His problem is simple: How do you deal with a world in which most people are not Kofi Annan? Even his critics agree that the U.N. Secretary-General is a dignified, moral idealist. But he's also tough. Elected to the post in 1996, thanks largely to the U.S.'s displeasure with Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Annan has proved to be energetic and willing to press Americans to accept greater international responsibility.

As the host of 159 heads of state at this year's Millennium Summit, he advocated intervention against war, disease and poverty. Though Annan's U.N. suffered setbacks like the Sierra Leone hostage crisis, it had successes in Kosovo and East Timor. Still, his job has become no easier. "I still don't understand how there can be so much evil,² Annan told Time. "I'm not sure that I will ever understand."