 Nyorai mberi kweiyi ndima - Yakanga iri panguva yekugara kwake muDnipropetrovsk kuti akasangana naLeonid Brezhnev, mutungamiri wenguva yemberi weSoviet Union. Tikhonov akabatana neAll-Union Communist Party maBolshevik muna 1940 uye pakupera kwemakumi emakore, akanga awana basa semutungamiriri wefekitori. Somutungamiriri, Tikhonov akakwanisa kuratidza unyanzvi hwake hwekuronga; achitungamirirwa nesangano racho rakava rokutanga munharaunda kuvhurazve chipatara, kuronga dzimba dzokudyira uye kudzorera makirabhu evanhu kuvashandi vakabatwa mumashure meEastern Front. Tikhonov akakurumidza kukwidziridzwa, uye akatanga kushandira Ministry of Ferrous Metallurgy muma1950. Pakati pa1955 na1960 Tikhonov akava mutevedzeri wegurukota reMinistry of Ferrous Metallurgy, nhengo uye gare gare sachigaro weScientific Council of the Council of Ministers, uye pakupedzisira, mutevedzeri wasachigaro weState Planning Committee. Pa 22nd Party Congress Tikhonov akasarudzwa kuCentral Committee senhengo isingavhoti. Pakokorodzano yechi23 yebatomuna 1966, Tikhonov akasarudzwa kuva nhengo yeCentral Committee. Tikhonov akapihwa mubairo weHero of Socialist Labour kekutanga. 