Gustav Heinemann

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Gustav Heinemann
7th President of Germany
In office July 1, 1969 – June 30, 1974
Preceded by	Heinrich Lübke
Succeeded by	Walter Scheel
Born	July 23, 1899 Schwelm, Germany
Died	July 7, 1976 Essen, Germany
Spouse	Hilda Heinemann (1896-1979)

Gustav Walter Heinemann, GCB (July 23, 1899 - July 7, 1976) was a German politician. He was Minister for Interior Affairs from 1949 to 1950, Minister for Justice from 1966 to 1969 and President of Germany from 1969 to 1974. He was famous for being open-minded with respect to the student protests of 1968, and he tried to keep his office as down-to-earth as possible (e.g. when asked whether he loved Germany, he answered that he loved his wife).

In Weimar Republic Heinemann was member of the Christian Social People's Service (CSVD). After World War II he was one of the founders of the CDU and became mayor of the city of Essen. He was Minister of the Interior in the first cabinet of Konrad Adenauer. In 1950 he left the cabinet and the CDU in 1952 to form the Gesamtdeutsche Volkspartei (GVP) with Helene Wessel and other CDU- and Center Party members. In 1957 he, and most GVP members, joined the SPD. In the grand coalition (1966-69) he was Minister for Justice.

In 1969 he became the first SPD member to be elected as President of Germany.

His daughter Uta Ranke-Heinemann ran for the German presidency unsuccessfully in 1999. The president who was elected that year (Johannes Rau) was the husband of Heinemann's granddaughter (Uta Ranke-Heinmann's niece) Christina Delius.

Preceded by Heinrich Lübke

President of Germany 1969 – 1974

Succeeded by Walter Scheel

Persondata
NAME	Heinemann, Gustav
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	German politician, President of Germany 1969-1974
DATE OF BIRTH	July 23, 1899
PLACE OF BIRTH	Schwelm, Germany
DATE OF DEATH	July 7, 1976
PLACE OF DEATH	Essen, Germany