French President Jacques Chirac waves to the crowd from his convertible on his way down the Champs Elysees Avenue in Paris, Wednesday May 17, 1995. Chirac took over the presidency earlier Wednesday from Socialist Francois Mitterrand. The Arc de Triomphe is seen in the background. He won the presidency on promises of change for a morose France fed up with soaring joblessness, and was openly fond of the United States. That was Jacques Chirac in 1995. Fast-forward to 2007: Same scenario, same ambition, but this time the star is Nicolas Sarkozy, who replaces Chirac on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)