Jacques René Chirac
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35
Awards
Jacques Chirac was President of France from 17 May 1995 to 16 May 2007, and Prime Minister twice before that. He strongly opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq, straining relations with US President George W. Bush. He died at home in Paris on 26 September 2019, surrounded by his family.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Jacques Chirac — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Jacques Chirac by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Jacques Chirac — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
In Paris on 29 November 1932, Jacques René Chirac entered the world as the son of Marie Louise Valette and François Chirac. He attended Cours Hattemer, Lycée Carnot, and Lycée Louis-le-Grand before studying at Sciences Po and the École nationale d’administration, and spending a summer at Harvard Summer School.
Chirac’s political career began as Prime Minister of France from 27 May 1974 to 25 August 1976, and again from 20 March 1986 to 10 May 1988. He won the French presidency on 17 May 1995 and secured re-election on 5 May 2002 with nearly 82% of the vote in the second round against Jean-Marie Le Pen. His opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq strained his relationship with US President George W. Bush.
Chirac married Bernadette Chirac on 16 March 1956. They had two daughters: Laurence Chirac 1958–14 April 2016 and Claude Chirac, who served as his communications supervisor. In 1979, they also adopted a young adult Vietnamese refugee, Anh Dao Duong Traxel. After undergoing surgery for a minor stroke on 2 September 2005 and being fitted with a pacemaker in April 2008, Chirac died at home in Paris on 26 September 2019, surrounded by his family.
Jacques Chirac’s legacy rests on his long tenure as President of France, his opposition to the Iraq War, and his role in the creation of the French Fifth Republic. He received numerous awards, including the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour and the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit. His caricature appeared in the French puppet show Les Guignols de l’info and in the Asterix comic Obelix and Co. 1976. Most recall his 12-year presidency and his firm opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The complete filmography of Jacques Chirac — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Jacques Chirac — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Jacques Chirac — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
If We Prove Capable of Showing a Pioneering Commitment, We Shall Create a Community Listened to Around the World.
Terrorism Has Become the Systematic Weapon of a War That Knows No Borders or Seldom Has a Face.
These Irresponsible Acts, Which Cannot Have Any Justification Whatsoever, Are to Be Fully Condemned. in These Appalling Circumstances, I Want to Offer You the Most Sincere Condolences, Both in My Name and in That of the French People.
One Can Go to War Alone, but You Can’t Build Peace Alone.
Terrorism Takes Us Back to Ages We Thought Were Long Gone If We Allow It a Free Hand to Corrupt Democratic Societies and Destroy the Basic Rules of International Life.
If Our Language, Our Programs, Our Creations Are Not Strongly Present in the New Media, the Young Generation of Our Country Will Be Economically and Culturally Marginalized.
When You Are in the Family… You Have More Rights Than When You Are Asking to Join and Knocking on the Door.
They Missed a Great Opportunity to Shut Up.
France Will Insist on the Need for Updated and Responsive Institutions.
The Construction of Europe Is an Art. It Is the Art of the Possible.
One Month, Two Months, I Am Ready to Accept Any Accord on This Point That Has the Approval of the Inspectors.
Romania and Bulgaria Were Particularly Irresponsible. If They Wanted to Diminish Their Chances of Joining Europe They Could Not Have Found a Better Way.
National Missile Defense Is of a Nature to Re Trigger a Proliferation of Weapons, Notably Nuclear Missiles. Everything That Goes in the Direction of Proliferation Is a Bad Direction.
As Soon as One Nation Claims the Right to Take Preventive Action, Other Countries Will Naturally Do the Same. If We Go Down That Road, Where Are We Going?
Little-known facts about Jacques Chirac — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
He was the grandfather of Martin, son of Claude and judo champion Thierry Rey.
He was father of two daughters: Laurence Chirac 1958 – 14 April 2016 and Claude Chirac his communications supervisor. He and his wife also adopted a young adult Vietnamese refugee, Anh Dao Duong Traxel Anh-Dao Traxel, in 1979.
On 5 May 2002, he was re-elected as President of France with almost 82% of the votes in the second round against Jean-Marie Le Pen he had less than 20% in the first round.
He had his look-alike puppet in the French show Les Guignols de l’info 1988.
He was a staunch opponent of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and his relations thereafter with US President George W. Bush were hardly cordial.
He underwent surgery at the Val de Grace military hospital on 2 September 2005 for what doctors called a minor stroke which affected his vision in one eye.
He was fitted with a pacemaker in April 2008.
He announced in March 2007 that he would not seek a third term of office.
He was at home and surrounded by his family when he died.
His death was announced to the local media and the Associated Press by his son-in-law, Fréderic Salat-Baroux, on 26 September 2019.
While Prime Minister, he was caricatured as the ambitious Roman politician Caius Preposterus in René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo’s Obelix and Co. 1976.
He served as President of France from 17 May 1995 to 16 May 2007.
He served as Prime Minister of France from 27 May 1974 to 25 August 1976 and from 20 March 1986 to 10 May 1988.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Jacques Chirac.
Celebrities similar to Jacques Chirac — same craft, ranked by reach.
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