Cemal Gürsel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cemal Gürsel
General Cemal Gürsel and General Norstad, USAF, at the Republic's Anniversary Ceremony, October 29, 1960.
4th President of Turkey
In office 27 May 1960 – 28 March 1966
Prime Minister	Himself Emin Özdilek İsmet İnönü
Preceded by	Celâl Bayar
Succeeded by	Cevdet Sunay
10th Prime Minister of Turkey
In office 27 May 1960 – 27 October 1961
President	Himself
Preceded by	Adnan Menderes
Succeeded by	Emin Özdilek
Commander of the Turkish Army
In office 21 August 1958 – 2 June 1960
Preceded by	Mustafa Rüştü Erdelhun
Succeeded by	Cevdet Sunay
Personal details
Born	(1895-10-13)13 October 1895 Erzurum, Ottoman Empire
Died	14 September 1966(1966-09-14) (aged 70) Ankara, Turkey
Cause of death	Apoplexy
Resting place	Turkish State Cemetery
Nationality	Turkish
Political party	Independent
Spouse	Melahat Gürsel ​ (m. 1927)​
Children	1
Signature

Cemal Gürsel (born October 13, 1895 – died September 14, 1966) was a Turkish army general. He became the fourth President of Turkey after a change in government.

Early Life and Military Service

Cemal Gürsel was born in Erzurum, a city in what was then the Ottoman Empire. His father was an officer in the Ottoman Army. From a young age, he was known as "Cemal Ağa," which means "big brother Cemal," because he was a popular and friendly person.

Gürsel served in the Army for 45 years. During World War I, he fought in important battles like the Battle of Çanakkale in 1915. He was a lieutenant in the artillery, which means he commanded big guns. Later, he fought in the Middle East and was captured by the British in 1918. He was a prisoner of war in Egypt until 1920. He later said he was so upset about being captured that he studied French instead of English!

After being released, Cemal Gürsel joined Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in the Turkish War of Independence (1920-1923). He fought bravely in many battles and was recognized for his courage. For his service, he received the Turkish Medal of Independence.

In 1927, Gürsel married Melahat. They had a son named Özdemir and adopted a daughter named Türkan.

Rising Through the Ranks

Cemal Gürsel continued his military education and became a staff officer in 1929. He was promoted many times, becoming a colonel in 1940 and a brigadier general in 1946. By 1957, he was a full general and became the Commander of the Third Army. In 1958, he was appointed Commander of the Turkish Land Forces.

Gürsel was known for being easy-going and fatherly. He was well-liked by both the public and the military. He was also respected for his knowledge and professional behavior. In May 1960, he sent a letter to the Minister of Defense. In this letter, he shared his ideas about how the government should work better. He suggested that the Prime Minister should replace the President to help unite the country. This letter led to his early retirement from the army.

As he left the army, Cemal Gürsel sent a farewell message to all soldiers. He told them to always honor the army and their uniform. He urged them to stay away from politics, saying it was important for their honor and the country's future. After retiring, he moved to İzmir and became the president of the Anti-Communism Association of Turkey.

Becoming Head of State

On May 27, 1960, a group of army officers made a change in the government. Cemal Gürsel was not involved in planning this change. However, because he was very popular, he was chosen to lead the new government. He became the commander in chief, Head of state, Prime minister, and Minister of Defense.

One of his first actions was to release students and journalists who had been held. He also allowed banned newspapers to publish again. He brought together ten law professors to help write a new constitution for Turkey. He also created a scientific council to advise the government, which later became the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK).

Gürsel appointed General Ragıp Gümüşpala as the new Chief of the General Staff. He also encouraged Gümüşpala to form a new political party called the Justice Party. This party would bring together former members of the previous ruling party. Gürsel was a simple and humble leader. He did not want his picture displayed next to Atatürk's in government offices. He often traveled in an open Jeep, visiting rural areas and talking to people.

During this time, there were trials for former government officials. Cemal Gürsel tried to reduce the number of severe sentences given. He personally asked for forgiveness and tried to prevent the executions of the former Prime Minister Adnan Menderes and two other ministers. However, his pleas were not accepted by the ruling group. Gürsel also worked to prevent further military takeovers and helped prepare the new constitution. He played a key role in bringing Turkey back to a democratic system.

A Statesman's Achievements

As president, Cemal Gürsel worked to modernize Turkey and strengthen its role in the world. He hosted important visitors like Queen Elizabeth II of the UK and US Vice President Lyndon Johnson. He also allowed British military planes to fly over Turkey to support Kuwait when it was threatened.

Gürsel believed in participatory democracy, which means involving all parts of society in government. He appointed leaders from Armenian, Greek, and Jewish communities as his "Deputy Representatives of Head of State." He also brought back freedom of speech for the media.

The new constitution was approved by the people in a vote on October 10, 1961. This constitution protected civil and political rights and created a better system of checks and balances (where different parts of the government limit each other's power). A new Constitutional Court was also created, and a Senate was added to the parliament. After general elections, Cemal Gürsel was officially voted as the fourth president of Turkey.

He focused on improving Turkey's economy and relations with other countries. He worked to improve ties with the Soviet Union and made new agreements with the US, UK, and Germany. In 1962, an atomic reactor in Istanbul began operating. He also established the first Research and State Library.

Gürsel supported the right for workers to form unions and go on strike. Turkish universities gained more independence under his leadership. He also pardoned the former president Celal Bayar and former chief of general staff Rustu Erdelhun, whose life sentences were changed.

He started a new era of planned economy in Turkey, creating the State Planning Organization. He helped Turkey rejoin the United Nations Security Council in 1961. He also worked closely with leaders like Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer to move Turkey towards European Union membership. This led to the Ankara Agreement in 1963, which made Turkey an associate member of the European Economic Community. This also led to many Turkish workers moving to Germany and Western Europe to help with their industries.

In 1963, a leader in Cyprus wanted to change the constitution, which led to violence between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. President Gürsel ordered warning flights and air attacks by the Turkish Air Force to protect Turkish Cypriots. These actions helped achieve Turkey's military goals and brought an end to the fighting.

Gürsel also modernized Turkey's intelligence services. He improved relations with Middle Eastern countries and Pakistan, focusing on economic and cultural cooperation. In 1964, he helped establish the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD) organization with Pakistan and Iran to promote joint economic projects. He also offered safety to political figures from Iran and Iraq.

During his presidency, the first radio broadcasting station in Eastern Anatolia was opened in Erzurum. He also brought the Microwave Telecommunications Network into operation, improving phone and teletype services. He started new development plans for southeastern Anatolia. In 1962, he made the Holy Relics from prophets like Abraham, Moses, and Muhammad, including an ancient Qur'an, available for public viewing at the Topkapi Palace for the first time.

He added the first Ministry of Culture and Tourism to the government. To promote tourism, he supported the filming of movies like Topkapi and the James Bond movie From Russia with Love in Istanbul. He also founded the Directorate of Religious Affairs.

In 1963, Cemal Gürsel founded the National Security Council (MGK) and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK). In 1964, the Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) organization was established, bringing television broadcasting to Turkey for the first time. He also supported the production of the first domestic Turkish automobile, the Devrim (Revolution), which helped start Turkey's automotive industry. Other developments during his time included the first use of computers, growth in iron and steel production, and new power plants and oil pipelines. Cemal Gürsel did not take a salary for his presidential role. He and his family lived on his retired general's salary while in the Presidential Palace.

Illness and Legacy

In early 1961, Cemal Gürsel began to suffer from paralysis, which worsened in 1966. On February 2, he was flown to a hospital in Washington, D.C., in the United States, on a special plane sent by US President Lyndon B. Johnson. A week later, he fell into a coma. The Turkish government decided to bring him back to Turkey on March 24. President Johnson personally went to see him off, expressing his sadness that Gürsel's health could not be fully restored.

On March 28, 1966, the Turkish parliament decided that his presidency should end due to his severe illness. Cemal Gürsel died on September 14, 1966, in Ankara. He was first buried at the "Freedom Martyrs Memorial" and later moved to the Turkish State Cemetery in 1988.

Cemal Gürsel is remembered for his modesty and his focus on education and strong ethics for young people. He believed in a democratic and Westernized Turkey, following Atatürk's vision. His portrait was often seen next to Atatürk's in Turkish homes. Many schools and streets are named after him. The changes during his time were called the "Turkish Revolution" and were celebrated annually until 1981. In 2002, a special coin was released in his memory, and in 2008, a movie called The Cars of Revolution was made about him.

Quotes from Cemal Gürsel

• "I took over the administration of the state to stop the tragic course of events." (Radio address, May 27, 1960)
• "The network was ready. I personally did not want the army to intervene and had been stopping the attempts (of takeover) of my younger friends. Things reached to such a state that despite my belief that the army should not interfere I let them free in their duties. Now my only goal is to reinstate an administration built on the principles of justice and ethics." (Interview, July 16, 1960)
• "Those who follow Atatürk will not be left behind." (Address on Atatürk's death anniversary, November 10, 1963)

Quotes about Cemal Gürsel

• "General Gursel may be described as the father of the second Turkish Republic similar to Atatürk being the father of modern Turkey. At a time of deep division, Gursel earned and maintained the respect of the Turkish Nation that regarded him as the symbol of national unity. When he passed away, he had the identity of the trusted father of the nation." (Prof. Bernard Lewis, September 15, 1966)
• "On 27 May, he (Cemal Gursel) was hurriedly requested to come (from his residence in İzmir) to the capital (Ankara) to assume the leadership of National Unity Committee." (The Turkish Revolution, Aspects of Military politics by Walter Weiker, 1963)
• "When 27 May revolt occurred, Cemal Gürsel was not a participant. He was invited to become the head due to the circumstances and he willingly accepted." (Burhan Felek, Milliyet, September 18, 1971)
• "It is now known that the coup was the result of years of planning on the part of conspirators, a number of radical colonels and ranks below in their early forties. He (Cemal Gürsel) was not involved in the details of the organization of the coup d'état. When the coup had succeeded, he was brought to Ankara." (Turkey, A modern History by Erik Zurcher, 2003)
• "We built an automobile with the mentality of the West and we forgot to put gasoline in it with the mentality of the East." (Cemal Gürsel, President, October 29, 1963)

Images for kids

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  Cemal Gürsel's signature

See also

• 1962 attempted coup in Turkey