Rudolf Kirchschläger

Rudolf Kirchschläger (born March 20, 1915, died March 30, 2000) was an Austrian diplomat, politician, judge and from 1974 to 1986 Austrian president.

Post WW2 life

After the war Kirchschläger worked as a district judge until 1954 in Langenlois and later Vienna. In 1954 he got the chance to work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, although he did not speak any foreign languages. In order to take part in the negotiations on the Austrian State Treaty he taught himself English in only a few months.

Related Topics:
District - Judge - 1954 - Langenlois - Vienna - Austrian State Treaty

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From 1967 to 1970 he was ambassador in Prague. His behaviour during the Soviet invasion of Prague in the spring of 1968 is most notable. Despite orders not to do so he issued exit visas to Czech citizens who tried to flee from the Communists.

Related Topics:
1967 - 1970 - Prague - Soviet invasion of Prague - 1968 - Czech

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From 1970 to 1974 he was Minister of Foreign Affairs and was elected President of Austria in 1974. His integrity as President and his diligency in exercising his office raised him to be an admired and beloved figure within Austrian politics. In 1980 he was elected for a second term with an approval rate of 80%, the highest rate ever obtained in any presidential elections.

Related Topics:
1970 - 1974 - Minister of Foreign Affairs - President - 1980

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Kirchschläger died in 2000 near Vienna.

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