On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the death of former President Fouad Chehab [1902-1973] — a memorial event was held at St. Joseph University in Beirut on April 23 — I would like to recognize a general-cum-statesman who did more for Lebanese democracy and social reform than perhaps many of his contemporaries.
He shepherded a peaceful transition in the 1950s after the confrontation that took place between President Chamoun and the opposition and refused to have the army involved, which reinforced the trust of the political establishment in Lebanon at the time. During the Lebanese Civil War [1975-1990], Chehab refused to take sides and was perceived as a man of great integrity. And in 1958, in the aftermath of the crisis between Chamoun and the opposition, he was elected president with a broad consensus. His election brought relief and the promise of a more stable, secure and democratic Lebanon.
