First minister of Air in the French government (1933), he helped found Air France and he structured the French Air Force. He was thus minister of Air or of other departments in successive governments till 1938.He was in favor of helping the Spanish republicans during their civil war and against the Munich Agreement of 1938. After the 1940 defeat, he had discussions with
Charles de Gaulle in London but went instead to the United States where he met with
Franklin D. Roosevelt. He became university professor and member of 'France Forever'.
