born Sept. 23, 1916, Maglie, Italy
died May 9, 1978, near or in Rome
Italian politician and premier of Italy (1963–64, 1964–66, 1966–68, 1974–76, 1976).
A professor of law at the University of Bari, he was elected to the legislature in 1946. He served in several cabinet posts, then became secretary of the Christian Democrat Party (1959–63). As premier of Italy, he included socialists in his coalition governments. In 1976 he became president of the Christian Democrats and remained influential in Italian politics. In 1978 he was kidnapped in Rome by the Red Brigades ; after the government refused to release Red Brigades members on trial in Turin, he was murdered by his captors.