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Births on December 27

Guido Westerwelle
1961Dec, 27

Guido Westerwelle

Guido Westerwelle, German lawyer and politician, 15th Vice-Chancellor of Germany (d. 2016)
Guido Westerwelle (German: [ˈɡiːdo ˈvɛstɐˌvɛlə]; 27 December 1961 – 18 March 2016) was a German politician who served as Foreign Minister in the second cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel and Vice-Chancellor of Germany from 2009 to 2011, being the first openly gay person to hold any of these positions. He also led the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) from 2001 until he stepped down in 2011. A lawyer by profession, he was a member of the Bundestag from 1996 to 2013. For his party he was also its first and so far only Chancellor candidate in the 2002 federal election, becoming also the youngest candidate for the office of Chancellor to date.

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Events on 1961

  • 8Jan

    Charles de Gaulle

    In France a referendum supports Charles de Gaulle's policies in Algeria.
  • 16Apr

    Fidel Castro

    In a nationally broadcast speech, Cuban leader Fidel Castro declares that he is a Marxist-Leninist and that Cuba is going to adopt Communism.
  • 1May

    Fidel Castro

    The Prime Minister of Cuba, Fidel Castro, proclaims Cuba a socialist nation and abolishes elections.
  • 25Jul

    NATO

    In a speech John F. Kennedy emphasizes that any attack on Berlin is an attack on NATO.
  • 10Aug

    Agent Orange

    First use in Vietnam War of the Agent Orange by the U.S. Army.