Too late to apologize?

Finally, in 1997, an official apology is given by President Clinton for what happened to the men in the Tuskegee syphilis "study." But this is almost 27 years after the study ended! Why was the apology so long in coming? It was bad enough that the study and all of its unethical glory lasted for thirty years. The few survivors and families of men who passed deserved an apology much sooner. That is not to say that Clinton does not deserve merit for finally apologizing. In fact, I'm glad he did, or it might not have come until just recently...
Even though it took so long for those affected by Tuskegee to receive an apology, I think it was very important that they got one. Clinton addresses some very important points. Some of the main ones being that Tuskegee was the reason that so many African Americans have distrust in the medical system. If this could happen once, who's to say it couldn't happen again? He also lists some measures his administration is going to take in order to right some of the wrongs. But I think the most important part is when he admits "he United States government did something that was wrong -- deeply, profoundly, morally wrong." It is very rare that this actually happens in politics. But it was a necessity here because that's what Tuskegee was - wrong.