Witness History Birth of the G7
6 snips
Nov 11, 2025 
Jean-Pierre Fourcade, a former French finance minister and key figure at the 1975 Rambouillet summit, shares his firsthand experiences of this pivotal meeting that birthed the G7. He explains the backdrop of the economic crises that necessitated such a gathering and the informal atmosphere that allowed for candid discussions among world leaders. Fourcade delves into how national interests influenced the talks and evaluates the summit's legacy, emphasizing its role in fostering international cooperation amidst economic turmoil.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Birth Of Rambouillet Over Breakfast
- Jean-Pierre Fourcade recalls Rambouillet's setting and origins as a summit idea born over breakfast at Chancellor Schmidt's home.
- He describes being present when the plan for the 1975 conference was formed with British and German counterparts to tackle the oil crisis.
Informal Chateau Talks And Tight Security
- Fourcade describes the informal, secluded nature of Rambouillet with leaders attending mass then moving to the chateau for private talks.
- He recalls the heavy security, helicopters, and that discussions continued even through lunch in a deliberately relaxed atmosphere.
Crisis Of The Global Economic System
- Helmut Schmidt framed the problem as a crisis of the global economic system, not of capitalism alone.
- That perspective pushed leaders to seek cooperative systems across nations rather than isolated national fixes.
