Giovanni Leone
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| Giovanni Leone | |
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| In office December 29, 1971 – June 15, 1978 |
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| Prime Minister | Emilio Colombo Giulio Andreotti Mariano Rumor Aldo Moro Giulio Andreotti |
| Preceded by | Giuseppe Saragat |
| Succeeded by | Amintore Fanfani acting Alessandro Pertini |
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55th and 53rd
President of the Council of Ministers of Italy |
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| In office June 24, 1968 – December 12, 1968 |
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| President | Giuseppe Saragat |
| Preceded by | Aldo Moro |
| Succeeded by | Mariano Rumor |
| In office June 21, 1963 – December 4, 1963 |
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| President | Antonio Segni |
| Preceded by | Amintore Fanfani |
| Succeeded by | Aldo Moro |
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| In office May 10, 1955 – June 21, 1963 |
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| Preceded by | Giovanni Gronchi |
| Succeeded by | Brunetto Bucciarelli-Ducci |
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| In office June 15, 1978 – November 9, 2001 |
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| Constituency | New Constituency |
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| Born | 3 November 1908 Naples, Italy |
| Died | 9 November 2001 (aged 93) Rome, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Political party | Christian Democracy |
| Spouse | Vittoria Micchitto |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Giovanni Leone (November 3, 1908 – November 9, 2001) was an Italian politician. He was Prime Minister of Italy from June 21, 1963 to November 5, 1963 and again from June 24, 1968 to November 19, 1968. He also served as President of the Republic from 1971 to 1978.
[edit] Biography
Leone was born in Naples.
He graduated in law in 1929. His father was one of the founders of Democrazia Cristiana in his native city, and he was elected to the Italian Constituent Assembly in 1946. A member of the right wing faction of his party, he was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in 1948, being confirmed until 1963. In 1955-1963 he was also President of the Chamber, from which he resigned for a brief stint as Premier.
After having been unofficially several times candidate to the Presidency of the Republic, he was named Life Senator in 1968. In the same year he was again Premier for some months. In 1971 he succeeded Giuseppe Saragat as President of Italy, being elected with votes of a right-centre majority of the Parliament (518 out of 996 votes, including those of the post-fascist Italian Social Movement).
He became embroiled in controversy when, as President of Republic, visiting his native city during an outbreak of cholera, shook the hands of the patients with one hand, and with the other, behind the back, made the corna. This act was well documented, as all journalists and photographers were right behind him. The gesture was interpreted as offensive for the patients.
He was forced to resign from his position following his involvement in the Lockheed bribery scandal[1] on 15 June 1978.
[edit] References
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Giovanni Gronchi |
President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies 1955-1963 |
Succeeded by Brunetto Bucciarelli-Ducci |
| Preceded by Amintore Fanfani |
Prime Minister of Italy 1963 |
Succeeded by Aldo Moro |
| Preceded by Aldo Moro |
Prime Minister of Italy 1968 |
Succeeded by Mariano Rumor |
| Preceded by Giuseppe Saragat |
President of the Italian Republic 1971–1978 |
Succeeded by Sandro Pertini |

