As an example of leopards changing spots or terrorists turning into statesmen, Irish Sinn Féin politician Martin McGuinnes is up there with Kenyatta, Mandela and the young Mugabe.
He was once chief-of-staff of the IRA; in that role he was known as a faithful churchgoer with little tolerance for drinking or womanising but with a coldness that was not for turning when discussions involving death or mayhem were decided.
Almost 40 years ago, at the age of 22, he was in direct but deniable peace talks with the British government. A generation and too many deaths later, he was still talking behind closed doors, with Trimble and Paisley, Ahern and Blair, leading to the world's best example of a situation where former mortal enemies can work together, support each other, and even be at ease with each other.
That latter situation led to the nickname The Chuckle Brothers for the double act of Paisley-McGuinness, and is part of the reason why he is now on a hit list by dissident members of an organisation he once commanded.
At the weekend, McGuinness entered the race for the Irish presidency. It is a ceremonial role, quite similar to the Governor-General in Australia, currently filled with exemplary distinction by a woman from Belfast. That she comes from what purists might argue is a different jurisdiction means that no one will object to a candidate born in Derry, Northern Ireland's second city.
Sinn Féin is not popular in Ireland, partly due to their long association, common cause and in many cases common membership with the IRA. More significant however is the fact that their policies are left wing and ultra nationalist — the best comparison in this country would be to imagine some combination of the Greens and Australia First. Sinn Féin, after all, translates as We Ourselves.
One of the reasons why the entry of McGuinness into the presidential race is so significant is that the field is desolately dull. Fianna Fail, the former government, has decided not to enter a candidate, in the well justified belief that the electorate would take their anger out on them in a humiliating way.
In desperation they tried to induce Gay Byrne, a popular radio and television personality, to run, but changed