
Shelley Berkley
American politician and attorney
Georges Pompidou was a French politician who served as President of France from 1969 until his death in 1974. He was known for his policies of modernization, including the creation of large industrial groups, the launch of the high-speed train project (TGV), and the establishment of the minimum wage. Pompidou’s name is also recognized worldwide for the Centre Pompidou, an iconic cultural institution he initiated.
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Georges Jean Raymond Pompidoupopidu] ; 5 July 1911 – 2 April 1974) was a French politician who served as President of France from 1969 to his death in 1974. He was earlier the longest-ever Prime Minister of France, under President Charles de Gaulle, from 1962 to 1968.
In the context of the strong growth of the last years of the Trente Glorieuses, Pompidou continued De Gaulle’s policy of modernisation, which was symbolised by the presidential use of the Concorde, the creation of large industrial groups and the launch of the high-speed train projectand the Ministry of the Environment.
His foreign policy was pragmatic but in line with the Gaullist principle of French independence. It was marked by a warming of relations with Richard Nixon’s United States, close relations with Leonid Brezhnev’s Soviet Union, the launch of the snake in the tunnel and the relaunching of European construction by facilitating the United Kingdom’s entry to the EEC in contrast to de Gaulle’s opposition. Pompidou died in office in 1974 of Waldenstrom’s disease, a rare form of blood cancer.
An admirer of contemporary art, Pompidou’s name remains known worldwide for the Centre Pompidou, which he initiated and was inaugurated in 1977; it subsequently spread the name with its branches in Metzand Shanghai (China). A Georges Pompidou Museum is also dedicated to him in his hometown.
Georges Pompidou was a French politician who served as President of France from 1969 until his death in 1974. He was previously the longest-serving Prime Minister of France under President Charles de Gaulle from 1962 to 1968.
Pompidou’s foreign policy was pragmatic but in line with the Gaullist principle of French independence. It was marked by a warming of relations with Richard Nixon’s United States, close relations with Leonid Brezhnev’s Soviet Union, the launch of the snake in the tunnel, and the relaunching of European construction by facilitating the United Kingdom’s entry to the EEC.
Pompidou continued De Gaulle’s policy of modernisation, which was symbolised by the presidential use of the Concorde, the creation of large industrial groups, and the launch of the high-speed train project (TGV). The government also invested heavily in the automobile, agribusiness, steel, telecommunications, nuclear and aerospace sectors, and created the minimum wage (SMIC) and the Ministry of the Environment.
Pompidou’s name remains known worldwide for the Centre Pompidou, which he initiated and was inaugurated in 1977. The iconic cultural institution has since spread with branches in Metz (France), Málaga (Spain), Brussels (Belgium), and Shanghai (China). A Georges Pompidou Museum is also dedicated to him in his hometown.
Georges Pompidou died in office in 1974 of Waldenström’s disease, a rare form of blood cancer.
There are three roads to ruin; women, gambling and technicians. The most pleasant is with women, the quickest is with gambling, but the surest is with technicians.
President of France from 1969 to 1974
The most dangerous thing about student riots is that adults take them seriously.
President of France from 1969 to 1974
He imitated me so well that I couldn’t stand myself any longer.
President of France from 1969 to 1974