Heuss, Theodor (1884–1963), the first president of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany). He was a leading figure in the constitutional assembly that established the republic in 1949. Later that year, Heuss was elected president. He was reelected in 1954 and retired in 1959. Heuss was an editor and professor before serving in the Reichstag (German parliament), 1924–28 and 1930–33.