1. Walter Scheel was elected shortly after as the president of West Germany, remaining in the role until 1979.
11 Facts About Walter Scheel
1. 2.
Walter Scheel was a member of the Protestant Church in Germany.
3.
When his Free Democratic Party reentered government in a coalition with Konrad Adenauer's Christian Democratic Union in 1961, Walter Scheel was appointed federal minister of economic cooperation and development.
4.
Walter Scheel continued in that office under Chancellor Ludwig Erhard but brought about the downfall of the latter in late 1966 by resigning.
5.
Under Chancellor Willy Brandt, Walter Scheel became Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor.
6.
Walter Scheel, as acting chancellor, chaired the government meetings for a little over a week, until Helmut Schmidt was elected.
7.
Walter Scheel was elected President of West Germany, a week after relinquishing his other government roles.
8.
Walter Scheel held the office from July 1974 until June 1979.
9.
At the funeral of Hanns Martin Schleyer in October 1977, Walter Scheel gave a speech entitled shame.
10.
Walter Scheel was named honorary chairman of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in 1991.
11.
Walter Scheel died on 24 August 2016 following a long illness.