Background
Kiesinger was born on April 6, 1904 in Ebingen, Germany.
Kiesinger was born on April 6, 1904 in Ebingen, Germany.
Kiesinger studied law in Berlin.
As a young lawyer, Kiesinger was a member of the National Socialist (Nazi) Party from 1933 to 1945, and though his active support for the party ended in 1934, during World War II he worked for the radio broadcast division of the foreign ministry. After the war Kiesinger joined the Christian Democratic Union and was elected to the lower house of the federal parliament in 1949. In 1958 he became minister president (prime minister) of Baden-Württemberg and entered the upper house of the parliament. In December 1966 he was chosen to succeed Ludwig Erhard as chancellor of West Germany at the head of a coalition of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats. In October 1969 Kiesinger was succeeded by Willy Brandt, who headed a coalition of Social Democrats and Free Democrats. Kiesinger remained a member of parliament until 1980. He died at Tübingen on March 9, 1988.
Kiesinger reduced tensions with the Soviet bloc nations establishing diplomatic relations with Czechoslovakia, Romania and Yugoslavia but he opposed any major conciliatory moves. A number of progressive reforms were also realised during Kiesinger's time as Chancellor. Pension coverage was extended in 1967 via the abolition of the income-ceiling for compulsory membership. In education, student grants were introduced, together with a university building programme, while a constitutional reform of 1969 empowered the federal government to be involved with the Länder in educational planning through joint planning commission.
Member of the Bundestag (1949-1958, 1969-1980), member of the Christian Democratic Union (1951)