Graduated in law, he entered the Judiciary in 1942 and during the underground Resistance period he assisted anti-Fascists and their families who had been imprisoned and persecuted. After 1945 he became the Public Prosecutor at the Special Court of Assizes of Novara and Alessandria (Italy). Secretary, and then Deputy Chairman, of the Parliamentary Group and Member of the National Council of the Christian Democratic Party, he was also under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security; under Secretary at the Ministry of Justice; Chairman of the Second Chamber of Deputies; Undersecretary for Home Affairs; Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of Enquiry into the Mafia, from which he resigned shortly afterwards; Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation; Minister of Education; Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies (1975-1983). Elected President of the Republic in 1992, he resigned in 1999. He is Senator of the Italian Republic.