André Tardieu
Encyclopedia
André Pierre Gabriel Amédée Tardieu (ɑ̃dʁe taʁdjø; 1876–1945) was three times Prime Minister of France
(3 November 1929 – 17 February 1930; 2 March – 4 December 1930; 20 February – 10 May 1932) and a dominant figure of French political life in 1929-1932.
. He was accepted by the even more prestigious École Normale Supérieure
, but instead entered the diplomatic service. Later, he left the service and became famous as foreign affairs editor of the newspaper Le Temps. He founded the conservative newspaper L'Echo National in association with Georges Mandel
.
In 1914 Tardieu was elected to the Chamber of Deputies
from the département of Seine-et-Oise
, as a candidate of the center-right Democratic Republican Alliance
(Alliance Démocratique - AD). He retained this seat till 1924. From 1926 to 1936, he represented the département of Territoire de Belfort
.
When World War I
broke out, Tardieu enlisted in the army, serving as an infantryman till 1916. He then returned to politics. He served as Georges Clemenceau
's lieutenant in 1919 during the Paris Peace Conference
and as Commissioner for Franco-American War Cooperation. On 8 November 1919, he became Minister of Liberated Regions, administering Alsace
and Lorraine
, serving until Clemenceau's defeat in 1920.
In 1926, Tardieu returned to government as Minister of Transportation
under Raymond Poincaré
. In 1928, he moved to Minister of the Interior
, continuing under Poincaré's successor Aristide Briand
.
In November 1929 Tardieu himself succeeded Briand as Président du Conseil
(Prime Minister), while remaining Interior Minister.
Though generally considered a conservative, when Tardieu became Prime Minister, he introduced a program of welfare measures, including public works, social insurance, and free secondary schooling, and he encouraged modern techniques in industry.
Tardieu was displaced from both offices for ten days in February–March 1930 by Radical Camille Chautemps
, but returned till that December. He was subsequently Minister of Agriculture
in 1931, Minister of War
in 1932, and again Prime Minister (also, this time, Minister of Foreign Affairs
), from 30 February to 3 June 1932, until the AD and its coalition partners were defeated in the May elections.
Due this premiership Tardieu served for three (7–10 May 1932) days as the Acting President of the French Republic. between assassination of Paul Doumer
and election of Albert Lebrun
.
He was briefly a Minister of State
without portfolio in 1934.
His later political activity was largely concerned with containing and responding to German expansion.
In his two-volume book La Révolution à refaire, Tardieu criticized the French parliamentary system.
Changes
Prime 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...
(3 November 1929 – 17 February 1930; 2 March – 4 December 1930; 20 February – 10 May 1932) and a dominant figure of French political life in 1929-1932.
Biography
Tardieu was a graduate of the elite Lycée CondorcetLycée Condorcet
The Lycée Condorcet is a school founded in 1803 in Paris, France, located at 8, rue du Havre, in the city's IXe arrondissement. Since its inception, various political eras have seen it given a number of different names, but its identity today honors the memory of the Marquis de Condorcet. The...
. He was accepted by the even more prestigious École Normale Supérieure
École Normale Supérieure
The École normale supérieure is one of the most prestigious French grandes écoles...
, but instead entered the diplomatic service. Later, he left the service and became famous as foreign affairs editor of the newspaper Le Temps. He founded the conservative newspaper L'Echo National in association with Georges Mandel
Georges Mandel
Georges Mandel was a French politician, journalist, and French Resistance leader.-Biography:Born Louis George Rothschild in Chatou, Yvelines, was the son of a tailor...
.
In 1914 Tardieu was elected to the Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies of France
Chamber of Deputies was the name given to several parliamentary bodies in France in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries:* 1814–1848 during the Bourbon Restoration and the July Monarchy, the Chamber of Deputies was the Lower chamber of the French Parliament, elected by census suffrage.*...
from the département of Seine-et-Oise
Seine-et-Oise
Seine-et-Oise was a département of France encompassing the western, northern, and southern parts of the metropolitan area of Paris. Its préfecture was Versailles and its official number was 78. Seine-et-Oise was abolished in 1968....
, as a candidate of the center-right Democratic Republican Alliance
Democratic Republican Alliance
The Democratic Republican Alliance was a French political party created in 1901 by followers of Léon Gambetta, such as Raymond Poincaré who would be president of the Council in the 1920s...
(Alliance Démocratique - AD). He retained this seat till 1924. From 1926 to 1936, he represented the département of Territoire de Belfort
Territoire de Belfort
The Territoire de Belfort is a department in the Franche-Comté region of eastern France.-Administration:Its departmental code is 90, and its prefecture is Belfort...
.
When World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out, Tardieu enlisted in the army, serving as an infantryman till 1916. He then returned to politics. He served as Georges Clemenceau
Georges Clemenceau
Georges Benjamin Clemenceau was a French statesman, physician and journalist. He served as the Prime Minister of France from 1906 to 1909, and again from 1917 to 1920. For nearly the final year of World War I he led France, and was one of the major voices behind the Treaty of Versailles at the...
's lieutenant in 1919 during the Paris Peace Conference
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
and as Commissioner for Franco-American War Cooperation. On 8 November 1919, he became Minister of Liberated Regions, administering Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
and Lorraine
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
, serving until Clemenceau's defeat in 1920.
In 1926, Tardieu returned to government as Minister of Transportation
Minister of Transportation (France)
The Minister of Transport is a cabinet member in the Government of France. The position was created in 1870 as a modification of that of the Minister of Public Works...
under Raymond Poincaré
Raymond Poincaré
Raymond Poincaré was a French statesman who served as Prime Minister of France on five separate occasions and as President of France from 1913 to 1920. Poincaré was a conservative leader primarily committed to political and social stability...
. In 1928, he moved to Minister of the Interior
Minister of the Interior (France)
The Minister of the Interior in France is one of the most important governmental cabinet positions, responsible for the following:* The general interior security of the country, with respect to criminal acts or natural catastrophes...
, continuing under Poincaré's successor Aristide Briand
Aristide Briand
Aristide Briand was a French statesman who served eleven terms as Prime Minister of France during the French Third Republic and received the 1926 Nobel Peace Prize.- Early life :...
.
In November 1929 Tardieu himself succeeded Briand as Président du Conseil
Prime 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...
(Prime Minister), while remaining Interior Minister.
Though generally considered a conservative, when Tardieu became Prime Minister, he introduced a program of welfare measures, including public works, social insurance, and free secondary schooling, and he encouraged modern techniques in industry.
Tardieu was displaced from both offices for ten days in February–March 1930 by Radical Camille Chautemps
Camille Chautemps
Camille Chautemps was a French Radical politician of the Third Republic, three times President of the Council .-Career:Described as "intellectually bereft", Chautemps nevertheless entered politics and became Mayor of Tours in 1912, and a Radical deputy in 1919...
, but returned till that December. He was subsequently Minister of Agriculture
Minister of Agriculture (France)
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fishing of France is the governmental body charged with regulation and policy, for agriculture, fisheries, forestry and food.The department is headquartered in Hotel Villeroy, at No...
in 1931, Minister of War
Minister of Defence (France)
The Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs is the French government cabinet member charged with running the military of France....
in 1932, and again Prime Minister (also, this time, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs (France)
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs ), is France's foreign affairs ministry, with the headquarters located on the Quai d'Orsay in Paris close to the National Assembly of France. The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs in the government of France is the cabinet minister responsible for...
), from 30 February to 3 June 1932, until the AD and its coalition partners were defeated in the May elections.
Due this premiership Tardieu served for three (7–10 May 1932) days as the Acting President of the French Republic. between assassination of Paul Doumer
Paul Doumer
Joseph Athanase Paul Doumer, commonly known as Paul Doumer was the President of France from 13 June 1931 until his assassination.-Biography:...
and election of Albert Lebrun
Albert Lebrun
Albert François Lebrun was a French politician, President of France from 1932 to 1940. He was the last president of the Third Republic. He was a member of the center-right Democratic Republican Alliance .-Biography:...
.
He was briefly a Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
without portfolio in 1934.
His later political activity was largely concerned with containing and responding to German expansion.
In his two-volume book La Révolution à refaire, Tardieu criticized the French parliamentary system.
Tardieu's First Ministry, 3 November 1929 - 21 February 1930
- André Tardieu - President of the Council and Minister of Interior
- Aristide BriandAristide BriandAristide Briand was a French statesman who served eleven terms as Prime Minister of France during the French Third Republic and received the 1926 Nobel Peace Prize.- Early life :...
- Minister of Foreign Affairs - André MaginotAndré MaginotAndré Maginot was a French civil servant, soldier, and Member of Parliament. He is undoubtedly best known for his advocacy for the string of forts that would be known as the Maginot Line.- Early years, to World War I :...
- Minister of War - Henri Chéron - Minister of Finance
- Louis LoucheurLouis LoucheurLouis Loucheur was a French politician in the Third Republic, at first a member of the conservative Republican Federation, then of the Democratic Republican Alliance and of the Independent Radicals.-Life:Coming from a background in the arms industry, Loucheur became Minister of Munitions in...
- Minister of Labour, Hygiene, Welfare Work, and Social Security Provisions - Lucien Hubert - Minister of Justice
- Georges LeyguesGeorges LeyguesGeorges Leygues was a French politician of the Third Republic. During his time as Minister of Marine he worked with the navy's chief of staff Henri Salaun in unsuccessful attempts to gain naval re-armament priority for government funding over army rearmament such as the Maginot Line.He was born...
- Minister of Marine - Louis Rollin - Minister of Merchant Marine
- Laurent EynacLaurent EynacLaurent Eynac was a French politician who was appointed Minister of Transportation on 7 June 1935 until 24 January 1936.He was born in Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille, Haute-Loire.-References:...
- Minister of Air - Pierre MarraudPierre MarraudPierre Marraud was a French politician born in Port-Sainte-Marie, Lot-et-Garonne, 8 January 1861, died in Paris 13.*Préfet in 1900, Councillor of State, commissaire du gouvernement at the end of the First World War until becoming prefect of in 1918.*Senator for Lot-et-Garonne from 1920 to...
- Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts - Claudius Gallet - Minister of Pensions
- Jean HennessyJean HennessyJean Patrick Hennessy was a French politician.Hennessy was born at Cherves-Richemont in the Charente département, son of Maurice Hennessy and his wife Jeanne, née Foussat. His very wealthy family, of Irish origin, were the proprietors of the Hennessy cognac business, now part of LVMH...
- Minister of Agriculture - François PiétriFrançois PiétriFrançois Piétri was a minister in several governments in the later years of the French Third Republic and was French ambassador to Spain from 1940 to 1944 under the Vichy regime....
- Minister of Colonies - Georges Pernot - Minister of Public Works
- Louis Germain-MartinLouis Germain-MartinLouis Germain-Martin was an Independent Radical French politician. He was Minister of Post and Telecommunications in the government of André Tardieu, and later a Budget Minister, before serving three times as Finance minister for much of the first half of the 1930's....
- Minister of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones - Pierre Étienne FlandinPierre Étienne FlandinPierre Étienne Flandin was a French conservative politician of the Third Republic, leader of the Democratic Republican Alliance , and Prime Minister of France from 8 November 1934 to 31 May 1935....
- Minister of Commerce and Industry
Tardieu's Second Government, 2 March - 13 December 1930
- André Tardieu - President of the Council and Minister of the Interior
- Aristide BriandAristide BriandAristide Briand was a French statesman who served eleven terms as Prime Minister of France during the French Third Republic and received the 1926 Nobel Peace Prize.- Early life :...
- Minister of Foreign Affairs - André MaginotAndré MaginotAndré Maginot was a French civil servant, soldier, and Member of Parliament. He is undoubtedly best known for his advocacy for the string of forts that would be known as the Maginot Line.- Early years, to World War I :...
- Minister of War - Paul ReynaudPaul ReynaudPaul Reynaud was a French politician and lawyer prominent in the interwar period, noted for his stances on economic liberalism and militant opposition to Germany. He was the penultimate Prime Minister of the Third Republic and vice-president of the Democratic Republican Alliance center-right...
- Minister of Finance - Louis Germain-MartinLouis Germain-MartinLouis Germain-Martin was an Independent Radical French politician. He was Minister of Post and Telecommunications in the government of André Tardieu, and later a Budget Minister, before serving three times as Finance minister for much of the first half of the 1930's....
- Minister of Budget - Pierre LavalPierre LavalPierre Laval was a French politician. He was four times President of the council of ministers of the Third Republic, twice consecutively. Following France's Armistice with Germany in 1940, he served twice in the Vichy Regime as head of government, signing orders permitting the deportation of...
- Minister of Labour and Social Security Provisions - Raoul PéretRaoul PéretRaoul Adolphe Péret was a French lawyer and politician.-Biography:Raoul Péret was born in Châtellerault , son of a magistrate. He followed his father into the law, becoming an advocate at the Court of Cassation in Paris. In 1893 he served as an aide to Justice Minister Eugène Guérin...
- Minister of Justice - Jacques-Louis Dumesnil - Minister of Marine
- Louis Rollin - Minister of Merchant Marine
- Laurent EynacLaurent EynacLaurent Eynac was a French politician who was appointed Minister of Transportation on 7 June 1935 until 24 January 1936.He was born in Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille, Haute-Loire.-References:...
- Minister of Air - Pierre MarraudPierre MarraudPierre Marraud was a French politician born in Port-Sainte-Marie, Lot-et-Garonne, 8 January 1861, died in Paris 13.*Préfet in 1900, Councillor of State, commissaire du gouvernement at the end of the First World War until becoming prefect of in 1918.*Senator for Lot-et-Garonne from 1920 to...
- Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts - Auguste Champetier de RibesAuguste Champetier de RibesAuguste Champetier de Ribes was a French politician and jurist.A devout Catholic, he was an early follower of Albert de Mun and social Christianity. Wounded in the First World War, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies from the Basses-Pyrénées as a Christian democrat from 1924 to 1934...
- Minister of Pensions - Fernand DavidFernand DavidFernand David was the French Minister of Agriculture from 21 January 1913 to 22 March 1913.-References:...
- Minister of Agriculture - François PiétriFrançois PiétriFrançois Piétri was a minister in several governments in the later years of the French Third Republic and was French ambassador to Spain from 1940 to 1944 under the Vichy regime....
- Minister of Colonies - Georges Pernot - Minister of Public Works
- Désiré FerryDésiré FerryDésiré Ferry was a French politician of the Third Republic.Désiré Ferry was born in Metz. He studied law at the University of Nancy and worked as a writer and publisher. During the First World War he served with the French Army...
- Minister of Public Health - André Mallarmé - Minister of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones
- Pierre Étienne FlandinPierre Étienne FlandinPierre Étienne Flandin was a French conservative politician of the Third Republic, leader of the Democratic Republican Alliance , and Prime Minister of France from 8 November 1934 to 31 May 1935....
- Minister of Commerce and Industry
Changes
- 17 November 1930 - Henri Chéron succeeds Péret as Minister of Justice.
Tardieu's Third Ministry, 20 February - 3 June 1932
- André Tardieu - President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Paul ReynaudPaul ReynaudPaul Reynaud was a French politician and lawyer prominent in the interwar period, noted for his stances on economic liberalism and militant opposition to Germany. He was the penultimate Prime Minister of the Third Republic and vice-president of the Democratic Republican Alliance center-right...
- Vice President of the Council and Minister of Justice - François PiétriFrançois PiétriFrançois Piétri was a minister in several governments in the later years of the French Third Republic and was French ambassador to Spain from 1940 to 1944 under the Vichy regime....
- Minister of National Defense - Albert Mahieu - Minister of the Interior
- Pierre Étienne FlandinPierre Étienne FlandinPierre Étienne Flandin was a French conservative politician of the Third Republic, leader of the Democratic Republican Alliance , and Prime Minister of France from 8 November 1934 to 31 May 1935....
- Minister of Finance - Pierre LavalPierre LavalPierre Laval was a French politician. He was four times President of the council of ministers of the Third Republic, twice consecutively. Following France's Armistice with Germany in 1940, he served twice in the Vichy Regime as head of government, signing orders permitting the deportation of...
- Minister of Labour and Social Security Provisions - Charles Guernier - Minister of Public Works and Merchant Marine
- Mario Roustan - Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts
- Auguste Champetier de RibesAuguste Champetier de RibesAuguste Champetier de Ribes was a French politician and jurist.A devout Catholic, he was an early follower of Albert de Mun and social Christianity. Wounded in the First World War, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies from the Basses-Pyrénées as a Christian democrat from 1924 to 1934...
- Minister of Pensions and Liberated Regions - Claude Chauveau - Minister of Agriculture
- Louis de Chappedelaine - Minister of Colonies
- Camille BlaisotCamille BlaisotCamille Blaisot was a French politician and lawyer.Blaisot was born in Valognes and was elected in 1914 to represent Caen in the Chamber of Deputies. He served as Minister of Health in 1931 and 1932 under Pierre Laval and André Tardieu, and again in 1935 and 1936 under Laval...
- Minister of Public Health - Louis Rollin - Minister of Commerce, Industry, Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones
See also
- The Truth About The Treaty, written 1921, to defend the French negotiators from claims that they had been too lenient on the Germans.