Jacobus Johannes Fouché

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Jacobus Johannes ('Jim') Fouché (1898-1980) was the second State President of South Africa, from 1968 to 1975.

Born in the Boer republic of the Orange Free State (which became a British colony in 1902 and a province of the Union of South Africa in 1910), Fouché was a successful farmer. A staunch republican, he was a member of the National Party for many years.

Fouché served as Administrator of the Orange Free State from 1954 to 1959, and was then promoted to the Cabinet, where he served as Minister of Defence from 1959 to 1966 and as Minister of Agricultural Technical Services and Water Affairs from 1966 to 1968. He was elected State President in place of Dr Eben Dönges (who had been elected, but died before he could take office), and served as ceremonial head of state from 1968 to 1975. He was the only State President to serve his full seven-year term of office.

Fouché married Letta McDonald. They had a son.

Preceded by Jozua François Naudé

State President of South Africa 1968–1975

Succeeded by Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs

Presidents of South Africa
1961-1994	ceremonial: Charles Robberts Swart | Jozua François Naudé (acting) | Jacobus Johannes Fouché | Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs | Marais Viljoen (acting) | B.J. Vorster | Marais Viljoen | executive: Pieter Willem Botha | Frederik Willem de Klerk
1994–	Nelson Mandela | Thabo Mbeki