Jacques Marette

Jacques Henri Marette (21 September 1922 – 25 April 1984) was a French politician who was Minister of Posts and Telecommunications for five years in the 1960s.

[1] In the Spring of 1947 Marette joined the Rassemblement du peuple français (RPF) when it was founded by General Charles de Gaulle.

He became chief of staff to Jacques Baumel, former secretary general of the MLN and now responsible for professional and social action in the Gaullist movement.

[1] When General de Gaulle returned to power, Marette obtained a position from June 1958 to January 1959 as technical adviser to Édouard Ramonet, Minister of Industry and Commerce.

[1] Marette was elected municipal counselor for the 9th sector of Paris in March 1959, and in April 1959 took a seat in the Senate as substitute for Edmond Michelet, who had been appointed Minister of Justice.

Marette ran successfully for election to the Senate for the 17th district of the Seine in November 1962, but resigned his seat to Bernard Rocher so he could remain in the government.

[5] On 24 November 1965 Marette made the first dialed telephone call from France to Britain, where he talked to Tony Benn, his counterpart.