN JOHNSON-SIRLEAF, President of Liberia: I'm very glad to be here.

MARGARET WARNER:

Now, the title of your book comes from a prophecy made by an old man who came to visit your parents just days after you were born, "This child will be great." Did you grow up feeling that you were born to lead or had a duty to lead?

ELLEN JOHNSON-SIRLEAF:

Absolutely not. You know, I grew up with my siblings under very normal circumstances, had no idea I'd be president or certainly would not be great. In fact, I'm not great as yet.

So that prophecy was something during the times of my difficulties, when, you know, we would just sort of laugh, my siblings and I. You know, greatness? When I was in prison or when I was having difficulty in exile or, you know, four children, trying to manage four children right out of high school, no, I didn't think it would happen. I think the evolution of my life just led me in this direction.