France state institutions Conservatism and Christian democracy France France 1911–1974 ○ Died in office of illness

De Gaulle's longest-serving prime minister, who succeeded him as president

Born in Montboudif in the Cantal in 1911, he graduated from the École normale supérieure and worked as a teacher. In 1944 he joined the staff of de Gaulle, then head of the Provisional Government, and became his confidant, and in the 1950s he was general manager of the Rothschild bank. As de Gaulle's chief of staff in 1958 he took part in drafting the constitution of the Fifth Republic. Appointed prime minister in 1962, he held the post for more than six years and negotiated the Grenelle agreements during the May 1968 crisis. Elected president after de Gaulle's resignation in 1969, he pushed industrial modernisation and accepted British entry into the European Community. He died in office in 1974.

Activities and affiliations

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