Habib Bourguiba (1903 – 2000)
President of Tunisia from July 25, 1957 until 7 November 1987.
"We have the proof that our disagreement with the U.A.R. is more than a simple misunderstanding."
"Tunisia is always ready to turn the page."
"While I am alive, not a hair on Jewish heads will be touched."
Bourguiba on Gamal Abdel Nasser- "not aware of the danger of Communism. Once the Iron Curtain drops, there is no escape."
"The only Jews who interest us are our fellow citizens."
"I hate colonialism, not the French."
Bourguiba warning the French-"it will mean war."
El Massa from Beirut- "Turn to Cairo, O Habib. Turn to the Arab Republic, to the camp of neutralism and to dignity and sovereignty."
"Yes, I am Western, and I will remain so."
"pretext that paralyzes our activity.
Bourguiba quoting the Prophet Muhammed - "Break the fast, and you will be stronger to confront the enemy."
"Today I am the President of the Republic, but I will be the first to join the Maquis."
"You are wrong. The state and its existence are essential before everything else. All this preoccupation with liberty is not serious."
"Bourguiba is terribly awkward, but he said what most of us believe. The Egyptians take millions from the Communists and have the nerve to call us lackeys for accepting a penny from America."
"a dangerous maniac who actually thinks he might become a figure in world affairs."-French Resident General
"I have promised the Tunisian people that the French army will go, If I fail, I will be swept away."
Interim Premier of Tunisia Tahar ben Amar-"I did not want to be Premier in the first place. I only accepted because Bourguiba pleaded with me to accept."
"Basically and profoundly, we are with the West."
"At the moment of a revolution there is no question of setting up a democracy like that in America. If they accuse me of dictatorship, I accept. I am creating a nation. Liberty must be suppressed until the end of the war in Algeria—until the nation becomes homogeneous."
"humiliating backward condition of our country."