High-Ranking Official: Dr. H.C. Johannes Rau, Federal President
Dr. Johannes Rau, the eighth President of the Federal Republic of Germany, visited Wiesbaden on September 23, 1999. During his inaugural visit to Hesse, he signed the Golden Book of the city, an honour that serves as a testament to Wiesbaden's good international reputation.
The Lord Mayor of Dill welcomed President Rau in the ceremonial hall of the town hall on that morning. Rau, who was born in Wuppertal on January 16, 1931, had previously immortalized himself in the Golden Book of the city of Wiesbaden. This was back in 1993, when he was the Minister-President of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia during the SPD party federal conference.
Rau's speech during his visit to Wiesbaden stated that Germany is particularly appealing due to its cities. However, specific speeches or statements from this visit are not widely documented publicly in easily accessible sources.
Rau's political life was fulfilling, with a focus on reconciliation, democracy, and social cohesion. His public addresses typically revolved around themes of unity, democratic values, and the importance of remembering history as a guide for the future.
If you are seeking the exact textual content or transcripts of speeches from that visit, I recommend consulting archives of German federal presidential speeches, local Wiesbaden historical records, or contemporary newspaper reports from 1999. The official website of the German Federal President (Bundespräsident) or libraries specialized in German political history might hold these documents.
It's worth noting that Wiesbaden plays a special role in this context, as the city has a good international reputation. The entries of numerous celebrities from Germany and abroad in the Golden Book of Wiesbaden serve as evidence of this.
Tragically, Dr. h.c. Johannes Rau passed away in Berlin on January 27, 2006. His visit to Wiesbaden remains a cherished memory for the city and its residents, a symbol of the city's standing on the international stage.
The Lord Mayor of Dill and Dr. Johannes Rau, during their discussion in the ceremonial hall of the town hall, delved into policy-and-legislation and politics, addressing the importance of cities in Germany's appeal. In his speech, Rau emphasized the role of cities, a common theme in his public addresses that centered around unity, democratic values, and the importance of history. As Wiesbaden played a significant role in Rau's life, with his previous entry in the Golden Book of the city in 1993, it served as a symbol of the city's standing in general-news and international affairs.
