Under their leadership, West Germany pursued a course of rapprochement and détente with the Soviet block and officially recognized the existence of the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

This policy caused a massive public debate, with various Free and Social Democrats switching sides to the opposition.

The parliamentary stalemate was ended by the dissolution of parliament and early elections in 1972, which brought great gains for the Social Democrats and enabled the coalition to continue.

On 7 May 1974, Brandt resigned as chancellor after one of his aides, Günter Guillaume, was arrested as a spy for the East German state.

[citation needed] Scheel was elected President of West Germany, a week after relinquishing his other government roles.

At the funeral of Hanns Martin Schleyer in October 1977, Scheel gave a speech entitled shame.

[8][9][10] Having lived to 97 years, 47 days he holds the record as the longest-lived German head of state, either imperial or elected.