Research topic: Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev

Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev , 1906-82, Soviet leader. He joined (1931) the Communist party and rose steadily in its hierarchy. In 1952 he became a secretary of the party's central committee. After suffering a slight political setback following Joseph Stalin 's death (1953), Brezhnev filled a number of party posts. In 1957, as protégé of Nikita Khrushchev , he became a member of the presidium (later politburo) of the central committee. He was (1960-64) chairman of the presidium of the Supreme Soviet, or titular head of state. Following Nikita Khrushchev's fall from power in 1964,... Read more