Duclos, Jacques

Duclos, Jacques zhäk düklōˈ [key], 1896–1975, French Communist party leader. Early in his career he joined the French Communist party and in 1931 became party secretary and a member of the political bureau. He served (1926–32, 1936–40) in the chamber of deputies and was (1936–39) its vice president. In World War II he helped organize French resistance during the German occupation and was a principal architect of the Paris uprising of 1944. After the war he served (1945–58) in the national assembly (formerly the chamber of deputies) and was (1946–52) its vice president. Elected senator in 1959, Duclos ran for president in 1969 and won 21% of the vote.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: French History: Biographies