While serving as Minister of Finance in the government of France, Caillaux came under bitter attack from his political foes.
The editor of the Le Figaro newspaper, Gaston Calmette, had been a severe critic.
Calmette received a letter belonging to Caillaux that journalistic etiquette at the time dictated should not be published.
The letter seemed to suggest that improprieties had been committed by Caillaux.
In this letter he appeared to admit having orchestrated the rejection of a tax bill while publicly pretending to support its passage.
Calmette published the letter at a time when Caillaux, in his capacity as Minister of Finance, was trying to get a progressive taxation law passed by the French Senate.
The publication of his letter severely tarnished Caillaux's reputation and caused a great political upheaval.
While serving as Minister of Finance in the government of France, Caillaux came under bitter attack from his political foes. The editor of the Le Figaro newspaper, Gaston Calmette, had been a severe critic. Calmette received a letter belonging to Caillaux that journalistic etiquette at the time dictated should not be published. The letter seemed to suggest that improprieties had been committed by Caillaux. In this letter he appeared to admit having orchestrated the rejection of a tax bill while publicly pretending to support its passage. Calmette published the letter at a time when Caillaux, in his capacity as Minister of Finance, was trying to get a progressive taxation law passed by the French Senate. The publication of his letter severely tarnished Caillaux's reputation and caused a great political upheaval.
Henriette Caillaux