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Says his brother-in-law, Actor Roger Hanin: "He is preoccupied by two notions: love and death. Not one day goes by without his thinking about death. During the long walks he takes he evokes these two subjects. Without love, he seems to think, man would fall into the deepest neurosis."
Since he surprised most observers by deciding to run for the presidency for the third time last year, Mitterrand has had to devote more of his time to politics. This time, however, his campaign seemed to fit more gracefully into the reflective side of his life. "At his age he is much more philosophical about all this," remarked a campaign adviser.
A lot of coaching and a bit of cosmetic aid have vastly improved Mitterrand's style and appearance. His protruding front teeth have been filed down to make him look less formidable. Following the advice of his image-conscious advisers, he scrapped his proletarian corduroy and tweed sports jackets for more "presidential" gray and navy flannel suits. Prone to catching cold, Mitterrand has not given up his enveloping overcoat and his colorful scarves, but he has substituted camel's hair for loden cloth. Practice in front of a video recorder has helped him overcome a bad blinking problem, which distracted viewers from what he was saying. It has also helped him achieve the relaxed look that is in keeping with his campaign claim to be France's "homme tranquille. " It remains to be seen whether France's new President can maintain his imperturbability in the new era ahead.