| | Johannes Rau - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
 | | In 1987 Rau tried to become chancellor of Germany for the SPD, but his refusal to contemplate forming a coalition with the Green Party meant he could not win the elections against Helmut Kohl's Christian Democrats (CDU). |
 | | In 1994 Rau tried for the first time to become Federal President, but lost to Roman Herzog. |
 | | In 1998 Rau stepped down from his positions as SPD Chairman and Minister President, and on May 23, 1999, was elected Federal President by the Federal Assembly of Germany to succeed Roman Herzog (CDU). |
| en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Johannes_Rau (750 words) |