Jacques Chirac

Born on November 29, 1932 in Paris, France, Jacques Chirac is a very famous French politician who was Prime Minister from 1974 through 1976 and again in 1986 through 1988. He was also Mayor of Paris for eighteen years. From 1995 to 2007 Chirac was President of France. He left the presidency due to accusations of corruption leading back to his Mayor of Paris days. Chirac was sentenced to two years in prison (suspended.)
Chirac lowered tax rates, removed price controls and establish strong punishments for crime and terrorism during his prime minister career. In 1995 he campaigned on a platform of healing social strife and won the presidency. He was the second longest serving President of France.
In 1956 Chirac married Bernadette Chodron de Courcel and they had two daughters and one foster daughter.
Chirac is known as The Bulldozer due to his direct comments and conversation. He is not one to deal with small talk and gets right to the point. As prime mister under Giscard (1975). Chirac promised that European and national independence would be paramount. Chirac resigned as Prime Minister in 1976 due to Giscard's unwillingness to give him absolute authority.
In 1975 Chirac brokered a deal with Saddam Hussein for a 23 percent share of Iraqi oil and privileges for French oil companies. In return Chirac sold the Osirak MTR nuclear reactor to the Iraqis.
In 1995 Chirac was elected to the Presidency via his promises of tax cuts and job programs. He resumed nuclear tests at Mururoa Atoll in French Polynesia. He then signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Chirac reduced the French armed forces military budget and decommissioned the Clemenceau. He also reduced the number of fighter jets by 30.
Chirac's second term included high trade agreements with China. He gave PRC President Hu Jintao one billion euro in contracts and promises of future investments for manufacturing giant Alstrom. He also banned the wearing of Islamic headscarves and established laws that prohibit other religious symbols in public schools and corporations.
In 2007 Chirac announced that he would no longer run for president of France. He would look for different ways to serve peacetime France through Fondation Chirac. This foundation strives for peace through access to water and sanitation, conflict prevention, quality healthcare, land resources and preservation of cultural diversity.
Chirac suffers from frail health and increasing poor memory. He was admitted to the hospital due to gout in 2014.