In 1952, the Lebanese President Sheikh Bechara El-Khoury handed his resignation from office to the Lebanese Parliament. In such case and according to the Lebanese constitution the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces is to assume the responsibilities of Prime Minister (temporary) with the SOLE objective of creating an environment for the Election of a new President while preventing disorder in the country. At the time, President of Parliament Ahmad al-Assaad (Kamel al-Assaad's Father) asked General Fouad Chehab (Commander in chief of the Armed Forces and temporary Prime Minister after the Resignation of the President) : "General , you now hold the two most important power of authority in the country ; political and military. You seem to have gained a popular support with your known patriotic personality as well as your known beliefs on equality and unity among all Lebanese. Why don't you run for president ????" General Chehab's reply was:" As a Soldier, my job is to defend my country & my people, as a Commander of the Armed Forces, my job is to build, improve and lead this Army into a modern military institution as well as guarantee the citizen's safety & security, as a Temporary Prime Minister (although I resent the Post because I am not a politician) my job now is to prepare the environment for the Elections of a new President, preserve the Country's Legal Institutions and make sure the democratic process is going as per the will of the people. That's what is written in the Book (the Constitution), that, is the task which I will undertake, I will not go for anything more & I will not accept anything less."
The elections in 1952 took place, Camille Chamoun was elected President.