LEONID BREZHNEV

ACTING

Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev (19 December 1906 – 10 November 1982) was a Soviet politician who led the Soviet Union as General Secretary of the governing Communist Party (1964–1982) and as Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (1960–1964, 1977–1982).

His 18-year term as general secretary was second only to Joseph Stalin's in duration.