Nikolai Viktorovich Podgorny was a Soviet statesman who served as the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, the head of state of the Soviet Union, from 1965 to 1977.
Podgorny in 1963
Nikolai Podgorny (second from left) at East Germany's 6th Party Conference with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev (second from right) in 1963.
Podgorny's official portrait as head of state of the Soviet Union, c. 1960s–1970s
Podgorny visiting Tampere, Finland in 1969.
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet was the standing body of the highest body of state authority in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The presidium was elected by joint session of both houses of the Supreme Soviet to act on its behalf while the Supreme Soviet was not in session. By the 1936 and 1977 Soviet Constitution, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet served as the collective head of state of the USSR. In all its activities, the Presidium was accountable to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
Image: Калинин М. И. (1920)
Image: Николай Михайлович Шверник
Image: Russische oud president Worosjilow uit de gratie, Bestanddeelnr 913 1533 (cropped)
