Fouad Chehab

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Lore & Background

Fouad Chehab was born in 1902 in Ghazir, the eldest son of Abdallah Chehab and Badiaa Hbeich, with two younger brothers, Farid and Chakib. He was a member of the Maronite Christian Chehab family, a dynasty that ruled Mount Lebanon under Ottoman rule until 1842. His great-grandfather, Hassan Chehab, was the eldest brother of Bashir Shihab II, who ruled Lebanon between 1789 and 1840. Chehab's father Abdallah tried to immigrate to the United States in 1910 but was last seen in Marseille; it has been speculated that he died while on a ship transporting him there. In 1921, Chehab joined the French Military School in Damascus, Syria, and graduated as a lieutenant in 1923. He was promoted to captain in 1929, headed the Rashaya casern, and later studied at the École Supérieure de Guerre in Paris during the 1930s. He became Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces in 1945, shortly after Lebanon declared independence in 1943 and before the final departure of French troops in 1946. In 1952, Chehab refused to allow the army to interfere in the uprising that forced President Bechara El Khoury to resign. Chehab became Prime Minister in September 1952, holding the additional portfolio of defense minister, and was appointed president with the duty to ensure an emergency democratic presidential election. Four days later, Camille Chamoun was elected. Chehab was again defense minister from 1956 to 1957. During the 1958 crisis, Chehab prevented the army from siding with the government or the opposition, keeping the army unified and limiting losses. He was elected president in 1958 as a consensus candidate. On taking office, Chehab declared, 'The revolution has no winners and no losers.' In 1960, he offered to resign but was persuaded by members of Parliament to remain. On New Year of 1962, he suppressed an attempted coup by the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, which had been infuriated over his associations with the Nasser regime. He strengthened Lebanese intelligence and security services and founded the 'Second Bureau' to prevent foreign interference. Chehab refused to amend the constitution to permit himself a second term and backed Charles Helou, who became the next president. Chehab later became dissatisfied with Helou's presidency over the perceived mishandling of Palestinian guerrilla presence in Southern Lebanon and Helou's maneuvers to pave the way for traditional feudal politicians to regain power. In 1970, Chehab declared that his experience in office had convinced him that the people of his country were not ready to put aside traditional or feudal politics, and chose to endorse his protégé, Elias Sarkis. Sarkis lost the election to Suleiman Frangieh by a single vote in the National Assembly. The election was regarded as a defeat for Chehab and marked the end of the Chehabist reforms and era. The first months of the Frangieh mandate saw the dismantling of the country's intelligence and security services built by Chehab. Chehab died in Beirut in April 1973, at the age of 71, two years before the civil war.

Reader's Guide

Fouad Chehab is widely regarded as a pivotal figure in modern Lebanese history, credited with founding the Lebanese Army and introducing state-building reforms during his presidency. His policy of military neutrality during the 1958 crisis preserved the army's unity and limited casualties, earning him trust across sectarian lines. As president, he pursued a balancing act between Christian and Muslim populations, implementing reforms that created modern administrative institutions. However, his rule was described as autocratic and saw an increase in the role of military and intelligence in politics. His political philosophy, Chehabism, emphasized dialogue, moderation, and public reforms, influencing successors Charles Helou and Élias Serkis. Despite his achievements, Chehab refused to amend the constitution to allow himself a second term and backed Charles Helou as his successor. In 1970, he endorsed Elias Sarkis, who lost the presidential election by a single vote to Suleiman Frangieh, marking the end of the Chehabist reforms. The subsequent dismantling of intelligence services under Frangieh allowed increased foreign interference, contributing to the onset of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975. Chehab remains a respected figure, often called the greatest president of Lebanon by various commentators, though his legacy is complex due to the autocratic aspects of his rule.

Did You Know?

• Chehab's father Abdallah tried to immigrate to the United States in 1910 but was last seen in Marseille; it has been speculated that he died while on a ship transporting him there.
• Chehab's great-grandfather, Hassan Chehab, was the eldest brother of Bashir Shihab II, who ruled Lebanon between 1789 and 1840.
• On taking office as president in 1958, Chehab declared, 'The revolution has no winners and no losers.'
• In 1960, two years into his six-year presidential mandate, Chehab offered to resign but was persuaded by members of the Lebanese Parliament to remain.
• Chehab's protégé Elias Sarkis lost the 1970 presidential election to Suleiman Frangieh by a single vote in the National Assembly.