Proposal presented by the Commission
In a grand ceremony held at the town hall on September 23, 1999, Wiesbaden welcomed the esteemed guest, Dr. h.c. Johannes Rau. As the eighth Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Rau's visit was a significant moment for the city.
Rau's connection to Wiesbaden dates back to 1993, when he inscribed his name in the prestigious volume of the Golden Book during an SPD federal party conference. On his second visit in 1999, he once again inscribed his name, reaffirming his appreciation for the city.
Wiesbaden, the capital of the state of Hesse, enjoys an excellent international reputation. This is evident in the numerous prominent entries from both home and abroad in the Golden Book, a testament to the city's prestige.
Dr. h.c. Johannes Rau had a rich political life, primarily active in North Rhine-Westphalia. He served as the Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia before becoming the Federal President. His political career was marked by education reform and social democratic leadership at the state and national levels.
Despite his significant influence in North Rhine-Westphalia and Germany as a whole, Rau's connection to Wiesbaden remains primarily associated with his visits and inscriptions in the Golden Book. His visits to Wiesbaden in 1993 and 1999 underscored the city's importance and its excellent international reputation.
Sadly, Dr. h.c. Johannes Rau passed away in Berlin on January 27, 2006. His legacy continues to live on, particularly in the memories of those who had the privilege of meeting him and in the pages of the Golden Book of the city of Wiesbaden.
[1] Wikipedia: Johannes Rau [2] Golden Book of the City of Wiesbaden [3] Wiesbaden Tourism [4] German Federal President
[1] The policy-and-legislation journey of Dr. h.c. Johannes Rau, as the Federal President of Germany, was marked by education reform and social democratic leadership, influencing North Rhine-Westphalia and the nation.
[2] In politics, Dr. h.c. Johannes Rau's general-news worth connection to Wiesbaden is preserved in the Golden Book, serving as a symbol of the city's prestige and international reputation.
