Some Cults of Personality: Part I

#1 A cult of personality is when the state or a political figure uses the mass media, patriotism, or even the arts and culture itself to venerate a political figure to create a public image that becomes a "collective obsession". They will use excessive praise, flattery, and propaganda to shape the idea that this figure should be worshiped for their greatness, whether figuratively or literally. The purpose is normally to control people, convincing them that this individual, whether living or dead, and their values should have unending commitment and respect because they know best. However, such as in democracies, they can also allow for a "greater sense of self-worth" and a sense of belonging among supporters. To differentiate from "celebrity worship", to be on this list the figure must have held some kind of political office.

This list turned out to be larger than expected, and I normally cut the descriptions short after around 50, but didn't for this one because of the content. So I decided to cut this list in half, with this Part going from A-J (organized by first name or "categorization").

Deified Individuals: https://imgur.com/gallery/V2mtxy6

#2 Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
Rule: 2014-Present as President of Egypt
Gist: Sisi is widely considered a military dictator, and believes that Egypt needs to unite behind the Army and Police Force to fight against terrorism (which he tends to call all opposition). He uses his cult to make it so whatever the military does is equated with the common good

About: In 2012, Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood came to power in Egypt after the Arab Spring. He appointed Sisi as his Minister of Defense and Sisi promised to remain on his side as discontent against Morsi's failed government continued. It only took a year for Sisi to betray him, stage a swift coup, and was elected in 2014. After this event, Sisi made it seem like he "rescued" Egypt from "traitorous Islamists". Initially, this was the Muslim Brotherhood, but that eventually became secular and progressive protest movements. His soldiers and police have killed hundreds in the name of defending the country, and when the Brotherhood was mostly gone he saw himself as the embodiment of Egypt's grandeur and its savior. Although considered a mediocre orator and seldom appears in public, Sisi's face is now displayed on large portraits, street banners, blogs, T-shirts, necklaces, and even cupcakes. He was called the "new idol of the Nile valley" in 2013.

#3 Abdul Rashid Dostum
Rule: 1992-1998 as a Warlord over the Afghan Northern Autonomous Zone
Gist: Dostum created a secular proto-state in northern Afghanistan and portrayed himself as a securer of stability and democracy, but at the same time he has been accused of numerous war crimes and swapping sides during Afghanistan's numerous conflicts

About: Termed "one of the best equipped warlords ever", Dostum rebelled against the government when it tried to demobilize the Uzbeks, and the government fell apart shortly after in 1992. Dostum became the de facto ruler of northern Afghanistan as the Uzbeks rallied behind him. While he controlled territory, Dostum was praised because the population was able to live how they wanted, such as women going to schools and music playing on TV; activities which were banned by the Taliban. He promoted the idea that his "passion" would bring stability, democracy, peace, and the rule of law in all of Afghanistan. He was known to erect numerous billboards displaying himself and managed to also garner a rather large personal army; an army known for its ruthlessness, war crimes, human rights abuses, and clashing of allegiances. He was betrayed and exiled by one of his senior commanders in 1997, eventually returning to assist in Operation Enduring Freedom but by that point they were united by defeat not by him.

#4 Adolf Hitler (the guy everyone's staring at)
Rule: 1933-1945 as Chancellor of Nazi Germany
Gist: Hitler advocated for racial supremacy along with government totalitarian control of society, his image reproduced for public venues and private homes, complete military mobilization, and all led by him having unquestionable ultimate authority

About: After World War I, Germany was in shambles and incredibly unstable. Hitler and the Nazi party exploited this ruin by promising order, national unity, a sense of belonging, creating common enemies (EG communists and Jews), and all rallied behind a supreme leader as a source of inspiration. During their rise, Hitler used strong techniques of modern propaganda, controlled public appearances, created compelling visual materials, and used his ability as a fantastic orator to portray himself as a messianic leader brought to redeem Germany. As early as 1921 Hitler wanted the so-called "leader principle" to be the law of the Nazi party. By the time the Nazis came to power, Hitler's portraits and photographs were displayed everywhere and "Heil Hitler" became legally obligatory as a common greeting. Hitler became the Führer (literally "Leader"), and he was portrayed as the living embodiment of the German nation. Idolizing Hitler was required and criticism was grounds for imprisonment in concentration camps.

#5 Al-Assad Family
Rule: 1971-2000 for Hafez al-Assad (pictured on the left); 2000-Present for Bashar al-Assad (pictured on the right) as Presidents of Syria
Gist: The Assad family believes that their wisdom is "beyond the comprehension of the average citizen", and uses security forces (Mukhabarat) to enforce ethnic favoritism of the Alawites

About: Syria suffered through many military coups before Hafez al-Assad seized power. He and his Baath Party promised to restore stability to the country with a firm hand, and introduced severe nepotism. As a consequence, the Muslim Brotherhood, who were Sunnis, declared a sectarian conflict against Hafez, who was an Alawite. The Alwaites are a minority in Syria, so Hafez tried to make it seem like the Assads were a "bulwark" against "militant Islam", and were an "enlightened clan ruling a backward people". He demanded total loyalty, saw himself as much higher than others, had people clap whenever Hafez's name was mentioned, had them flash cards with his face on them, and used security services to deflate army achievements and inflate his own. Hafez died in 2000 and Bashar temporarily ended the martial law. However, by 2007, the posters and portraits of Hafez were replaced with his own, he created a culture of fear, and made it seem like the people need him now and for the foreseeable future.

#6 Alberto Fujimori
Rule: 1990-2000 as President of Peru
Gist: Fujimori took advantage of those who felt marginalized by the old system and "cleaned up" the discredited democratic regime by collapsing it. His ideology was staunchly anti-communist (which Fujimori used as an excuse for the deterioration of civil liberties) and he was at its center

About: Looking for way out of the verge of economic collapse and political violence, Peruvians elected Fujimori in 1990 hoping to challenge the traditional party system. The economic and security challenges resulted in him conducting the "autogolpe", or self-coup, in 1992 and he dissolved Congress. This decision was seen as highly popular because the current institutions were seen as corrupt. He then established a cult around himself, his policies, and his family. He managed to engineer profound changes to the economic system, and his crackdown against the left-wing terrorists cemented him as a "tough talker and ruler". The news media held his image as a "redemption figure" who would guide the country into an "exceptional situation". This allowed people to overlook his increasingly authoritarian rule. Even after his resignation after a bribery scandal, he built several political parties around his personality, with the most recent, led by his daughter, obtaining an absolute majority in Congress in 2016.

#7 Aleksandar Vučić
Rule: 2017-Present as President of Serbia
Gist: Vučić was once an ultranationalist and Russophile, but is now seen as a strongman who has repeatedly used and censored the media to promote his image and attack opponents, elevating himself above the government

About: Vučić was originally the Prime Minister in Serbia and there was increasing concern that he was comparing himself to Josip Tito, and in the process strengthening control over security services, suppressing the media, and even said himself that, under his rule, he accomplished as much as was ever done during Tito's reign. When he became president, the Freedom House reported that Serbia experienced the largest single-year declines in press freedom among all countries and territories. Some commenters have reported that Vučić has used the mass media to make it seem like he gave the country "strength when they were weak". Athletes sometimes just praise Vučić for their own success. Further, his portraits were installed in all state institutions and in all military objects, something that was previously forbidden in the army before he became president. Vučić also used military parades as a demonstration of power and to glorify himself, someone who originally supported the idea of "Greater Serbia".

#8 Alfredo Stroessner
Rule: 1954-1989 as President of Paraguay
Gist: Stroessner created the "constant state of siege", where he obliterated civil liberties, made it so it was required to join his party in order to advance in life, harbored Nazi war criminals, eliminated alleged leftist political threats, and challenging his cult was considered unhealthy

About: When Stroessner was commander of the armed forces, he overthrew the previous president after he planned to arm the national police. This was nothing new; at the time Paraguay was desperately impoverished, had suffered through several wars, and had many dictators since its inception. Stroessner, however, established the longest period of repression in South American history called El Stronato. Although lacking charisma, he ruled through his Colorado Party, which forced government and civilian employees to join it and support him. Schools, airports, and even an entire city was named after him, and his portraits were found everywhere in public buildings and in private homes. An avid supporter in Operation Condor, he was known for his vigorous and ruthless network of informants and police force that would crush dissent before it even started. Although Stroessner made his cult exclusively about himself, one of his generals became concerned about Stroessner's son replacing him and staged a coup.

#9 Álvaro Uribe
Rule: 2002-2010 as President of Colombia
Gist: Uribe created a military-centered government that increasingly grew in power, wealth concentration, and corruption the longer he served as president. Even after failing to give himself a third term, he holds significant support among conservatives and has been called "the president of yesterday, today, and of always"

About: Uribe was known for his remarkably strong hand in dealing with the guerilla groups in the country, where even during his first term the right-wing groups agreed to disarm. His military buildup made people think that only he was capable of ruling the country, calling him the "Great Colombian". Uribe thought this as well, changing the constitution allowing him to run a second term, and at its end he "ruled by opinion not by law". He tried to amend the constitution again to run a third term, but his failure to deal with the Marxist FARC rebels, abuse of power, human rights violations, and family ties to the Medellin Cartel all contributed to the court refusing. However, this led to what some have termed him as the "eternal president", where after leaving office he still holds substantial political power. He even formed a political party centered around himself where his own silhouette is its logo. The current president, who is a member, called him a "unique leader" who "we love", with some expressing concern he's just a puppet.

#10 Andrew Jackson
Rule: 1829-1837 as President of the United States
Gist: Jackson is sometimes seen as one of the first populists, and therefore trying to gain a reputation as a "champion among the common man". His use of his popularity to challenge what he called the "government of elites" has earned some critics terming him the "democratic autocrat"

About: According to coauthors Nancy Isenberg and Andrew Burstein, Jackson, when president, tried to keep his reputation as a "wartime general". In the process, he required subordination and loyalty from those around him. This led to some celebrating him for his "indomitable spirit" and admiring his "vigor and boldness". In addition, philosopher Alexis de Toxqueville said Jackson was heavily opposed to the central government, disrespecting institutions and the law. He instead chose to use his character to gain the favor of the population to "overthrow obstacles" and "trample on his personal enemies". Jackson's attempt to use the public interest to play favorites with the executive over Congress caused some to term Jackson's executive as one of the earliest examples of the "erosion of democracy" in America. Columnist Sally Jenkins states that Jackson had his admirers see him as a supremely gifted leader who preserved the Union, with critics seeing him as a barbaric expansionist who engaged in cronyism and genocide.

#11 Augusto Pinochet
Rule: 1974-1990 as President of Chile
Gist: Pinochet denationalized the economy and implemented extensive economic liberalization, but in the process he implemented brutal authoritarian rule. Despite this, people saw him as the savior of Chile from communism and also as introducing Chile to an "economic miracle"

About: Pinochet staged a US-backed coup against the previous president and socialist, Salvador Allende, because there were fears over a successful "socialist experiment". When he became dictator, he portrayed himself as an excellent statesman and "father figure" who "averted chaos" and built Chile into an "economic powerhouse". He gave himself the rank of Captain-General and styled himself as such. Pinochet built the narrative that it was only he who was the first to free any country from communism. His cult was designed to avoid factionalism, create an incredibly hierarchical army, and make the regime based on personal loyalty to Pinochet instead of ideology. The communist countries were democratizing by 1988, and the Pope called Pinochet's regime harshly "dictatorial", even asking him to step down. Pinochet had little choice but to hold a fair referendum and lost. Even during his trial for human rights violations, demonstrators carried posters and saint-like statuettes of the "Immortal Patriarch".

#12 Benito Mussolini
Rule: 1922-1943 as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy
Gist: Mussolini implemented into the fascist dogma itself that he was an exceptional individual. He then used all aspects of society, such as the visual arts, architecture, political spectacles, and especially the media, to attempt to broadcast to the people at large that he was their new Caesar

About: Mussolini's personality cult was in many respects used as a unifying force of fascism in Italy. Like with Hitler, he called himself the "Leader", or Duce, and the subsequent regime was built around Mussolini. As early as 1919, his followers regarded him has having an exceptional personality, and during his rise Mussolini used extensive propaganda to portray himself in a "macho manner", an expert on all subjects, and the basic slogan proclaimed him as always right. Mussolini’s appearances, whether it be him visiting public works, addressing the public, or his portraits hanging on walls, were all promoted as "magical moments of communion", highly choreographed, and he personally oversaw which photographs could appear. He made sure that people could relate to him in an "extremely intimate way", however unique in his gifts, and that endless publicity revolved around him. When Mussolini was overthrown, an "iconoclastic fury" was unleashed, burning and destroying his monuments and portraits.

#13 Carol II (pictured on the right with Michael I, his son)
Rule: 1930-1940 as King of the Kingdom of Romania
Gist: Carol II promoted a "great savior" image to first counter his negative reputation, but then to counter political threats until he created a dictatorship. During this, he ruled absolutely a single, unifying totalitarian party that ironically became progressively fascist to combat fascist threats

About: Carol was known for being a "playboy king" with an extravagant lifestyle. To counter this image, Carol tried to use the press to cover up his mistakes while at the same time portray himself as a Christ-like being chosen by God to create a new Romania. However, the regime was threatened by ultranationalist factions in the country. When the situation reached the apex in 1938 because the ultranationalists were going to win a majority in Congress, Carol staged a "self-coup", and instituted the "Royal Dictatorship", suspending the Constitution and all civil liberties. Carol hoped that his cult would make him a popular enough monarch to prevent plunging the nation into a civil war. He switched the narrative so that he was on a "noble mission" to "redeem the state" and usurped the government because the political parties were incompetent. He used rallies and military parades, including a new holiday, to glorify himself and his deeds. He was forced to abdicate under pressure from the Axis.

#14 Che Guevara
Rule: 1955-1967 as a Leader of the 26th of July Movement/United Party of the Cuban Socialist Revolution
Gist: In life, Guevara was a violent revolutionary who engaged in several rural guerilla wars. In death, he became a cultural icon and martyred figure, despite executing dozens of political opponents, and his image operates as a universal anti-establishment and/or liberation symbol

About: Guevara was one of the several leaders of the guerilla warfare movement in Cuba. He believed in rallying popular, fast-moving uprisings in rural areas to boost discontent against regimes he believed "fell out of favor" with its citizens. He was successful in Cuba, but tried to spread his paramilitary approach to Bolivia and was captured and executed. In his life, Guevara disliked personal veneration, but when he died and his body was recovered he became martyred. Fidel Castro encouraged, and exploited, a heroic image of Guevara to increase his own support. People protested his execution, wrote poems, songs, and tributes about him, and eulogized him as the "most glamorous" and "most successful revolutionary". Artistic portrayals even have him as a sanctified Christ-like figure. Statues, banners, posters, and his pictures in Cuba remain, including him having his own museum and mausoleum. Worldwide, Che remains a symbol of youthful rebellion and a universally merchandized and objectified image.

#15 Chiang Kai-shek
Rule: 1950-1975 as President of Nationalist China
Gist: After Kai-shek retreated to Taiwan after failing to defeat the communists, he distributed his portrait everywhere, extensively named locations after himself, and had articles and songs glorify him; all to try to transform his image into a mythical one of permanence to reshape the minds of his subjects as he prepared them for an invasion that never came

About: Kai-shek was the highest ranking general, the Generalissimo, in the Chinese army, and managed to reunify China under the new Nationalist government. His prestige in creating essentially a one-party state after purging the communists made him quite popular and the de facto leader of the country. His portrait replaced Sun Yat-sen's at Tiananmen Square after the victory over Japan, and propaganda portrayed him as an exceptional leader who held China together. When the Nationalists were forced to retreat to Taiwan when the Chinese Civil War continued, Kai-shek implemented a period of—at times brutal—martial law along with a deepening personality cult promoted by the central government. The government tried to make his rule appear permanent and unalterable, imagining himself as a father of the nation and the personification of Chinese history and culture, because he believed that he would retake China. Although Taiwan democratized, statues and portraits of him can still be found throughout.

#16 Donald Trump
Rule: 2017-2021 as President of the United States
Gist: Trump managed to monopolize national attention as an object of fascination where he convinced others that he was going to bring the nation to greatness, acted as an everyman, manipulated the media through lies and "fake news", and, to some, legitimately acted as the nation's savior

About: According to staff writer Adam Serwer, Trump had unleashed a propaganda machine that had attempted to sway public opinion to where "loyalty to Trump is loyalty to the country". He used lies and misleading claims in order to preserve his public standing, as well as demanded servile praise from party members lest they draw condemnation from him. He developed a cult where only the highest praise of Trump was acceptable, and criticism of Trump was seen as a grand conspiracy to destroy him. Columnist Zack Wasserman says that Trump expressed an "I alone can fix this" ideology, so when people didn't hear that in the media, they became distrustful. When they heard it, they saw Trump as grand and only he was capable of giving the country national redemption. Columnist Max Boot stressed an aspect of victimhood in the cult, where Trump convinces his supporters that they are being treated unfairly, downtrodden, and are being wronged by forces beyond their control, giving them justification to fight back by any means.

#17 Enver Hoxha (the guy everyone is pretending to laugh with)
Rule: 1941-1985 as First Secretary of the People's Republic of Albania
Gist: Hoxha became the absolute leader of Albania and eliminated every "real or imagined" political opponent. To keep his authority, he isolated Albania and glorified himself as a legendary commander who was building a better Albania and protecting it from the West

About: Hoxha implimented in Albania a totalitarian regime where he oppressed the people and kept them in the dark. He used his regime's brutality to implement a mixed feeling in Albania, where Hoxha had citizens be thankful that they were alive and used the media to convince them that the outside world was "full of starving people". Further, Hoxha's voice was required to be included in textbooks and he was portrayed as a genius on all aspects of life. His accomplishments, like dismantling the feudal system and completely electrifying the country, allowed him to connect with the population and also made him a hero to many. Dozens of statues were erected in his honor during his life and a pyramid-museum was built in his name when he died. Any action that damaged a memorial to such a "brilliant figure of history" was suicide during his life and punishable up to six years in prison after his death. His successor did too little too late to dismantle the cult and the country descended into civil war in 1997.

#18 Ferdinand Marcos
Rule: 1965-1986 as President of the Philippines
Gist: Marcos attempted to color himself as a central figure in Philippine culture as he implemented martial law, with some even worshiping him as a god after his death. He painted political enemies as communists to "save democracy" and "autocratic nostalgia" continues to divide the country

About: Marcos was well-known for his nepotism and corruption, but in order to stay in power he also attempted to implement a system of adulation of his personality. More specifically, he emulated what Mussolini did, displaying himself in a "macho" manner, overemphasizing his achievements in combat, displaying official portraits everywhere, and adding glamor to his popularity whenever he could. When Marcos was reelected in 1969, he faced rising protests from students along with a remerging threat from the Filipino Communist Party. Marcos decided to enact the new "constitutional authoritarianism" and instituted martial law in 1972, effectively becoming dictator. Marcos oversaw a campaign of "red scare" tactics where he convinced the population that he was saving the Philippines from the communists, while at the same time creating myths about himself, and his family, that he was a superhuman legend to be thanked. His Mount Rushmore-like bust was blown up in 2002, yet some still deny his atrocities.

#19 Fidel Castro
Rule: 1965-2011 as First Secretary of Cuba
Gist: At Castro's death he requested a cult of personality not develop, but him using his image to orchestrate the revolutionary ideology and promoting himself as an "ideal revolutionary" proved to leave a lasting effect of him as an infallible leader who should continually be honored and adored

About: Castro used his image as one of socialist revolution, he stated that his image was to be used to communicate a political point and, like Che, he was against the idea of having a cult being built. Castro used his face as visual propaganda and made sure that it became "central", with Che becoming a hero-figure and martyred when he was executed. Castro's dying wish and Cuban law had it so that his image remained ideological and not excessively adored; this didn't work out. At the time of his death, Castro was already seen as a liberator figure who defied the US, and his constant coverage spread across the world. Cuba already had a history of honoring independence leaders, and Castro was now seen as a fallen hero standing out for his "strong leadership". His portrait still remains in various institutions and his image is still used excessively in works of art, despite no naming of public places and no monuments. His personality became more important than the institutions themselves, and he became a glorified icon.

#20 Founding Fathers
Rule: 1789-1825 as Presidents of the United States (George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe)
Gist: While the Founders were building our "mythic democracy" they created a reputation for themselves to be lionized as not only exceptional men, but also unquestionable "high priests", with a legacy recited in pledges and enshrined in almost-sacred texts

About: The "American Civil Religion" is the view that sees American national history and its common set of values as somewhat of a shared religion. Washington was fearful of a presidency becoming too powerful, which is why he refused to have his image on coinage and kept to 2 terms. This was ignored after he died. Historian Catherine L. Albanese says that Washington now is seen as America's national hero, and he became almost like a Moses-like leader, with "The Apotheosis of Washington" in the Capitol's rotunda having him ascend to heaven and become a god. The Founding Fathers came to be seen as prophets and historian Robert D. Linder particularly marks the nation's president as the "national pastor", who the people could call upon in the time of crisis, and he was the one to affirm the American core values. According to columnist Scott Detrow, the Founders' roles in the creation of the country has resulted in "mythical and unimpeachable personas" that people even today look back to with idealism.

#21 Francisco Franco
Rule: 1936-1975 as Caudillo of the Spanish State
Gist: To justify his authoritarian rule, Franco tried to create a profound cultural and economic transformation to form a "unitary national identity", and teach that he was sent by Divine Providence to save the country from chaos, communism, atheism, and poverty

About: After Franco won the Spanish Civil War, he cemented himself as a "superior general" and appointed himself as "Regent for Life". Franco was considered "brilliant" for his combination of right-wing groups, especially when he managed to turn the Falange movement into one less about fascism and more about him. The idea behind this was to diminish Spanish cultural diversity and create a new "Franco Spanish nationalism". He also distorted and manipulated folklore, poems, and writings in order to create an "idealized picture" of their leader as the representation of the people and the nation, censoring all cultural activities. Because he tried to change the culture, he was also known to aggressively target the youth, creating text that included "unyielding adoration" of Franco. Despite not being king, his portrait appeared on Spanish coins, he resided in the royal palace, and he styled himself as Captain-General. His repression loosened overtime and he became more of an "elder statesman" until his death.

#22 Francisco Macías Nguema
Rule: 1968-1979 as President of Equatorial Guinea
Gist: Macías was a possibly psychotic dictator who tried to convince the population that there was no other god than himself, causing nearly half the population to flee, and leaving administrators so fearful of taking action that economic and cultural activity simply ceased

About: When Equatorial Guinea gained its colonial independence, Macías was elected its leader on a strong nationalist platform, promising to rid the country of Spanish influence. Macías destroyed most of the country's institutions, removing any of its potential, and replaced it with a new totalitarian rule centered around what many have termed an "irrational personality" and a dominating political party, ruled by Macías. He terrorized the population as a result of extensive paranoia and called himself the "only miracle" to the country, along with numerous other titles. Party membership was required to advance in life, and people were required to wear uniforms, which included an effigy of Macías placed at the height of the heart to show ultimate love to him. He apparently demanded the "greatest flattery imaginable" to satisfy his megalomania, even trying to convince others that he had supernatural powers, going as far as to collect human skulls. When he tried to kill his family, he was overthrown by his nephew.

#23 François Duvalier
Rule: 1957-1971 as President of Haiti
Gist: Duvalier created a god-like image of himself by practicing the occult and reinstating vodou in Haiti, using his own personal militia to murder political opponents and "shake up" the population to enforce the idea that he was their Baron and they should pay tribute to him

About: Also known as Papa Doc because of his physician profession, when Duvalier was elected president he tried to revive the tradition of vodou because he believed that it could control the masses. He styled himself after Baron Samedi, the loa of the dead, going as far as to adopt a strong nasally tone and dress like him. Further, he claimed that he was not only a vodou priest, but also the physical embodiment of the nation. He used his Tontons Macoutes, the "bogeymen", to kill opponents and by 1964 he declared himself president for life. Duvalier would order spontaneous "demonstrations of affection" and he was announced as the "spiritual father of the nation". To deal with the Catholic population, a popular propaganda image showed Jesus Christ saying that he "chose" Duvalier, along with Haitian children being forced to say mockeries of prayers with "God" replaced with "Doc". Duvalier planned to make his own city, Duvalierville, as a monument to himself, but it was never completed due to Haiti's failed economy.

#24 Franklin D. Roosevelt
Rule: 1933-1945 as President of the United States
Gist: FDR began a "revolutionary presidency" where he became a "voice of the people" and the expounder of public opinion, which some interpret as, for the first time, the president establishing a "direct and coercive relationship between himself and the citizens". In the process, he amassed enormous unilateral authority to make law via executive order

About: An Imperial Presidency is the modern idea that a presidency has exceeded its constitutional limits. FDR served four terms and yet was overwhelmingly popular, with the New York Times ranking him as the third best president of all time overall. According to columnist Kate Zernike, FDR presided over a nation in crisis and used his charisma to inspire others and at the same time create his own version of popular authority. FDR gave people hope, and according to columnist Ron Elving he was seen as a savior of the nation to the point that he became an "idol" of what "greatness" looks like. Propaganda by the state wasn't necessary, and instead he became a "thoroughly repudiated leader" by making politics "personal" and speaking to Americans via the radio. Journalist Gene Healy says that FDR ran a government unrestrained by checks and balances, even attempting to pack the court, because he was the people's "tribune". He became the representation of national thought, and he was irresistible for it.

#25 Gamal Abdel Nasser
Rule: 1956-1970 as President of Egypt
Gist: Nasser had an overriding aim to eliminate foreign domination and regenerate Egyptian national life. His modernization of the country came at the expense of civil liberties, and in the process he became viewed as a charismatic strongman and a symbol of Arab unity and dignity

About: Nasser became president after toppling a monarchy and gaining unchallenged decision-making authority, establishing a single-party system and changing the Constitution. In the process, he made Egypt independent of British influence and also gave Egyptian citizens access to social welfare that was considered unprecedented and a prerequisite to a liberal democracy. His nationalization of state media and ability as a skilled orator made him increasingly cohesive with the public, along with giving people a sense of "national pride" and "personal worth". Most importantly, Nasser ushered in his vision of Arab nationalism and people now associated him as a "symbol of Arab dignity", and he was the one to create a "golden age of culture". To some, Nasser was a symbol of national rebirth as he restored a sense of "self-confidence" to a people after centuries of humiliation, along with inspiring loyalty and devotion. Even after Nasser died, people still try to continue his modernizing mission across the Arab world.

#26 Getúlio Vargas
Rule: 1930-1945; 1951-1954 as President of the Second-Fourth Brazilian Republics
Gist: Vargas used an extensive propaganda network so that his "national savior" image permeated all levels of society, and used populist policies, along with constantly swapping ideologies, to deal with both fascists and communists, earning the title "Father of the Poor"

About: Vargas ruled Brazil through three phases, each becoming more dictatorial than the last. He destroyed Brazil's state system, making it dependent on central authority, and used a failed communist revolution to revoke constitutional guarantees. It ended with his "New State" project where he dissolved Congress. Vargas tried to display himself as a "sacred image" and create a "nationalistic devoutness", where he raised his own moral and personal qualities above others. It was announced, every day, that he was the national savior of the Brazilian people. Vargas orchestrated acts of violence against expressions branded as dangerous to "national interest" as he tried to manage Brazil's culture, and personify himself as a new stage of Brazilian order and progress. Some believe that he legitimately thought this as well, always holding Brazil's wellbeing in mind. Vargas was deposed in a coup after the end of WWII, and chose suicide in his later elected term when he was forced to resign, hoping it would martyr himself.

#27 Gnassingbé Eyadéma (pictured on the left)
Rule: 1967-2005 as President of Togo
Gist: Eyadéma created a centralized, single-party state where he had it so that his every utterance was carried by the media and the people saw him as some superhuman being, ruling through pampering of the army, repression, and a colossal cult

About: Eyadéma installed himself as president after staging a coup against the previous president, who he helped install. What followed was nearly 40 years of what some have described as the "most pervasive personality cult in Africa", coupled with near-totalitarian rule. He created an official biography that described him as a "force of nature" and used a "rule of terror" to create a personality of immense fear, but instead said that it was his "patriotic sacrifices" that earned him the trust of his people. His face was plastered everywhere and portraits were hanged in most stores, along with a bronze statue in the capital city. Eyadéma had people extoll him in song and dance, whether it be through entourages of dancing women or children singing him praises in schools. He was even immortalized in comics as a superhero with invulnerability and superhuman strength. His cult took a quasi-religious status when he survived a plane crash in 1974, lying that he was the sole survivor, even changing his name to remember the day.

#28 Heydar Aliyev
Rule: 1993-2003 as President of Azerbaijan
Gist: Aliyev attempted to create the memory of himself as a genius and the representation of the Azerbaijani people. His son continued the cult, creating countless statues, paintings, films, songs, and books attempting to celebrate Aliyev's "wisdom" and mark his "eternity" as father of the nation

About: Aliyev reinforced a personality cult through intimidation and censorship of the press, typically referring to himself as "father of the nation". He even created a new "National Salvation" holiday to commemorate his taking of power, promising to restore Azerbaijan's territorial integrity after losing it to the Armenians. He presented portraits that appeared everywhere that showed him as a "rejuvenated president", despite the fact he was suffering from congestive heart failure and kidney problems. When he died, his son, Ilham Aliyev, succeeded him and he further expanded upon the cult. Apparently every city has a street named after him, every museum has a room devoted to him, and every major town has a museum devoted exclusively to Aliyev. It is also taught in schools that Aliyev lead Azerbaijan to the "era of peace and prosperity" that it currently enjoys. Azerbaijan and many other countries host Aliyev-named parks or contain Aliyev statues, usually financed by diplomatic missions to keep the cult alive.

#29 Hồ Chí Minh
Rule: 1951-1969 as Chairman of North Vietnam
Gist: Hồ Chí Minh projected himself as the embodiment of the communist vision and both the stern father and "benevolent uncle" of the nation, becoming immortalized as a symbol of the Communist Party's quest for political dominance

About: Hồ Chí Minh created the mechanisms that would ultimately free Vietnam from colonial rule. His name literally means "Hồ, the Bringer of Light", possibly where he saw that he brought enlightenment in the form of communism. His name is therefore seen as a method in creating a "larger than life persona" for himself and his movement, with some saying he created a "political religion". He was not only the leader of the nation, but people see him as its father, calling him "Uncle Hồ", an honorific family title, after he died. The Communist Party continually uses Hồ Chí Minh's image to transform Vietnamese cultural traditions in order to acquaint people with newly formed state entities, where he was glorified, going as far as to be worshiped as an "immortal saint". Not only is a devotion and love for him encouraged, but also the morality that he embodies. Saigon was renamed to Hồ Chí Minh City the day after it was recaptured and criticism of him or pointing out flaws is grounds for being arrested.

#30 Huey Long
Rule: 1932-1935 as Governor of Louisiana
Gist: Long's charismatic leadership and promise to save the masses from their trials led him to being praised as the "Kingfish", but his exercising of extraordinary powers, manipulation of the electoral process, and combatting any alternative ideas besides his own led him to being called a demagogue

About: According to columnist Annika Neklason, Long was known for pursuing an "aggressive" populist agenda by means that have been seen as autocratic and unlawful because of his little show of concern for legislative procedures and norms. However, his restoration of a sense of control and efforts to fight poverty had some overlook his authoritarian tendencies, which resulted in "adoring fans" because he essentially saved them from a desperate situation. Authors J. Michael Hogan and Glen Williams say he managed to forge a fiercely loyal following of "common folk" who looked to his radio addresses with religiosity, as he continued to forge a political persona that championed the "little man". Author Edward F. Haas adds Long cultivated the "image of a buffoon", which further allowed people to relate to him. He used the "unbridled admiration" to vault into power and vowed to liberate the masses of Louisiana, sometimes genuinely fulfilling his promises. Long was assassinated by the son of a man he vilified.

#31 Hugo Chávez
Rule: 1999-2013 as President of Venezuela
Gist: Chávez managed to gain support from the marginalized by dealing with fundamental problems when there was no hope, and in the process became immortalized in a quasi-religious cult that sees him as the liberator of Venezuela and their "eternal commander"

About: Even before he became president, Chávez was seen as a savior for those who had no hope. When he became president, Chávez's image was associated with the government's social programs so that he was seen as a "great benefactor", and that he was the one solving the day-to-day problems. After the coup in 2002, some people saw it as if he had returned from being vanquished like Christ. Chávez made sure that both he and his image was omnipresent during his rule, having his face appearing on billboards everywhere and his voice constantly dominating the airwaves. He labeled himself as a liberator of Venezuela against the yolk of American Imperialism, and critics were labeled as degenerates. After Chávez died of cancer, he was referred to as the "eternal one" or just "the deceased", with Nicolás Maduro even claiming that he spoke to his ghost in the form of a bird. Chávez's image still appears everywhere in the form of colorful murals, even prayed to as "Our Chávez", in order to maintain his myth.

#32 Ioannis Metaxas (pictured tipping his hat)
Rule: 1936-1941 as Prime Minister of the 4th of August Regime in Greece
Gist: Metaxas focused on an extensive propaganda network to construct a leadership cult as Greece's "Beloved Chief" to retain the "love and support of his people", as he called to the people to "wipe out the pettiness of individualism"

About: After declaring a "self-coup" because of "communist danger" with the King's support, Metaxas did not seek to set up a personality cult like that of Mussolini and Hitler. He knew he was a poor orator, was physically unimpressive, and generally represented a negative model of the charismatic leader. His alternative approach was to present himself as a "simple man" and a "humble servant of the state" that would embrace all sections of the community instead of creating a personality cult of just one party. He used a propaganda machine so people became frenzied when they see him not because of his charm, rather because they sensed a "deep faith" of the ideas of the nation in him. Metaxas tried to spread the idea that he was "the great grandfather" and the savior of the new Third Hellenic Civilization. A key component to the cult was Metaxas as the guarantor of national unity, where he was displayed as the holder of supreme ethical values, and able to establish close relationships with the whole population.

#33 Iran's Supreme Leaders
Rule: 1979-1989 for Ruhollah Khomeini and 1989-Present for Ali Khamenei (pictured) as Supreme Leaders of Iran
Gist: The Supreme Leaders of Iran, in their attempts to create a "global Islamic awakening", have defined themselves as "divine gifts to mankind", quoted more often than the Quran, and citizens have been imprisoned for criticizing them

About: The Supreme Leaders are supposed to make legal decisions within the confines of Islamic law, and Islamic law says political authority resides with God and the leaders have derivative authority; idolatrous worship is also forbidden. However, according to author Chetan Bhatt, starting with Khomeini, the Supreme Leaders have tried to cultivate a heavily visual cult of personality, where they have been approaching an absolutist media symbol. Khomeini became known as the modern/hidden imam, allowing him to accumulate more than a human identity. After he died, a mausoleum was set up to Khomeini in the largest museum in Iran, which some believe will combine national icons. According to columnist Borzou Daragahi, Khamenei took this further, where "hardliners" saw him as a standard-bearer against reformists when he cracked down against the reformist parliament elected in 1997. Supporters saw him as "infallible" and "holy", and like his predecessor being transformed into a semi-divine figure.

#34 Jair Bolsonaro
Rule: 2019-Present as President of Brazil
Gist: Bolsonaro gained notoriety through incendiary statements against the country's problems and "leftist-elite", yet this extremism and particular kind of personality caused him to be seen as a "gift from God" by evangelists and a savior by his supporters

About: Often referred to as the "Trump of the Tropics", Bolsonaro put himself at the center-stage of the Brazilian working class by depicting himself as an everyday man, additionally by thriving off the contempt for the liberal political elite. He combines blind patriotism with religiosity, where Bolsonaro casts himself as if he's fulfilling "God's mission" and as an epic hero of patriotism and family values that must never be questioned. Often, he focuses on Christian texts to depict himself as a modern-day savior. Supporters always think he knows more than others, mainly because he calls "the others" fake news, and see him as a hero whenever he opposes the majority. Bolsonaro uses social media to convey that he embodies the "true people's will" in fighting the "corrupt domestic and foreign forces", often taking the form of pro-human rights activists and environmentalist groups. On his campaign, he preached that he was Brazil's "cleanser" of left-wing criminals, and he was an outspoken advocate of the former military dictatorship.

#35 Jean-Bédel Bokassa (pictured on the right with one of his 17 wives, Catherine)
Rule: 1966-1979 as President of Central Africa (called himself Emperor starting in 1976)
Gist: Bokassa traveled the ranks from soldier to Emperor, creating a personality cult based on intimidation and fear. His personal participation in torture, awarding himself with a huge number of medals, and claiming he was bullet proof all attributed to a cult of a tyrant

About: Bokassa led the CAR army against the president in a coup because of failing country conditions. What followed was him invalidating the constitution, saying that only he was necessary to represent the people, and portraying himself a fearless character and "strongman". Bokassa had a penchant for brutal torture, feeding people to crocodiles and allegedly eating his enemies. He forced school children to wear expensive uniforms with his face on them, and declared himself the 13th Apostle, saying that he had secret meetings with the Pope. He knew military might would only take him so far, so he was also known to use radio and musical groups to project him as a national star. His unpredictable behavior led him to be considered one of the most tyrannical rulers in Africa, and to justify his actions he appointed himself Emperor in 1976. The ceremony cost 1/3 of the CAR budget, with Bokassa saying it would help the country "stand out". People thought he went insane, and the French overthrew him in 1979.

#36 John F. Kennedy
Rule: 1961-1963 as President of the United States
Gist: Kennedy created "America's first royal family" and cultivated a celebrity presidency because he understood the power of image. This caused him to be practically canonized after his death, with people overlooking his flaws and instead obsessing over him as an "American hero"

About: Kennedy enchanted many Americans during his presidency and, according to TIME, while he was alive he kept the news constantly in mind and used it to amass personal power. Kennedy became synonymous with the US as he fed the public's desire to know all about White House, causing an imbalance of the news. Columnist Ross Douthat says that this generational obsession now overlooks mediocrity for it views his legacy as "incomplete". They perpetuate myths, and replace charisma with competence and hail rhetoric as they brush off genuine achievement. Author Youssef El-Gingihy adds that Kennedy has been immortalized as a heroic figure, aided by him being the first TV president. His media portrayal had people believing he embodied the "American soul", and some believed, after events like the Cuban missile crisis, that he saved the country. Numerous places have been named after him, from boulevards to space centers, and people still remain captivated by his image to this day.

#37 Joseph Stalin
Rule: 1922-1953 as General Secretary of the Soviet Union
Gist: Stalin created a cult that saw him as being the embodiment of the Communist Party, and in the process all culture, education, and art was brought under state control in order to create the image of Stalin as the savior and supreme leader of the Soviet Union, and questioning otherwise was unhealthy

About: Perhaps one of the most well-known cults of personality in history, Stalin's cult demonstrated to others that he was all-knowing, all-powerful, outside of criticism, and by the 1930's began to take on divine attributes. His "Stalinist doctrine" had it so that he was the focus of national attention and he was the only source of supreme power; a servile attitude was obligatory. Stalin's image appeared everywhere, from banners, to posters, to being carried in parades, and to monumental architecture. He was the personification of a "new revolutionary type of society". Stalin was the people's "brilliant and authoritative leader", while at the same time being their "nurturing and sacred teacher". Nikita Khrushchev himself, Stalin's successor, thought the cult reached such monstrous size and Stalin was "lifted up to the heavens" that he engaged in a policy of extensive "destalinization". Even today, some see him as an admirable leader who resorted to extreme unfortunate measures to return Russia to a global leadership role.

#38 Josip Broz Tito
Rule: 1953-1980 as President of the SFR of Yugoslavia
Gist: Tito used extensive mass media manipulation to maintain his public image as a "unifier" and hero of Yugoslavia, to the point where some felt that everything that was being created was being done by Tito

About: Tito led the Yugoslav Communist party to victory and in his accession to total political power there became what some described as a "fanatical adoration" of Tito's personality and leadership. Tito became viewed as the "leader of the uprising" and the embodiment of the unity of the population, seen as the foundation of Yugoslavia. Tito's birthday was annually celebrated, including a relay race where the baton carries a "symbolic birthday pledge from all of Yugoslavia's youth". Communist Party gatherings also included standing ovations to Tito, and his regime was known to include widespread distribution of portraits and photographs of Tito to be used in all possible political and social situations. Former Yugoslav countries and even other countries abroad have named cities, streets, parks, and even natural formations after Tito to further cement his legacy. For supporters, Tito symbolized advancement and a heightened prestige in the world, along with achieving new victories and overcoming past struggles.

#39 Józef Piłsudski
Rule: 1918-1922 as Chief of State of the Second Polish Republic
Gist: Piłsudski was celebrated as a brilliant strategist and political visionary who managed to revive the morale of the army and, most importantly, earn Poland its independence. This developed a "national hero" cult that managed to survive even Poland's communist regime

About: Piłsudski created what some have termed the "Cult of the Marshal" because of his military feats as he fought for the country's independence during WWI, and his offense against Russia during the Polish-Soviet War. He was seen as a national hero in his restoration of the Polish state, and in strengthening the executive he managed to strengthen Poland's standing. Piłsudski was seen as the "sovereign of the Polish will", and influential enough that he deposed the elected government in 1926 and installed his own: the Sanation Government (he was PM from 1926-1928). When he died in 1935, his funeral was a major state ceremony and his followers attempted to turn him into a legend to maintain legitimacy. Polish Independence Day celebrates the date Piłsudski assumed power, but the cult was suppressed by the communists, who tried to blame him for the country's ills. Despite this, his legend survived the repression and numerous places are named after him, along with the creation of paintings and statues.

#40 Juan Perón (pictured on the right with his wife, Eva)
Rule: 1946-1955; 1973-1974 as President of Argentina
Gist: Perón insisted that social inequality be addressed and managed to turn the working class into a coherent national force, and, despite his autocratic tendencies during his presidency, he remains a symbol of their aspirations and strength to this day

About: Perón was widely popular during his presidency because of his ability to raise the living conditions of the working class. His wife, Eva, was also popular as she provided social aid through her charity Foundation and provided intermediary leadership between Perón and the masses. Perón's benefits to industrial workers were unparalleled at the time and people saw him as a new strength that could bring about change. Perón wanted to politicize private life and used the people's excessive admiration of him in order to increase his executive power. People overlooked this because it was the "quickest way to get what they wanted", but the social services, like Eva's own Foundation, sometimes demanded support for the regime. Perón's growing oppression of political opposition and a failing economy led to the military overthrowing him, but his immensely popular legacy saw him returning from exile and serving one more term in 1973. Even to this day some see Perón as someone who gave "the powerless power" and look to him with a sense of identity, both socially and politically.

#41 Cat tax

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Feel free to check out some other "history/politics" lists:

Political Ideologies: https://imgur.com/gallery/jXv84ca
Rebel and Terrorist Groups: https://imgur.com/gallery/IvEmDsT
Secret Police Groups: https://imgur.com/gallery/wjb1TxH
US Color-Coded War Plans: https://imgur.com/gallery/onLKjXY
Micronations: https://imgur.com/gallery/LohcoBP
Governments-in-Exile: https://imgur.com/gallery/oeB9dBU
Methods of Execution: https://imgur.com/gallery/dcJT9gY
Unsolved Serial Killer Cases: https://imgur.com/gallery/b9aZHnz
Forms of Government: https://imgur.com/gallery/4KnanQ8
Mass Suicides: https://imgur.com/gallery/TwjP5nB
Military Operations that Never Happened: https://imgur.com/gallery/D5JaDkZ
Genocides: https://imgur.com/gallery/xCHGIbh
Shortest-Lived Countries: https://imgur.com/gallery/AUplb
US 3rd Parties: https://imgur.com/gallery/G5qM0
Iconic Historical Photographs: https://imgur.com/gallery/QDuRA