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Johannes Rau (1999–2004)

Johannes Rau, born in 1931 in Wuppertal, dropped out of grammar school before taking the Abitur and became an active member of the Confessing Church. He trained in the book trade, later worked as an editor and sales representative and finally became a director at the publishing house Jugenddienst-Verlag in Wuppertal. He was also involved in journalism and in politics, first with the GVP (All‑German People’s Party) and then, after it disbanded, with the SPD (Social Democratic Party).

Federal President Johannes Rau, 2004
DateBiography
1931Born on16 January in Wuppertal-Barmen
1949-1967Worked in the publishing trade
1952Joined the All-German People's Party (Gesamtdeutsche Volkspartei - GVP), which was disbanded in 1957
1957Joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
1964-1978Member of Wuppertal Town Council
1970-1978Minister of Science and Research of Land North-Rhine/Westphalia
1973-1998Member of the SPD Executive Committee of Land North-Rhine/Westphalia
1977-1998Chairman of the SPD Executive Committee of Land North-Rhine/Westphalia
1978-1999Member of the SPD Federal Executive Committee
1978-1998Minister-President of Land North-Rhine/Westphalia
1982-1983President of the Bundesrat
1982-1999Deputy Chairman of the SPD
1987SPD Chancellor candidate at the Bundestag elections
1994-1995President of the Bundesrat
23 May 1994Defeated in the election for the office of Federal President by Professor Roman Herzog
27 May 1998Resigned as Minister-President
2 November 1998Nominated as candidate for the office of Federal President by the SPD Federal Executive Committee
23 May 1999Elected as Federal President by the Federal Convention in Berlin
1999-2004Federal President
2006Johannes Rau died on 27 January

Johannes Rau was Protestant. He married Christina Delius in 1982. They had three children.

The German Federal Presidents