Bernadette Chirac facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bernadette Chirac
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Chirac in 2009
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| Spouse of the President of France | |
| In role 17 May 1995 – 16 May 2007 |
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| President | Jacques Chirac |
| Preceded by | Danielle Mitterrand |
| Succeeded by | Cécilia Sarkozy |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Bernadette Thérèse Marie Chodron de Courcel
18 May 1933 Paris, France |
| Political party | Les Republicains |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, including Claude Chirac and Anh Dao Traxel (foster-daughter) |
| Residences | Quai Voltaire, Paris (personal) Château de Bity, Sarran, Corrèze (personal) |
Bernadette Thérèse Marie Chirac (born 18 May 1933) is a French politician. She is also the widow of Jacques Chirac, who was a former president of France.
Bernadette and Jacques Chirac met when they were students. They studied at a famous school called Sciences Po in Paris. They got married on 16 March 1956.
They had two daughters, Laurence and Claude Chirac. They also welcomed Anh Dao Traxel, a former Vietnamese refugee, as a foster daughter into their family.
Since 2001, Bernadette Chirac has been a big supporter of Opération Pièces jaunes. This is a charity that helps children in French hospitals. They collect small donations to make hospital stays better for kids.
In 2007, she became the president of the "Fondation Claude-Pompidou". This foundation helps people in need, especially the elderly and those with illnesses.
She was very important in her husband's political life. Her popularity helped him win the presidential elections in 1995 and 2002. She also served as a local councillor in Corrèze, which was their home area.
Contents
Her Early Life and Education
Where Was Bernadette Chirac Born?
Bernadette Thérèse Marie Chodron de Courcel was born in Paris, France, on 18 May 1933. Her father was Jean-Louis Chodron de Courcel, who worked as a sales director. Her mother was Marguerite de Brondeau d'Urtières.
Bernadette was the oldest of three children. Her sister Catherine was born in 1946, and her brother Jérôme in 1948.
Growing Up During Wartime
Her family was very religious and she had a strict upbringing. In 1939, her father was called to serve in the army. He was held in Germany until World War II ended in 1945.
In 1940, Bernadette and her mother had to leave their home. They moved to Lot-et-Garonne and then to Gien to stay safe during the war. After the war, her family settled in Paris.
Meeting Her Future Husband
In 1950, she started studying at the Paris Institute of Political Studies. This is where she met Jacques Chirac. They later married. Like many women at that time, she did not finish her degree after getting married.
Her Work as a Politician and First Lady
Serving Her Community
Bernadette Chirac was active in local politics for many years.
- In 1971, she was elected to the local council of Sarran. This is a town in the Corrèze area.
- In 1977, she became an aide to the mayor of Sarran.
- From 1979 onwards, she was elected to the Departmental council of Corrèze multiple times. She served her community for decades.
Helping Children and the Elderly
She also started and led several important organizations.
- In 1990, she founded the "Association le Pont Neuf". This group helped young people from France and Asia connect and learn from each other.
- In 1991, she became the president of an International Dance Festival.
- In 1994, she became president of the "Fondation Hôpitaux de Paris-Hôpitaux de France". This charity works to make life better for children and older people in hospitals. She also supported Opération Pièces Jaunes, which raises money for children's hospitals every year.
Her Role as First Lady
When her husband, Jacques Chirac, became President of France in 1995, Bernadette became the First Lady. She played an important role in his public life. Her friendly personality made her very popular with the French people. This popularity helped her husband get re-elected in 2002.
Later Life and Public Appearances
Sharing Her Story
In 2001, Bernadette Chirac took part in a series of interviews. These talks were with a journalist named Patrick de Carolis. The interviews were turned into a book called Conversation. The book was very popular and sold many copies.
Recent Years
She made her last public appearance in the summer of 2018. After her husband passed away in 2019, she attended a private service for him. However, she was not present at the main public funeral.
Her Family History
Her Close Family
- Father: Jean Chodron de Courcel (1907–1985). He was a sales director.
- Mother: Marguerite–Marie de Brondeau d'Urtières (1910–2000).
- Paternal grandfather: Robert Chodron de Courcel. He was a diplomat and owned land.
A Family with a Long History
Bernadette Chirac was born into the Chodron de Courcel family. This is an old French family with a long history. Many members of her family were public servants. They included military officers, goldsmiths, lawyers, and diplomats.
Over time, her family became owners of factories in Gien and Briare. These factories were famous for making beautiful porcelain and enamel mosaics. Like many old French families, Bernadette Chirac's ancestors include members of several European royal families.
In 1852, a special order allowed her family to add "Courcel" to their name. This was the name of one of their properties. Later, in 1867, a family member was given the title of hereditary baron. This was for his service to the country.
Honours and Awards
Bernadette Chirac has received many awards and honours from different countries. These awards recognize her public service and charity work.
Knight of the Legion of Honour (France)
Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit (Norway)
Knight of the Order of the Smile (Poland)
Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Romania (Romania)
Medal of Pushkin (Russia)
Dame Grand Cross of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (Sovereign Military Order of Malta)
Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III (Spain)
Grand Cordon of the National Order of Merit of Tunisia (Tunisia)
Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Pope Pius IX (
Holy See)
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Movies About Bernadette Chirac
Bernadette Chirac has been portrayed by actresses in several movies and TV shows. These films often show her role during her husband's political career.
- La Conquête (2011): In this movie about Nicolas Sarkozy's presidential campaign, Bernadette Chirac is played by Michèle Moretti.
- La Dernière Campagne (2013): This TV movie about the 2012 presidential campaign features Martine Chevallier as Bernadette Chirac.
- Madâme, le film (2005): A documentary by John Paul Lepers.
- La Rupture (2013): In this film, Estelle Skornik plays Bernadette Chirac.
- Bernadette (2023): This film focuses on her life during Jacques Chirac's time as president. The famous actress Catherine Deneuve plays Bernadette Chirac.
See also
In Spanish: Bernadette Chirac para niños
