His philosophy teacher wasAdelchi Baratono, areformist socialist who contributed to his approach to socialism and probably introduced him to the inner circles of theLigurian labour movements. Pertini obtained a law degree from theUniversity of Genoa.
Aged 19 when Italy enteredWorld War I on the side of theTriple Entente, Pertini opposed the war, but nonetheless enlisted in the army where he served as alieutenant and was decorated for bravery. After the armistice in 1918, he joined theUnitary Socialist Party, PSU, then he settled inFlorence where he also graduated inpolitical science with a thesis entitledLa Cooperazione ("Cooperation"; 1924). While in the city, Pertini also came into contact with people such asGaetano Salvemini, the brothersCarlo andNello Rosselli, andErnesto Rossi. Pertini was physically beaten by Fascistsquads on several occasions, but never lost faith in his ideals.
"To the most perfect dictatorship, I will always prefer an imperfect democracy.". (Original: "Alla più perfetta delle dittature preferirò sempre la più imperfetta delle democrazie.".)[4]
After the assassination of PSU leaderGiacomo Matteotti by Fascists in 1924, Pertini became even more committed to the struggle against thetotalitarian regime. In 1926, he was sentenced tointernment but managed to go into hiding. Later, together withCarlo Rosselli andFerruccio Parri, he organized and accompanied the escape to France ofFilippo Turati, who was the most prominent figure of the PSU. Pertini remained in the country until 1926 working as a mason. According to the Italian historian of FreemasonryAldo Alessandro Mola, during that period Pertini had relationships with exponents of theGrand Orient of Italy who were in exile in France.[5] This hypothesis seems unsupported by known documents from archives. On his return to Italy, he was arrested inPisa, tried, and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment.
In spite of his intransigent attitude toward theItalian Communist Party, Pertini was suspicious of many policies enforced by the PSI. He criticized all forms ofcolonialism, as well as corruption in the Italian state and within the Socialist Party, where he kept an independent political position.
President Sandro Pertini in his office atQuirinale palacePertini andPresidentRonald Reagan review troops at Quirinale Palace, 1982
In 1978, the 81-year-old Pertini waselectedPresident of the Italian Republic, the highest office in the nation.[7] Despite his advanced age, he displayed considerable energy and vigour, playing a major role in helping restore the public's faith in the government and institutions of Italy, as well as maintaining an active schedule of travelling and meeting foreign dignitaries. During theBrigate Rosse terrorism period of theAnni di piombo, Pertini openly denounced the violence. He also opposed organized crime in Italy, South African apartheid, Chilean dictatorAugusto Pinochet and other dictatorial regimes, as well as theSoviet invasion of Afghanistan.
In 1985, he stepped down from the presidency, becoming automatically senator for life. The only official role he accepted in his retirement was President of the "Filippo Turati" Foundation for Historical Studies of Florence inaugurated in 1985 and dedicated to recording and preserving the history of the socialist movement in Italy. In December 1988 Pertini was the first person to be awarded theOtto Hahn Peace Medal in Gold by the United Nations Association of Germany (Deutsche Gesellschaft für die Vereinten Nationen, DGVN) in Berlin, "for outstanding services to peace and international understanding, especially for his political ethics and practical humanity". Pertini died in February 1990 at the age of 93 and was mourned across the nation. 2 days of mourning was declared by the Italian government.[8]
Pertini attended the1982 World Cup Final inMadrid for a match betweenItaly andWest Germany just two days after the fourth anniversary of his inauguration. After Italy scored their third goal, he wagged his finger to either the German delegation orKingJuan Carlos I, and said "they [the German team] will not catch us any more".[9] Memorable images from the event are Pertini standing on his chair at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, exulting in the Italian victory, and the card game on the return flight, between the president and three team members (trainer Bearzot and players Causio and Zoff), the world cup trophy next to them on the table.
Paolo Rossi, Italy's and the tournament's top scorer, later said: "I remember that when he welcomed us at thePresidential Palace after our win, he rose and said: 'This is my best day as President.'"[10]
President Sandro Pertini and Pope John Paul II on a secret skiing trip on Mt.Adamello, on 16 June 1984
Sandro Pertini had a close friendship with PopeJohn Paul II, with whom he met often both for official and private occasions, and had frequent phone conversations. In "Accanto a Giovanni Paolo II", he is known to have referred to his mother looking over him in heaven, moved that her atheist son was friends with the Pope.
On 13 May 1981, he went to theGemelli Hospital as soon as he heard that the Popehad been shot, and stayed until late in the night when he was told that the Pope was not in danger anymore. He recalled the event later that year in the annualNew Year's Eve Presidential Address to theItalian People.[11]
Pertini has been mentioned in some verses of several Italian songs, as inSotto la pioggia ("under the rain", 1982) byAntonello Venditti,Babbo Rock ("Daddy Rock", 1982) by theSkiantos,L'Italiano ("The Italian", 1983) byToto Cutugno,Caro Presidente ("Dear President", 1984) byDaniele Shook,Pertini Dance (1984) by theS.C.O.R.T.A.,Pertini Is A Genius, Mirinzini Is Not Famous (2007) by theEx-Otago.[18][19]
^Aldo Mola,Storia della massoneria italiana Dalle origini ai nostri giorni, Milan. Bompiani, 1992, pp. 782-783.OCLC463003899, FRBNF38774140.
^With the ardor of those who drove merchants from the temple, Speaker Pertini ordered to drive away the "whips" from the aisle, accelerating the outcome of the presidential election in 1971 :Buonomo, Giampiero (2015)."Il rugby e l'immortalità del nome".L'Ago e Il Filo. Archived fromthe original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved13 April 2016.
