Prime Minister of Sweden. He served for two different terms as the Prime Minister of Sweden; the first was from October 14, 1969 to October 8, 1976 and the second from October 8, 1982 to February 28, 1986. Prior to becoming prime minister, he studied at Kenyon College, Ohio, in the United States, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1948. He earned a law degree from Stockholm University in 1951. He became a member of the Swedish Social Democratic Workers' Party. He became Prime Minister Tage Erlander's personal secretary in 1953 and entered the Swedish Parliament in 1958. In 1963 he became a minister without portfolio and in 1965 he was assigned minister of communication. In 1967 he was made minister of education and ecclesiastical affairs. He then succeeded Erlander as party secretary and as prime minister. The 1976 general election resulted in the defeat of the Social Democrats after 44 years in power. Between terms in office he continued to be active in his party. He served as president of the Nordic Council from 1979 to 1980 and chaired the Independent Commission on Disarmament and Security in Geneva. He acted as United Nations special envoy to mediate in the war between Iran and Iraq. He is best remembered for being a pacifist and accepting draft dodgers from the United States during the Vietnam War. His criticism of the United States bombing of Hanoi in 1972 resulted in a temporary freeze in Sweden–United States relations. He also pushed for a vote that passed in 1980 to remove all nuclear reactors in Sweden. He was assassinated by a lone gunman in 1986, becoming the first national leader in Sweden since Gustav III in 1792 to be killed in office.
Prime Minister of Sweden. He served for two different terms as the Prime Minister of Sweden; the first was from October 14, 1969 to October 8, 1976 and the second from October 8, 1982 to February 28, 1986. Prior to becoming prime minister, he studied at Kenyon College, Ohio, in the United States, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1948. He earned a law degree from Stockholm University in 1951. He became a member of the Swedish Social Democratic Workers' Party. He became Prime Minister Tage Erlander's personal secretary in 1953 and entered the Swedish Parliament in 1958. In 1963 he became a minister without portfolio and in 1965 he was assigned minister of communication. In 1967 he was made minister of education and ecclesiastical affairs. He then succeeded Erlander as party secretary and as prime minister. The 1976 general election resulted in the defeat of the Social Democrats after 44 years in power. Between terms in office he continued to be active in his party. He served as president of the Nordic Council from 1979 to 1980 and chaired the Independent Commission on Disarmament and Security in Geneva. He acted as United Nations special envoy to mediate in the war between Iran and Iraq. He is best remembered for being a pacifist and accepting draft dodgers from the United States during the Vietnam War. His criticism of the United States bombing of Hanoi in 1972 resulted in a temporary freeze in Sweden–United States relations. He also pushed for a vote that passed in 1980 to remove all nuclear reactors in Sweden. He was assassinated by a lone gunman in 1986, becoming the first national leader in Sweden since Gustav III in 1792 to be killed in office.
Bio by: letemrip
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