Claude Pompidou
Encyclopedia
Claude Jacqueline Pompidou (13 November 1912 – 3 July 2007) was the wife of President of France Georges Pompidou
. She was a philanthropist
and a patron of modern art
, especially through the Centre Georges Pompidou
.
, Mayenne
, one of two daughters of a doctor. Her mother died when she was three years old.
She moved to Paris
to study law
. She met Georges Pompidou, her future husband, during the first year of her studies; he was then working as a literature teacher at a lycée. The couple married in 1935. Their adopted son, Alain Pompidou
, was born in 1942.
Georges Pompidou fought in the Battle of France
in the Second World War, before resuming his career as a teacher. He joined the staff of Charles de Gaulle
after France was liberated. He joined de Rothschild Frères as a banker in 1953, and became general manager of a bank in 1956.
in 1962 and he served until 1968. The couple did not move to the Prime Minister's official residence at the Hôtel Matignon
, staying instead in their apartment in Quai de Béthune on Île Saint-Louis
. Pompidou won public acclaim for his handling of the May 1968 strike but it caused friction with De Gaulle, leading to his resignation as Prime Minister once the crisis had passed. Meanwhile, Mme Pompidou was noted for her interest in fashion.
Pompidou ran for the Presidency in 1969 and was elected. She did not enjoy political life, once calling the Élysée Palace
a "house of sadness". The couple redecorated rooms in the Élysée Palace
in modern style, with painted aluminium walls and colourful carpets by Yaacov Agam
, and soft furnishings by Pierre Paulin. Her husband died in office in 1974. The daring decorations were removed by the next President, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
.
served as the Treasurer of the Foundation for over three decades.
and Richard Rogers
(it is said that Georges Pompidou didn't approve of the choice of the jury who picked up Piano and Rogers, and that he would have preferred a more classic architecture) and the choice of artwork for the Centre was based largely of her knowledge of her husband's tastes. She was particularly inspired by the work of Yves Klein
. Pompidou continued to play an active role in French artistic life in subsequent decades. She also played an active role in the foundation.
She published her memoirs, L’Élan du Coeur, in 1997. She died in Paris.
Georges Pompidou
Georges Jean Raymond Pompidou was a French politician. He was Prime Minister of France from 1962 to 1968, holding the longest tenure in this position, and later President of the French Republic from 1969 until his death in 1974.-Biography:...
. She was a philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and a patron of modern art
Modern art
Modern art includes artistic works produced during the period extending roughly from the 1860s to the 1970s, and denotes the style and philosophy of the art produced during that era. The term is usually associated with art in which the traditions of the past have been thrown aside in a spirit of...
, especially through the Centre Georges Pompidou
Centre Georges Pompidou
Centre Georges Pompidou is a complex in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement of Paris, near Les Halles, rue Montorgueil and the Marais...
.
Life before politics
She was born Claude Jacqueline Cahour in Château-GontierChâteau-Gontier
Château-Gontier is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It is about south of Laval, the préfecture of the department of Mayenne. Château-Gontier is home to the Refuge de l'Arche, a refuge for abandoned or mistreated animals.-People:...
, Mayenne
Mayenne
Mayenne is a department in northwest France named after the Mayenne River.-History:Mayenne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. The northern two thirds correspond to the western part of the former province of Maine...
, one of two daughters of a doctor. Her mother died when she was three years old.
She moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to study law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. She met Georges Pompidou, her future husband, during the first year of her studies; he was then working as a literature teacher at a lycée. The couple married in 1935. Their adopted son, Alain Pompidou
Alain Pompidou
Alain Pompidou is a French scientist and politician. A former professor of histology, embryology and cytogenetics, he was the fourth president of the European Patent Office from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2007...
, was born in 1942.
Georges Pompidou fought in the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
in the Second World War, before resuming his career as a teacher. He joined the staff of Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
after France was liberated. He joined de Rothschild Frères as a banker in 1953, and became general manager of a bank in 1956.
Political life
De Gaulle appointed Georges Pompidou as Prime Minister of FrancePrime Minister of France
The Prime Minister of France in the Fifth Republic is the head of government and of the Council of Ministers of France. The head of state is the President of the French Republic...
in 1962 and he served until 1968. The couple did not move to the Prime Minister's official residence at the Hôtel Matignon
Hôtel Matignon
The Hôtel Matignon is the official residence of the Prime Minister of France. It is located in the VIIe arrondissement of Paris, France.The address of Hotel Matignon is 57 rue de Varenne, Paris, France.-History:...
, staying instead in their apartment in Quai de Béthune on Île Saint-Louis
Île Saint-Louis
The Île Saint-Louis is one of two natural islands in the Seine river, in Paris, France . The island is named after King Louis IX of France ....
. Pompidou won public acclaim for his handling of the May 1968 strike but it caused friction with De Gaulle, leading to his resignation as Prime Minister once the crisis had passed. Meanwhile, Mme Pompidou was noted for her interest in fashion.
Pompidou ran for the Presidency in 1969 and was elected. She did not enjoy political life, once calling the Élysée Palace
Élysée Palace
The Élysée Palace is the official residence of the President of the French Republic, containing his office, and is where the Council of Ministers meets. It is located near the Champs-Élysées in Paris....
a "house of sadness". The couple redecorated rooms in the Élysée Palace
Élysée Palace
The Élysée Palace is the official residence of the President of the French Republic, containing his office, and is where the Council of Ministers meets. It is located near the Champs-Élysées in Paris....
in modern style, with painted aluminium walls and colourful carpets by Yaacov Agam
Yaacov Agam
Yaacov Agam is an Israeli sculptor and experimental artist best known for his contributions to optical and kinetic art.-Biography:Yaakov Agam was born Yaakov Gipstein on May 11, 1928, in Rishon LeZion, then Mandate Palestine...
, and soft furnishings by Pierre Paulin. Her husband died in office in 1974. The daring decorations were removed by the next President, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Marie René Georges Giscard d'Estaing is a French centre-right politician who was President of the French Republic from 1974 until 1981...
.
Philanthropy
In 1970, Mme Pompidou set up the Claude Pompidou Foundation to help disabled children, the elderly and hospitalised. Jacques ChiracJacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
served as the Treasurer of the Foundation for over three decades.
Pompidou Centre
Pompidou played a key role in establishing the Centre Georges Pompidou. The building was designed by Renzo PianoRenzo Piano
Renzo Piano is an Italian architect. He is the recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, AIA Gold Medal, Kyoto Prize and the Sonning Prize...
and Richard Rogers
Richard Rogers
Richard George Rogers, Baron Rogers of Riverside CH Kt FRIBA FCSD is a British architect noted for his modernist and functionalist designs....
(it is said that Georges Pompidou didn't approve of the choice of the jury who picked up Piano and Rogers, and that he would have preferred a more classic architecture) and the choice of artwork for the Centre was based largely of her knowledge of her husband's tastes. She was particularly inspired by the work of Yves Klein
Yves Klein
Yves Klein was a French artist considered an important figure in post-war European art. He is the leading member of the French artistic movement of Nouveau réalisme founded in 1960 by the art critic Pierre Restany...
. Pompidou continued to play an active role in French artistic life in subsequent decades. She also played an active role in the foundation.
She published her memoirs, L’Élan du Coeur, in 1997. She died in Paris.