Petrus Jozef Sietse "Piet" de Jong was a Dutch politician and naval officer who was Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 5 April 1967 to 6 July 1971. He was a member of the Catholic People's Party , which later merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal .
De Jong joined the Royal Netherlands Navy Submarine Service and served on HNLMS O 24 during the Second World War, ending the war as the commanding officer of that vessel. During his service he was awarded the Bronze Cross twice, as well as the Distinguished Service Cross of the United Kingdom. After World War II De Jong continued to serve in the navy, commanding the HNLMS De Zeeuw from 1951 until 1952 and the HNLMS Gelderland from 1958 until 1959. Between his two assignments as commanding officer he served as chief of staff to Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld and aide-de-camp to Queen Juliana.
De Jong served as Undersecretary for the Navy from 1959 until 1963, then Minister of Defence from 1963 until 1967. After the Dutch general election of 1967, De Jong became Prime Minister of the Netherlands and Minister of General Affairs, leading the Cabinet de Jong. Despite his popularity, the Catholic People's Party refused to nominate him as the lijsttrekker for the 1971 general election because of his alleged "conservative image".After his premiership, De Jong remained in active politics and became the Parliamentary leader of the Catholic People's Party in the Senate and a Member of the Senate serving from 1971 until 1974, and finally retired from active politics at the age of fifty-nine. Following the end of his active political career, De Jong occupied numerous seats on supervisory boards in business and industry.
De Jong was known for his dry wit and quick remarks. His abilities as a team leader with perspective and pragmatism were greatly admired. The Cabinet De Jong was the first cabinet after World War II that completed a full term without any internal conflicts. By the time of his death in 2016 at the age of 101, he was the oldest and earliest serving former Prime Minister of the Netherlands and the oldest living state leader.
“As far as I know, pornography is the only working medicine against seasickness.”
In response to a delicate question of a radio reporter, when asked what his thoughts on pornography were.
P.J.S. (Piet) de Jong http://www.parlement.com/9291000/biof/00652 (Parlement & Politiek)
When a tv interviewer told him he was pretty lucky for surviving World War II in a submarine.
Piet de Jong http://profiel.kro.nl/seizoenen/2011/afleveringen/23-03-2011/ (KRO)
“Well, the Belgians aren't a seafaring people, are they?”
In a reaction when a Belgian minister spoke negatively about the libertarian ideas of the Dutch on pornography, following the above quotation.
P.J.S. (Piet) de Jong http://www.parlement.com/9291000/biof/00652 (Parlement & Politiek)
“Majesty, there you see a how a person comes down in the world.”
When he was sworn in as State Secretary, he told Queen Juliana, for whom he had served as aide-de-camp.
P.J.S. (Piet) de Jong http://www.parlement.com/9291000/biof/00652 (Parlement & Politiek)
