Why did george h. w. bush meet with nelson mandela after mandela's release from jail in 1990?

George H. W. Bush had a meeting with Nelson Mandela after his release from jail to publicly support the drive to bring democracy to South Africa. He was invited to the White House where the president stood by Mandela’s side on the South Lawn. Bush was the only one who could give such a meaningful endorsement. He also spent his life championing black causes from the Civil Rights Act of 1968 to major contributions to the Negro College Fund.