A devout Catholic, he was an early follower of Albert de Mun and social Christianity.

Wounded in the First World War, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies from the Basses-Pyrénées as a Christian Democrat (PDP) from 1924 to 1934.

In 1940, he was among the 80 parliamentarians who refused to give Pétain full powers (see The Vichy 80) and served in the Combat resistance movement.

[3] Upon his return, he was elected President of the Council of the Republic (now known as the French Senate) by the benefit of age.

His health prevented him from assuming his role as President of the Council and he died in office.