Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr

Role / Field:

Iraqi military officer and politician who served as the fourth President of Iraq (1968–1979).

Born:

1914-07-01

Died:

1982-10-04

Century / Era:

1914s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr (1 July 1914 – 4 October 1982) was an Iraqi military officer and politician who served as the fourth president of Iraq from 1968 to 1979. He was a leading member of the revolutionary Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party and later the Baghdad-based Ba'ath Party and its regional organisation Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region (the Ba'ath Party's Iraqi branch), which espoused Ba'athism, a mix of Arab nationalism and Arab socialism. Al-Bakr first rose to prominence after the 14 July Revolution, which overthrew the monarchy. In the newly established government, he was involved in improving Iraqi–Soviet relations. In 1959 al-Bakr was forced to resign from the Iraqi military; the then Iraqi government accused him of anti-government activities.

Career & Major Achievements

Following his forced retirement, he became the chairman of the Ba'ath Party's Iraqi branch's Military Bureau. Through this office he recruited members to the Ba'athist cause through patronage and cronyism. Prime Minister Abd al-Karim Qasim was overthrown in the Ramadan Revolution (8 February); al-Bakr was appointed prime minister, and later, Vice President of Iraq in a Ba'ath-Nasserist coalition government. The government lasted for less than a year, and was ousted in November 1963. Al-Bakr and the party then pursued underground activities and became vocal critics of the government.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

During this period, al-Bakr was elected the Ba'ath Party's Iraqi branch's Secretary General (the head), and appointed his cousin, Saddam Hussein, the party cell's deputy leader. Al-Bakr and the Ba'ath Party regained power in the coup of 1968, later called the 17 July Revolution. In the coup's aftermath, he was elected the chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council and the president; he was later appointed the prime minister. Saddam, the Ba'ath Party's deputy, became the deputy chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council and vice president, and was responsible for Iraq's security services. Under al-Bakr's rule, Iraq grew economically due to high international oil prices, which strengthened its position in the Arab world and increased Iraqis' standard of living.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1914 (1914-07-01): Birth of Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr — Iraqi military officer and politician who served as the fourth President of Iraq (1968–1979).
2. 1959: 1959 Milestone — In 1959 al-Bakr was forced to resign from the Iraqi military; the then Iraqi government accused him of anti-government activities.
3. 1963: 1963 Milestone — The government lasted for less than a year, and was ousted in November 1963.
4. 1968: 1968 Milestone — Al-Bakr and the Ba'ath Party regained power in the coup of 1968, later called the 17 July Revolution.
5. 1982 (1982-10-04): Passing & Historical Legacy — Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr passed away on 1982-10-04, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr

True or False: “Did Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr's initial involvement in the 14 July Revolution lead to his immediate and sustained tenure as a top political leader?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Although he was a key player in the 14 July Revolution, he was forced to resign from the military in 1959 due to accusations of anti-government activities.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr