Richard von Weizsäcker.

Richard von Weizsäcker was born on 15 April 1920 in Stuttgart, Germany, to diplomat Ernst von Weizsäcker and his wife Marianne von Graevenitz. He was one of four children, including philosopher Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker. His upbringing in a diplomatic household gave him a broad perspective on European politics. He pursued higher education at the University of Göttingen, Balliol College, and the University of Oxford.

Richard von Weizsäcker entered politics as a member of the Christian Democratic Union. He served as Governing Mayor of West Berlin from 1981 to 1984, a period when he hosted US President Ronald Reagan in 1982. In 1984, he was elected President of Germany and served two terms until 1994, one of three German presidents to complete two full terms. In 1985, he visited Israel as the first West German head of state. The next year, in 1986, he became the first German to address a joint session of the UK Parliament.

Richard von Weizsäcker married Marianne von Kretschmann. They had four children: Robert K. von Weizsäcker, born in 1954; Andreas von Weizsäcker, 1956 to 2008; Beatrice von Weizsäcker, born in 1958; and Fritz von Weizsäcker, born in 1960. He was also grandfather to Antonia von Weizsäcker. His brother Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker was a philosopher.

Richard von Weizsäcker is remembered for his role in post-war German reconciliation. In 1985, he made the first official visit by a West German head of state to Israel. In 1986, he became the first German to address a joint session of the UK Parliament. He received numerous honors, including the Heinrich Heine Prize, the Nansen Refugee Award, and the Gold Olympic Order. His two-term presidency from 1984 to 1994 is viewed as a period of moral leadership.