Hussein: Two Decades of Power

Iraq’s President Saddam Hussein has been head of state for 10 years and has wielded de facto power for more than twice that long, pursuing his twin goals of socialism and pan-Arab nationalism.

Saddam Hussein Tikriti--his last name is seldom used--was born to a peasant family in 1937 in the village of Tikrit. At school, he became active with the anti-monarchist Arab Baath Socialist Party. In later years he was often on the run or in prison.

In 1968, the Baath militia ousted a military regime and installed Ahmed Hassan Bakr as president. Although second in command, Hussein held the reins of power. When Bakr resigned in 1979, Hussein became not only president but also prime minister, military chief, chairman of the ruling Revolutionary Command Council and head of the party. Hussein’s government has often been faced with subversion and coup attempts and has responded harshly. A wave of executions in 1973 caused Amnesty International to label Iraq one of the world’s worst violators of rights.

Under Hussein, Iraq has wavered between East and West, eager for Western technology but ideologically aligned with the Soviets.

His presidency has been marked by a carefully orchestrated personality cult, with his portrait visible almost everywhere. He has been married since 1963 to a first cousin, Sajida, and has two sons and two daughters.