Index : P : Politicians & Leaders

Structure Sub-topic of: People Other encyclopedia entries of interest: Government | Interesting Questions, Facts and Information There are a total of 10 general entries. Frequently Asked Questions & Answers There are 15 user-asked question matches ( goto ) Special Topics What Day In History - Politically Speaking Political Cynics Famous Politicians in the 19th Century Who Said It? Quotes from World Leaders, Vol. 2 Who Said It? Quotes from World Leaders, Vol 1 Showbusiness for Ugly People The Years Gone By Sic Semper Tyrannis Dictators, Tyrants And Other Oppressors Who Ruled the Longest? Part 2 Words of Wisdom from or about Politicians No Longer Kingdoms Cicero- The Life of the Best Roman Orator Historical European and North American Rulers Who Ruled the Longest? Part 1 Pharaohs, Tsars, Emperors, Kings and Queens Quotations About War and Politics Quotes From Statesmen And Politicians O Captain, My Captain Man's Inhumanity to Man

Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information

Politicians & Leaders

Who was the longest serving dictator in the 20th century?

You Will Do This Quiz. 20th Century Dictators. (bracklaman)


Kim IL Sung. Kim Il-sung (1912 – 1994) was the leader of North Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death. He held the posts of Prime Minister from 1948 to 1972, and President from 1972 to his death. North Korea officially refers to him as the "Great Leader" and he is designated in the constitution as the country's "Eternal President".



Which failed artist went on to become a dictatorial Chancellor of Germany?

You Will Do This Quiz. 20th Century Dictators. (bracklaman)


Hitler. Hitler was able to take advantage of the scheming and secret agendas of many factions in the German establishment of the day. For instance, Papen and many non-Nazis thought having Hitler as chancellor was to their advantage. Other conservative members of the former aristocratic ruling class desired an end to the republic and a return to an authoritarian government that they thought would restore Germany to glory and bring back their old class privileges. For them, putting Hitler in power was just the first step toward achieving that goal since they thought it was likely he would wreck the republic.



When Joseph Stalin died in 1953 it was global news. Do you know which famous Russian composer also died that day?

You Will Do This Quiz. 20th Century Dictators. (bracklaman)


Prokofiev. Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev (1891 - 1953) was a Russian composer and pianist who came from the Ukraine. Many children have had their first real experience of orchestral music through listening to his musical story ‘Peter and the Wolf’. He also wrote many other great works including symphonies, concertos, piano sonatas, ballets and operas. Prokofiev died of a brain haemorrhage on 5 March 1953. His death was hardly mentioned in the newspapers because the dictator Stalin died on the same day.



This dictator was executed by his much abused people on Christmas Day in 1989. Who was the executed leader?

You Will Do This Quiz. 20th Century Dictators. (bracklaman)


Nicolai Ceausescu. Ceauşescu's regime collapsed after a series of violent events in Timişoara and Bucharest in December 1989.



The year 1943 saw the dictator Juan Peron come to power after a military coup. But in which country?

You Will Do This Quiz. 20th Century Dictators. (bracklaman)


Argentina. Juan Domingo Perón (1895 – 1974) was an Argentine soldier and politician, who came to power after a coup in 1943, but was subsequently elected three times as President of Argentina and serving from 1946 to 1955 and from 1973 to 1974.



The real name of this dictator was Saloth Sar. He was the leader of Cambodia during a time of violent genocide. By what name was he better known?

You Will Do This Quiz. 20th Century Dictators. (bracklaman)


Pol Pot. The death of Pol Pot in April 1998 brought to the end the brutal career of a man responsible for overseeing one of the worst genocides of the 20th century. Between 1975 and 1979, his regime claimed the lives of more than one million people, through execution, starvation and disease.



The Israeli military action in Entebbe in 1976 severely embarrassed and annoyed this dictator, who had been providing aid for the hijackers concerned. Who was he?

You Will Do This Quiz. 20th Century Dictators. (bracklaman)


Idi Amin. The Guardian newspaper’s obituary of Idi Amin is worth quoting in part: “While chief of staff of the Ugandan army, under Dr Milton Obote's civilian government, he seized power in 1971. He made himself president, with the rank of field marshal, and after eight years of power left Uganda a legacy of bloodthirsty killings and economic mismanagement.”



Full of the sort of confidence one expects from a dictator this former prime minister of Malawi declared himself ‘President for Life’ in 1971?

You Will Do This Quiz. 20th Century Dictators. (bracklaman)


Dr Hastings Banda. Hastings Kamuzu Banda (1896 – 1997) was the leader of Malawi from 1961 to 1994. His official title was ‘His Excellency the Life President of the Republic of Malaŵi, Ngwazi Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda’. The title Ngwazi means ‘great lion’ in Chicheŵa.



Fidel Castro became leader of Cuba in 1959. Whom had he overthrown to become the new dictator of Cuba?

You Will Do This Quiz. 20th Century Dictators. (bracklaman)


Batista. Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born August 13, 1926) led the revolution overthrowing Fulgencio Batista in 1959, and shortly after was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Cuba. He later became First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba in 1965, and led the transformation of Cuba into a one-party socialist republic. In 1976, he became president of the Council of State as well as of the Council of Ministers.



Another military leader General Than Shwe became dictator of which country in 1991?

You Will Do This Quiz. 20th Century Dictators. (bracklaman)


Myanmar. Senior General Than Shwe became the head of the ruling junta and took to controlling the army. After working in the Burmese postal service, Than Shwe joined the army at the age of 20, and his career included a stint in the department of psychological warfare. In 1992, he became acting head of state of Burma, and was initially seen as more relaxed than his predecessor, General Saw Maung. Some political prisoners were released, and human rights groups were allowed to visit Burma. In 2003, he oversaw the re-arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi.

• Who wrote or said, "Politicians are all the same. They promise a bridge even when there is no river?" ( goto )



• According to an international report, which country is believed to have the least corrupt politicians? ( goto )



• In order, who were all the Russian leaders in the 20th century? ( goto )



• Whose excuse for not meeting Soviet leaders was, "They kept dying on me"? ( goto )



• What confederate leaders were executed by the union after the civil war? ( goto )



• Who are the leaders of the Welsh assembly, the northern ireland assembly and the scottish parliament? ( goto )



• How many leaders did the Soviet Union have, please include their names? ( goto )



• When was the hotline set up between the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union? ( goto )



• The writers of "Gilmore Girls" like to reference a lot of things: movies, pop stars, politicians, etc. What are some of the things they've actually referenced at least twice? ( goto )



• Which current president was previously a naval captain? Do any other current world leaders have interesting former professions? ( goto )



• Hundreds of thousands of protesters have poured into Hong Kong's streets in sweltering heat, demanding China's communist leaders take note of their demand. What was their demand? ( goto )



• What mighty Greek soldier in the Trojan War was struck mad by Athena after he became so enraged that he did not receive the armour of Achilles that he vowed to kill the Greek leaders? ( goto )



• This man invented a word in the 1950s that was meant satirically but has since changed meaning and has been positively touted by modern politicians. He also founded many organisations including one that has been renamed after its magazine. His son is best known for writing a book which sounds like the opposite of Dale Carnegie's bestseller. What is the name of the man, the word, the rebranded organisation and the title of the son's book? ( goto )



• It is a linguistic phenomenon that has been responsible for a number of spelling changes in English words over the centuries, though it does occur in other languages. Since the 1950's, it has occasioned much ridicule and comment in reference to one word, which is now frequently used by English-speaking world leaders. What is it, and what is the word in question? ( goto )



• He was born in 1882 and was one of the main leaders in the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin which led directly to Ireland gaining independance from England. He was one of the patriots arrested and detained by the Crown Forces and was scheduled to be executed. However because of a factor arising from his birth, his life was spared. Who was he, what was the reason his life was spared and what Global Event of the time did the English feel this may affect? ( goto )