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He was the most colorful politician in post-war German history.
For some he was the "Saint Franz Josef", for others he was a dangerous and corrupt brute politician.
If there was one politician who polarized opinion, it was Franz Josef Strauß.
October 3, 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of the death of Bavarian Minister President Franz Josef Strauß.
Together with ZDF, authors Sebastian Dehnhardt and Manfred Oldenburg take a look behind the facade of this highly intelligent, rhetorically brilliant, but also highly controversial politician and visionary.
Who was Strauß?
What drove him?
And why was he never able to achieve his goal of becoming chancellor?
Contemporary witnesses from his closest circle of friends and family speak openly about the controversial spirit and ambivalent character.
They shed light on his life, the personal background and the private highs and lows of this exceptional politician and uncover previously unknown aspects of a story that is also a piece of West German history.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 8:15 p.m., ZDF.