Heinz Kühn

Heinz Kühn is the namesake of our foundation. He was a committed journalist and a visionary politician. As Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, he significantly shaped the political landscape through his social reforms and his dedication to justice. In addition, as the first Federal Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, he provided important impetus for a modern and forward-looking integration policy.

Early Life

Heinz Kühn was born on February 18, 1912, in Cologne. Raised in poverty, he joined the Socialist Workers’ Youth at age 16 and eventually joined the SPD at 18. After graduating from high school in 1931, he completed an internship at the “Rheinische Zeitung” while simultaneously studying economics and political science.

After the National Socialists seized power, he was forced to flee into exile—first to the Saarland, which was under League of Nations mandate, and later to Belgium and Czechoslovakia. Kühn, who had been active in opposing Nazi rule during his exile, returned to Cologne in 1945. There he became foreign affairs editor and later editor-in-chief of the re-established "Rheinische Zeitung.”

From the State Parliament to the Bundestag and back

Kühn gave up his career in journalism to enter politics: in 1948, he was elected to the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament and moved to the Bundestag in 1953–54. Following a dispute within the SPD, Kühn ran as a compromise candidate for the office of Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia in 1962—and achieved his party’s best result to date. Four years later, in 1966, Kühn finally became Minister-President. Through his leadership qualities and rhetorical skills, he gave the SPD the necessary boost to become the strongest party in North Rhine-Westphalia. His progressive social-liberal coalition of the SPD and FDP became known as the “Düsseldorf Model” and served as a model for the federal coalition starting in 1969. He contributed to numerous educational reforms and a comprehensive municipal reform, and shaped the nascent structural transformation in the Ruhr region. He resigned from office in 1978.

Later Years

His resignation did not mark the end of his political career: the following year, Kühn was appointed the first Federal Commissioner for Foreigners’ Affairs and became a member of the first directly elected European Parliament. He also served as chairman of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation from 1983 till 1987. Due to health problems, Kühn retired from politics in 1987–88 and died at the age of 80 on March 12, 1992, in Cologne.

In recognition of his outstanding achievements, Heinz Kühn was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany with Star and Sash and the Grand Cross. France honored him by appointing him an Officer of the French Legion of Honor.

Through its work, the foundation continues the life’s work of its namesake.