The president must provide guidance in times of uncertainty, must carve paths through the thicket of our days. This is exactly what Richard von Weizsäcker did. His view of humanity and his worldview are rooted in a deeper dimension than is usually the case with politicians, and this is likely why he was accepted by all. The office of the Federal President was tailor-made for Richard von Weizsäcker, and even "out of office," he has remained a political and moral authority to this day. Like few other politicians, he understood how to take a comprehensive view of German society, to outline the strengths and weaknesses of West German democracy, and at the same time to consistently act in an integrative manner. Gunter Hofmann, long-time chief correspondent of the weekly newspaper "Die ZEIT," explores his life.