Georges Pompidou

Date of Birth: July 5, 1911

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: April 2, 1974

Biography

Georges Pompidou was a prominent French statesman who served as the President of France from 1969 until his untimely death in 1974. Born in Montboudif, Cantal, France, Pompidou was an academic prodigy, eventually graduating from the prestigious École Normale Supérieure and later the École Nationale d’Administration (ENA). Before his presidency, Pompidou had a distinguished career in both education and public service. He served as a literature teacher and also held key roles in the French banking sector. His political career took off when he became an advisor to Charles de Gaulle, eventually becoming his Prime Minister from 1962 to 1968. As President, Pompidou is remembered for his modernization efforts, including advancing France’s infrastructure, promoting technological innovation, and pushing for European integration. He also worked to stabilize the French economy during a period of significant social change. Despite his relatively short term in office, his impact on French politics and society has left a lasting legacy.

5 Interesting Facts about Georges Pompidou

1. Georges Pompidou was instrumental in the establishment of the Pompidou Centre, a cultural complex in Paris that houses the Public Information Library, the National Museum of Modern Art, and a center for music and acoustic research.

2. Before entering politics, Pompidou was a teacher and taught literature at Lycée Henri IV in Paris.

3. He served as the Prime Minister of France longer than anyone else in the Fifth Republic until his record was surpassed by Édouard Philippe in 2020.

4. Pompidou was an admirer of modern art and had a significant private collection, which influenced his support for the creation of the Pompidou Centre.

5. During his presidency, he oversaw the completion of the Concorde project, the world’s first supersonic passenger airliner.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Georges Pompidou

1. “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.”

2. “The most dangerous thing about student riots is that adults take them seriously.”

3. “A statesman is a politician who places himself at the service of the nation. A politician is a statesman who places the nation at his service.”

4. “To govern is to choose. To appear to be unable to choose is to appear to be unable to govern.”

5. “The future does not belong to those who are content with today. It will belong to those who can blend vision, reason, and courage.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Pompidou’s net worth was estimated to be modest compared to modern political figures, primarily because his wealth came from his government salary and teaching positions rather than private enterprises.

Children

Georges Pompidou had one son, Alain Pompidou, born in 1942. Alain Pompidou followed in his father’s scholarly footsteps and became a notable scientist and professor, eventually serving as the President of the European Patent Office.