Georges Pompidou

About Georges Pompidou

The second President of the Fifth Republic. Pompidou was previously De Gaulles Prime Minister. His presidency continued Gaullist policies but with more pragmatism. He supported industrial modernization and nuclear force. Pompidou began the transformation of the Les Halles market area into a modern shopping and transit center, now named Forum des Halles. The Centre Pompidou, the famous modern art museum, was named after him. He died in office in 1974 from a rare blood disease. Pompidou was a cultured man with a deep interest in literature and art.