The third
President of Iceland was no conventional political figure. Indeed, he wasn’t
really a politician at all, although he proved to be a great statesperson as
the country’s head of state for twelve years. An archaeologist by profession,
he came to office on a wave of public support after hosting a television
program on one of Icelanders’ favourite topics – their own rich heritage.
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| Dr. Kristján Eldjárn President of Iceland 1968-1980 |
In 1945, he
became assistant to the director of the National Museum of Iceland, then a two-man
operation, and, two years later, he became director, a position he held until
he was elected President of Iceland in 1968. He published four books and
several major essays on cultural and historical topics.
From 1966 to
1968, he hosted a series of television programs on Iceland’s cultural heritage
for RÚV, the country’s public broadcaster, in which he showed artifacts from
the museum while setting them in their larger cultural and historical context.
The show became an unlikely hit with television audiences and catapulted him to
public attention.
With the
retirement of Ásgeir Ásgeirsson, Iceland’s second president, Kristján was
encouraged to enter the 1968 presidential race. He faced Gunnar Thoroddsen, a
conservative with a lengthy political resumé. It was an uphill battle, but
Kristján was elected with 65.6% of the vote. His victory was seen as an
indication of Icelanders’ desire to have a president who stood above the fray
of everyday politics. He was re-elected without opposition in 1972 and 1976.
The President of
Iceland occupies a largely ceremonial role, akin to the Governor General of
Canada, and Kristján ran a non-partisan campaign, although he was seen as the
candidate on the left. However, he enjoyed support from across the political
spectrum. Before being elected, he questioned Iceland’s participation in NATO
and opposed the United States military base at Keflavík, primarily out of
concern for Icelandic sovereignty and culture.
Like
presidents before and since, Kristján was a source of continuity and stability.
During his twelve years in office, there were six different prime ministers and
seven different governing coalitions. The diplomacy required to ensure the
continuity of government sometimes demanded the wisdom of Solomon. Less than
half a year before the end of his final term, during a tumultuous period in
Alþingi, the president summoned the man he had defeated in 1968, Gunnar
Thoroddsen, and gave him a mandate to form a government with a minority faction
from his own party in partnership with two other parties.
Following
his retirement from the presidency, Kristján Eldjarn was named professor in
the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Iceland. Although he would serve
without salary, this special research position was designed to honour him for
his scholarly achievements and international reputation as an archaeologist,
while giving him a platform for resuming his scholarly interests. Sadly, the
retired president had little time to enjoy this new position, since he died
unexpectedly in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 14, 1982, following heart surgery.
He was 65.
Ironically,
just five years after his death, the presidential residence at Bessastaðir
proved to be a treasure trove of archaeological artifacts. While the mansion
was being restored, the ground underneath it was excavated and objects that had
lain undisturbed for centuries were discovered.
Kristján
Eldjárn’s personal bearing was described as “akin to the Svarfdalur mountains,
which nowhere move if the wind is blowing” He inspired confidence in Icelandic
culture and trust in the nation’s institutions. As president, he was widely
respected at home and abroad for his statesmanlike and dignified leadership.
A more detailed version of this biographical sketch appears
in the
December 15, 2016, issue of Lögberg-Heimskringla.
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