Bernadette Chirac, known for her quiet dignity, traditional Catholic faith, and impeccable style, dedicated herself to the political career of her husband, Jacques Chirac. He passed away on September 26, 2019, at the age of 86.
A Life of Partnership and Public Service
Jacques Chirac, who served as Prime Minister and Mayor of Paris before becoming President, reflected on their union in his 2012 memoirs, writing, “She is the woman of my life, we have accomplished so much together.” The couple met at Paris’s political science university, Sciences Po, in 1954 and married two years later. The union was seen by some as a match below Bernadette’s standing, as she hailed from the aristocratic Chodron de Courcel family.
Navigating Marital Challenges
Their marriage, which produced two daughters, was not without its difficulties. Jacques Chirac openly acknowledged his attraction to other women, and persistent rumors of affairs surrounded their relationship. In her 2001 book, “Conversation,” Bernadette Chirac discussed her Catholic beliefs and opposition to abortion. She also spoke with notable frankness about the strain infidelity could place on a family.
Describing her husband as a “handsome man” with “enormous success with women,” she wrote about the pressures of maintaining a marriage in the face of such challenges. “Nowadays at the first difficulty people just give up,” she noted. “But as far as I was concerned, I hesitated because I had children, and also because I was the prisoner of certain family traditions.” She further elaborated on the societal expectation of presenting a united front, adding, “Convention had it that in this sort of situation you put up a front and just kept going. In any case I warned him often enough: the day Napoleon left Josephine, he lost everything.””
An Electoral Asset and Cultural Icon
During Jacques Chirac’s presidency, from 1995 to 2007, Bernadette was often seen as a valuable asset in his campaigns. Her amiable demeanor and charitable work, particularly with sick children, enhanced her public image and resonated with conservative voters. Her understated elegance and discretion also contributed to her becoming a figure of note in her own right.
In 2023, a film titled “Bernadette” explored her years as First Lady, starring French screen legend Catherine Deneuve. Beyond her patronage of various charities, Bernadette Chirac pursued her own modest political path, serving as an elected councilor for the Correze department, the couple’s rural home, and as a member of the municipal council in the small village of Sarran.
Her presence was noted when, in 1998, she guided Hillary Clinton, then U.S. First Lady, on a tour of Correze. The newspaper Le Monde humorously commented, “Bernadette Chirac exists. Hillary Clinton has met her.” A memorable moment occurred in 1999 when then-Chinese President Jiang Zemin briefly twirled her for a waltz during a visit to Correze, surprising onlookers.
Later Years and Family Loss
In the later years of Jacques Chirac’s life, Bernadette remained a steadfast protector, managing information about his declining health due to a degenerative neurological disorder that eventually confined him to a wheelchair. Following his death, Bernadette, reportedly in frail health herself, attended a private funeral service. She was not present at the larger public ceremony, which drew numerous international dignitaries.
The family also faced profound loss in 2016 with the death of their eldest daughter, Laurence, at the age of 58, following a heart attack. Laurence had lived with anorexia since 1974.
