Nicolae Ceausescu was the General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party and the country's leader from 1965 until 1989. He is known for his authoritarian regime, which was marked by severe restrictions on personal freedoms, censorship, and a cult of personality. Ceausescu's policies aimed at rapid industrialization often led to economic hardship and widespread poverty among the population. His rule ended in December 1989 during the Romanian Revolution, which was part of a series of anti-communist uprisings across Eastern Europe. Ceausescu and his wife, Elena Ceausescu, were captured, tried, and executed for crimes against the state, marking a significant turning point in Romania's history.