Charles de Gaulle won out over the combined forces of the nation's old-line political parties, practically every newspaper in France, and the bitterly hostile labor unions and farmers' associations. But it was his narrowest victory yet.
He had threatened to quit unless France voted "massive" approval of his plan that future French Presidents be elected by all the people, not just by 80,000 local officials. As the results of the referendum began appearing on TV, interspersed with performances by singers, dancers, even a blonde stripper, it became clear that the nation's approval was not exactly massive. De Gaulle got 62% of...
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