전기
1963 Abitur. Studied education, German language and literature, and politics, earning a doctorate in 1970.
Head of the regional office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in Hanover and head of the domestic department in Bonn-Bad Godesberg. From 1970 to 1978, first personal assistant to the Hessian Minister of the Interior, then head of the Minister's Office. Since May 2006 Chairman of the Board of the Naumann Foundation.
From November 1982 Chairman of the Hesse FDP state association, member of the FDP federal executive committee, from February 1985 Deputy Federal Chairman and June 1995 to May 2001 Federal Chairman of the FDP. Member of the State Parliament of Hesse from December 1978 to November 1982, from October 1983 to April 1987 and April 1991 to November 1994, Chairman of the FDP parliamentary group from October 1983 to April 1987 and from April 1991 to January 1994; April 1987 to April 1991 Minister of Science and Art and at the same time Plenipotentiary of the State of Hesse to the Federal Government, April 1987 to April 1991 Deputy Minister President. 1988 President of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder. Member of the Bundesrat from May 1987 to April 1991. Member of the 8th and 9th Federal Assemblies.
Member of the Bundestag since 1994; 1998 to April 30, 2006 Chairman of the FDP parliamentary group.
