Alexander Dubcek

Born on November 27, 1921 in Czechoslovakia Alexander Dubcek was a politician and leader of Czechoslovakia form 1968 to 1969. He introduced reforms to the communist regime during Prague Spring or a non-violent uprising. After the government as overthrown in 1989 he became Chairman of the Federal Czech-Slovak parliament. Dubcek received the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
Dubcek joined the Communist Party of Slovakia and rose through positions in Communist Czechoslovakia. Dubcek was appointed as a member of the National Assembly from 1951 to 1955. In 1958 he joined the Central Committee of the Communist Party and served as its secretary from 1960 to 1962.
The Czechoslovak economy in the 1960s was in dire straits and destalinization program caused further anxiety. In 1968, after intervention from Leonid Brezhnev, Dubcek became the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. During Prague Spring Dubcek attempted to loosen the Communist regime and create "socialism with a face." This relaxed the grip on the country by allowing greater freedom of expression and tolerating social organizations not under Communist Control. In August of 1968 Warsaw Pact militaries moved into Czechoslovakia and gained control of the Central Committee's office block arresting Dubcek. Dubcek urged the people not to resist. Ultimately Czech acceded to Soviet demands and signed the Moscow protocols.
After his ouster from the Party, Dubcek worked in the Forestry Service in Slovakia. He stay popular among the Slovaks and Czechs as he attempted to find materials for the workplace. In 1989 the entire leadership of the Communist Party resigned and ended Communist rule in Czechoslovakia. Dubcek was elected Chairman of the Federal Assembly in 1989 and reelected in 1990 and 1992.
Dubcek died on November 7, 1992 due to injuries sustained in a car crash.