 Peyrefitte served as Minister of Information from 1962 to 1966, establishing the rules of presidential debates between the two electoral rounds; and as Minister of Justice from 1977 to 1981, being involved in the affair surrounding the mysterious death of Robert Boulin in 1979.He became a member of the Académie française in 1977.On 15 December 1986, he survived an assassination attempt by members of Action Directe (AD) in front of his house.