When and where was Urho Kekkonen born?
Urho Kekkonen was born on the 3rd of September 1900 inside a small log cabin called Lepikon torppa in Pielavesi. His family lived modestly but did not suffer from poverty during his childhood years.
Questions about Urho Kekkonen
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What role did Urho Kekkonen play during the Finnish Civil War?
During the Finnish Civil War Urho Kekkonen fought for the White Guard in the Kajaani chapter and participated in battles at Kuopio Varkaus Mouhu and Viipuri. He later admitted to having killed a man in battle while leading mop-up operations including firing squads in Hamina.
How long did Urho Kekkonen serve as President of Finland?
Urho Kekkonen served as President of Finland until his death on the 31st of August 1986 three days before his 86th birthday. He was elected to his fourth and final term by overwhelming margin in 1978 winning 259 out of 300 electoral college votes.
Why did the Soviet Union support Urho Kekkonen's presidency?
Evidence from defectors like Oleg Gordievsky and files from the Soviet archives show that keeping Urho Kekkonen in power was indeed the main objective of the Soviet Union in its relations with Finland. The Soviets viewed him as the only acceptable leader and used diplomatic pressure such as the Night Frost Crisis and Note Crisis to ensure his continued rule.
What health issues affected Urho Kekkonen during his final years?
From December 1980 onwards Urho Kekkonen suffered from an undisclosed disease that appeared to affect his brain functions sometimes leading to delusional thoughts. He also experienced failing eyesight requiring block letters for official papers a failing sense of balance enlargement of the prostate gland violent headaches and diabetes from autumn 1979.