Reagan's South Africa Sanctions Override (1986)
President Ronald Reagan vetoed the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act, calling sanctions "economic warfare" and preferring "constructive engagement" with the apartheid regime. Congress overrode his veto 78-21 in the Senate, 313-83 in the House—the first foreign policy veto override of the 20th century. The sanctions banned South African steel, coal, textiles, withdrew landing rights for South African Airways, and prohibited new US loans.
South Africa faced significant economic pressure; international sanctions movement gained momentum across Europe and Japan.
Apartheid government negotiated transition by 1991; Nelson Mandela released from prison; first democratic elections held 1994. Sanctions lifted after reforms began.
History shows Congress can override presidential South Africa policy when public pressure builds—but that was against apartheid. Trump is framing land reform as the injustice, inverting the moral calculus and making Congressional override far less likely despite humanitarian crisis.