Dr. Theodor Heuss ( 31 January 1884 â `` 12 December 1963 ) was a German politician . He was the first person elected to a regular term as President of the Federal Republic of Germany . Theodor Heuss ( 31 January 1884 -- 12 December 1963 ) was a German politician and served as the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 to 1959 .