Jacques Chirac (1932–2019)

Jacques Chirac was President of France, 1995-2007. This is an engaging story of his rise in politics, spending time as Prime Minister and as Mayor of Paris before rising to the top. He had a strong relationship with Tony Blair, Prime Minister of Britain, and rather liked Bill Clinton, U.S. President. His views of President George Bush were very reserved, as he was distressed of Bush's decision not to follow the Kyoto protocols and the decision to invade Iraq.

Chirac served as Prime Minister under Giscard d'Estaing, and was a non-Gaulist trying to bring a forward-looking but more conservative view to government. He was there for only two years, before becoming Mayor of Paris, a basically re-established office so that the city would have a buffer from an overarching national government. Being mayor was not really a prime focus of Chirac, despite being in this office for 18 years.

In 2007, French voters elected Nicolas Sarkozy, another center-right politician but not necessariy well liked by Chirac. He did set up a foundation to help do thos things dear to his heart, international "development, conflict prevention, the preservation of languages and cultures, and defense of the environment." (Page336).… (más)

Although in a political memoir the author, of course, gives his side of the story,Jacques Chirac's memoir is well worth reading. He began as a young officer in the very difficult Algerian War in the 1950s. He worked his way up to the French cabinet under Pompidou, to become prime minister, mayor of Paris, and, at last, President of the Republic. He was a strong supporter of both European integration and a major role for France in world affairs, especially in the Middle East. He is proud of trying to help the "socially excluded" while at the same time keeping France fiscally strong. He seems to have got along better with the Socialist President Francois Mitterand than with the president from his own party Valery Giscard d'Estaing. While his concerns and aspirations are usually of the loftiest sort, he allows himself to note that when Chirac and wife visited Giscard and wife at the home of the latter, Giscard and wife sat in armchairs while the Chiracs had to sit in chairs without arms. Anyone who has read the Duc de Saint Simon's memoir of the 17th century court of Louis XIV has read similar complaints.
Chirac, despite being a Gaullist, was concerned both about the less fortunate and about members of cultures which many French view with condescention. He had a passion for primitive art and for recognizing the less heroic aspects of recent French history. His own story by a humaine, judicious, and rational man.… (más)

Mr Chirac provides a unique look into the politics of France over the past half-century. At times a bit difficult to follow the timing of subsequent events, he covers the events preceding his presidency and in the second half of the book he covers his major events of the precedence. Agree or disagree, he provides additional insight into why France, and Europe, are in the condition they are. His likes, and dislikes of the people he associated with during his climb to the top, and while as president of France, are evident. All in all, an interesting read about the political machinations of a major force in recent French history.… (más)