NICOLAE CEAUSESCU

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91B00135R000601030022-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 27, 2008
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: September 20, 1982
• Content Type: BIO

Approved For Release 2008/05/27 :CIA-RDP91 B00135R000601030022-9 ~~ ~~ 25X1
3~-~~3
Nicolae CEAUSESCU ROMANIA
President; Secretary General,
Romanian Communist Parry
Addressed as:
Mr. President
The preeminent political figure in Romania,
Nicolae Ceausescu has dominated the country
since he became Secretary General of the
Romanian Communist Party in 1965. Since then
he has gathered the remaining reins .of
institutionalized power within his grasp, becoming
Chairman of the State Council (Chief of State) in
1967, Chairman of the Defense Council and
Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces in
1969, and President of the country in 1974. The
most autocratic leader in the Warsaw Pact, Ceausescu has a highly personalized ruling style
characterized by a growing "cult of personality." He maintains control of the party and
state structures by moving officials from job to job to prevent them from building
independent power bases.
An ardent nationalist, Ceausescu has had some success iri extricating Romania from
Soviet hegemony. He has adopted semi-independent positions on international issues and has
expanded his country's relations with non-Communist countries around the world, including
the United States. Ceausescu is sensitive; however, to what he perceives as US interference
in Romania's internal affairs, particularly in the area. of human rights.
Ceausescu, 64, is shrewd and fast thinking.
lHe does not speak English.
Ceausescu's wife, Elena, holds mayor party an state positions and is considered by most
Western observers to be second in power in Romania only to her husband..
CR M 82-15314
20 September 1982
Approved For Release 2008/05/27 :CIA-RDP91 B00135R000601030022-9
25X1
25X6
25X1
25X6
25X1