Political Apologies

AHDA Political Apology

How does the act of apologizing enable societies to come to terms with their past?

Political apologies can be a powerful tool in the re-examination of a nation's history, and the significance this history has on democratic processes. The project includes a working list of political apologies throughout history that political scientist Graham Dodds has researched and compiled.

This is a working list of major political apologies and related events. The selection criteria for compiling the list are somewhat loose, but the intent is to include any and all apologies that involve states, nations, or major political groups and actors, generally for significant public wrongs. Thus, apologies by individual politicians for more narrow matters (e.g., alleged personal or criminal failings) are generally excluded.

Should you wish to add to the list, please e-mail ahda@columbia.edu.

Displaying 101 - 125 of 823
Date of Apology Title Summary Source
20 December 1986 Soviets release Andrei Sakharov from exile.

Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev releases the dissident and Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov from internal exile and pardons his wife, Yelena Bonner.

 Taubman, Philip. “Soviet Lefts Sakharov Banishment and Grants a Pardon to Bonner.” New York Times. December 20, 1986.
4 March 1987 USA-Iran Iran-Contra

Ronald Reagan admits wrongdoing in the Iran-Contra scandal but offers no apology.

 Troy, Gil. Morning in America. Princeton, 2005. p250.
27 June 1987 Televangelist- apology for adulterous relationship

 Former PTL televangelist Jim Bakker repeats an apology to Jessica Hahn, with whom he had an adulterous relationship seven years earlier.

 “Jim Bakker Offers Apology To Jessica Hahn With PM-PTL.” Associated Press. June 24, 1987.
22 February 1988 Televangelist confesses begs your forgiveness

Responding to allegations of frequenting prostitutes, televangelist Jimmy Swaggart confesses to 8,000 parishioners and says he will step down from the leadership of his ministry, saying, “Oh, I have sinned against you, and I beg your forgiveness.”

 King, Wayne. “Swaggart Says He Has Sinned; Will Step Down.” New York Times. February 22, 1988.
May 1988 Soviet Union-USA Death of death of U.S. Major Arthur Nicholson

At a summit conference in Moscow, Soviet Defense Minister Dmitri Yazov apologizes to U.S. Defense Secretary Frank Carlucci for the shooting death of U.S. Major Arthur Nicholson by a Soviet sentry in 1985 in East Germany.

 “Soviets regret killing of U.S. major in 1985.” New York Times. June 15, 1988.
May 1988 Soviet Defense Minister apologizes to US for shooting of officer

At a summit in Moscow, Soviet Defense Minister Dmitri Yazov issues a statement to U.S. Defense Secretary Frank C. Carlucci, in which he apologizes for the shooting death of an American Army officer on a liaison team in East Germany in 1985. Yazov said, “I express my regret over the incident and I'm sorry that this occurred. This does not promote improved relations. Secretary Carlucci and I have agreed we will do all we can to prevent these kinds of incidents in the future.

 Williams, Carol J. “Parliament Abolishes Communist Party’s Monopoly on Power With AM-Czechoslovakia, Bjt.” AP News. December 1, 1989.
6 July 1988 USA-Iran U.S. downing of an Iranian passenger jet

President Reagan expresses regret to Iran over the U.S. downing of an Iranian passenger jet over the Persian Gulf that killed all 290 persons aboard.

 Moore, Molly and Bill McAllister. “Reagan Apologized to Iran for Downing of Jetliner.” Washington Post. July 6, 1988.
10 August 1988 U.S. President signs into law the Civil Liberties Act of 1988

 U.S. President Ronald Reagan signs into law the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.  The act apologizes on behalf of the people of the U.S. for the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.  The Act also authorizes $1.2 billion for payments of $20,000 to each of the roughly 60,000 internees still alive and for the establishment of a $50 million foundation to promote the cultural and historical concerns of Japanese Americans. The act also includes the Aleut Restitution Act, formally apologizing for forcibly evacuating Aleutian Islanders after a series of Japanese attacks in World War and interning the evacuees in southeastern Alaska, where many of them died.  The U.S. also pays compensation of $12,000 to each of the few hundred survivors.

 Japanese Relocation.” 1943. (Film.); Cose, Ellis. “Forgive and Forget?” Newsweek. April 21, 1997; Wink, Walter. “Excuse Me!” The Christian Century. October 21, 1998; Irons, Peter, ed. Justice Delayed. Wesleyan, 1989; Horwitz, Tony. Blue Lat
18 August 1988 Canada’s All-Native Circle -United Church of Canada acknowledgement of 1986 apology

Canada’s All-Native Circle Conference officially acknowledges but does not accept the August, 1986 apology from the United Church of Canada for past wrongs inflicted on them.

 Tavuchis, Nicholas. Mea Culpa. Stanford, 1991. p111.
22 September 1988 Canada-Japanese Canadians redress agreement for Japanese Canadians

Canadian Prime Minister Peter Mulroney apologizes to Japanese Canadians for wrongs committed during World War II and signs a redress agreement.

 http://redressanniversary.najc.ca/redress/
23 November 1988 South Korean -Abuses by president

 Former South Korean President Chun Doo Hwan apologizes to the nation for abuses during his eight years in power and says he is prepared to be punished.

 Mydans, Seth. “Korean Ex-President Offers His Apology For Abuse of Power.” New York Times. November 23, 1988.
22 December 1988 South Korea grants an amnesty for 281 political prisoners

South Korean President Roh Tae Woo grants an amnesty for 281 political prisoners.

 “Amnesty From Seoul Releases 218 Jailed On Political Charges.” New York Times. December 22, 1988.
January 1989 Congressman introduces reparations bill

In Congress, Representative John Conyers (D, MI) introduces a bill to study proposals for reparations for African Americans for slavery and discrimination.

 Conyers, John. “My Reparations Bill – HR 40.” October 3, 2013. https://ibw21.org/commentary/my-reparations-bill-hr-40/
February 1989 South Dakota- Reconciliation between Indians and whites

South Dakota Governor George Mickelson proclaims 1990 the Year of Reconciliation between Indians and whites, to mark the 100th anniversary of the killing of some 150 Sioux Indians by the U.S. Cavalry at Wounded Knee.

 Worthington, Rogers. “100 Years After Death Of Sitting Bull, South Dakotans Pass The Peace Pipe.” Chicago Tribune. September 4, 1990.
18 February 1989 Iranian president Hojatolislam Ali Khamenei says death threat could be lifted if Rushdie were to apologize for his book “The Satanic Verses

Iranian president Hojatolislam Ali Khamenei says that the death threat for author Salman Rushdie could be lifted if Rushdie were to apologize for his book “The Satanic Verses.”

 Ibrahim, Youssef M. “Iranian qualifies threat to author.” New York Times. February 18, 1989.
1 December 1989 Germany apologizes to Czechoslovakia for invasion

The East German parliament passes a resolution that says East Germany regretted its participation in the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia that crushed the “Prague Spring” reforms. The resolution apologized to the people of Czechoslovakia and expressed solidarity with its reforms.

 Williams, Carol J. “Parliament Abolishes Communist Party’s Monopoly on Power With AM-Czechoslovakia, Bjt.” AP News. December 1, 1989.
31 December 1989 The USA- Nicaragua apology to Nicaragua

The U.S. apologizes to Nicaragua for the search of the Nicaraguan ambassador’s residence in Panama City by American troops.

 Friedman, Thomas. “U.S. admits error in entering home of Managua envoy.” New York Times. December 31, 1989.
4 March 1990 Chilean President asks forgiveness from families of the victims of repression during the country’s dictatorship

Chilean President Patricia Aylwin asks forgiveness from families of the victims of repression during the country’s dictatorship.

 http://www.chile-riga.com/reports/ChileReports15.pdf
April 1990 Chilean President creates a Truth and Reconciliation Commission

 Chilean President Patricio Aylwin creates a Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

 Weissbrodt, David and Paul W. Fraser. Book Review. Human Rights Quarterly. V 14, N 4 (November, 1992).
13 April 1990 East German Apologizes for Nazi crimes and to Israel

After 40 years of denial, the new East German parliament issues an apology for Nazi crimes and says it is willing to pay reparations and to seek ties with Israel.

 Protzman, Ferdinand. “The East Germans issue an apology for Nazis’ crimes.” New York Times. April 13, 1990.
13 April 1990 Soviet Union -Poland Soviet Union accepts responsibility for the 1940 massacre of Polish POWs

Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev admits the Soviet Union was responsible for the 1940 massacre of Polish POWs at the Katyn forest.

 Bohlen, Celestine. “Russian Files Show Stalin Ordered Massacre of 20,000 Poles in 1940.” New York Times. October 15, 1992; Boyes, Roger. “Yeltsin Snubs Katyn Massacre Ceremony.” The Times. (London) June 6, 1995.
May 1990 Albania releases political prisoners.

In a period of rapid democratization, Albania releases most of its political prisoners.

 Human Rights Watch. “Human Rights in Post-Communist Albania.” 1996. Page 122.
5 May 1990 Ohio Governor Richard F. Celeste apologizes for the 1970 Kent State shootings

Ohio Governor Richard F. Celeste apologizes for the 1970 Kent State shootings.  (Celeste took office twelve years after the shootings.)

 Dionne, E.J., Jr. “After 20 Years, Apologies for Kent State Dead.” Washington Post. May 5, 1990.
27 May 1990 South Korea-Japan Occupation of Korea

South Korean leader Roh Tae Woo accepts Japanese Emperor Akihito’s words of regret for the occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945.

 “South Korean leader accepts Japanese Emperor’s apology.” New York Times. May 27, 1990.
July 1991 Albania releases 1,100 political prisooners.

A year after Albania released most of its political prisoners, it releases 1,100 more political prisoners, after U.S. Secretary of State James Baker presented President Ramiz Alia with a list of prisoners that had been compiled by the Albanian Helsinki Committee (at that time called the Forum for the Defense of Human Rights).

 Human Rights Watch. “Human Rights in Post-Communist Albania.” 1996. Page 122.

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