When asked by the author why he had left Algiers before de Gaulle came to power, Lacoste explained, "I didn't want to leave in disorder, like Soustelle—so I thought it was much better to go in discretion, and not submit enflamed Algeria to another tearing-apart demonstration like that one…. So, I went quietly—no flags—no music. I left my wife behind to give the impression that I would come back; though I had decided, once and for all, to leave."

Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Alge…, loc. 907