Nicolae Ceaușescu — Lecturer Dr. Gustav Meisels

Nicolae Ceaușescu — the madman who made his people wretched. Ceaușescu, leader of Romania from 1965 until his overthrow in 1989, is often described as possessing traits associated with psychopathy but with a spark of political genius of a simple peasant. He was known for his ability to manipulate political rivals and maintain control over the Communist Party and the country through fear and intimidation. Consumed by exaggerated self-importance, he initiated grandiose projects that displayed his lust for power and prestige, falsely believing himself to be a visionary leader. Lecturer: Dr. Gustav Meisels — historian, specialist in the Middle East, Islam and linguistics. From an 8-session lecture series: "Genius and Madness." (See the series description on other lectures in the set.)