Word: matignon
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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From now on, Chaban-Delmas can do his jogging in the larger garden of the Hôtel de Matignon, traditional home of France's Premiers. The handsome onetime Resistance leader was a sensible choice by President Pompidou. He is a "historical Gaullist," that is, one who has followed the general since World War II. He was on terms close enough so that he received a portrait from De Gaulle inscribed "to my dear comrade-in-arms...
...best dossiers got a "D'accord," meaning that the matter was settled. Pompidou began to enjoy politics with a gusto, and it showed even in his complaints. "I am bombarded with daily problems," he said one day. "I handle dossiers of a burning actuality. Everything is urgent at Matignon [the Premier's office]. But when I arrive at the Élysée, time no longer marches in the same step. Only the topics chosen voluntarily by the general as important are evoked...
...question nine days later in what seemed to be one of the most astonishing displays of ingratitude of his career: he dismissed his longtime friend as Premier. True to form, Pompidou seemed less disturbed by the news than anyone else; he simply removed his favorite modern oil paintings from Matignon, set up an office on the Left Bank and waited for life to come to him. Or seemed to wait. Actually, he made a point of keeping in close touch with Gaullist friends, listening sympathetically to their complaints and quietly gathering up loyalty for the future...
...though unofficial leader of the Gaullist majority. He has steadfastly supported De Gaulle decisions, most notably by characterizing the recent presidential embargo of Israel as "impeccable." But his present office in a Left Bank apartment house is a far cry from the Premier's splendid quarters in the Matignon Hotel, and his visibility as a Deputy is small...
...happened to be Pompidou's 57th birthday. De Gaulle called in Couve to the Elysée for long and serious talks that morning, and worried friends telephoned Pompidou to tell him about the unexpected conferences. That afternoon Couve came to a routine Cabinet meeting at the Hotel Matignon, the Premier's official residence, and told Pompidou that he felt that Pompidou should remain as Premier and that if Pompidou wished to, he should tell the general...