Jacques Chirac, the two-term French President from 1995-to-2007 has died at the age of 86.
Chirac was the first French leader to acknowledge his nations role in the Holocaust. He also defiantly opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Son-in-law Frederic Salat-Baroux told The Associated Press that Chirac died Thursday "peacefully, among his loved ones." He did not give a cause of death, though Chirac had had repeated health problems since leaving office in 2007.
Chirac had a close relationship with New Orleans, having lived here in 1954 while writing a dissertation about the Port of New Orleans as a graduate student. According to the webpage myneworleans.com, Chirac came down with pneumonia while living here and was treated by French-speaking Doctor Homey Dupuy. Chirac and Dupuy remained in contact through out each others lives.
Chirac, a conservative politician served as mayor of Paris for nearly two decades. He earned the nickname "Le Bulldozer" early on for his determination and ambition as politician.