Richard von Weizsäcker was born in Stuttgart on April 15, 1920.

After his military service during the National Socialist era, he studied law and history in Göttingen.

Parallel to working in various commercial enterprises, he became involved in the CDU from 1954 and was a member of its federal executive between 1966 and 1984.

In 1981, he was elected Governing Mayor of Berlin, a post he held until his election as the sixth President of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1984. His term of office was marked by his moving speeches on the 40th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and on reunification.

After two terms in office, he retired from the highest German office in 1994. Since then, he has concentrated on his voluntary work, for example in the Protestant Church, for which he served as President of the Kirchentag between 1964 and 1970 and between 1979 and 1981.

During his inaugural visit to Hesse, he was received at Wiesbaden Town Hall on October 8, 1984. Lord Mayor Jentsch wished him all the best and much strength for his responsible office. Dr. von Weizsäcker expressed his thanks for the warm welcome and then, like his predecessors, signed the city's Golden Book.