Defense, to assume civilian posts as President of the Front of National Unity, and from 10 April 1968 to 23 December 1970 as Chairman of the Council of State – the de facto head of state of Poland – the Council being the de jure executive authority in the People's Republic, although some considered the post to be mostly symbolic. Descent from power As head of state, Spychalski was nearly assassinated at Karachi airport in Pakistan on 1 November 1970 during the welcoming ceremonies. The Gettysburg Times informed that an anti-communist Islamic fundamentalist Feroze Abdullah drove a lorry at high speed into the Polish delegation, narrowly missing his intended target but killing the Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Zygfryd Wolniak (48) and three Pakistani representatives including the Deputy Director of the Intelligence Bureau, Chaudhri Mohammed Nazir, and two photographers. Spychalski lost his posts as close associate of Gomułka, when Edward Gierek replaced Gomułka as First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party during the 1970 Polish protests throughout December. Spychalski retired and wrote a four volume memoir which is now in the archives of the Hoover Institution in California. He died on 7 June 1980, survived by his wife Barbara who also wrote about him. Honours and awards Knight's Cross of the Virtuti Militari Order of the Builders of People's Poland (1961) Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta, also the Commander's Cross Cross of Grunwald, 2nd and 3rd Classes Order of the Banner of Labour, 1st Class Partisan Cross (12 June 1946) Medal for Oder, Neisse and Baltic Medal for Participation in the Battle of Berlin Medal for Warsaw 1939–1945 Medal of Victory and Freedom 1945 Gold Medal "in the Service of the Armed Forces of the Homeland" Gold Medal "for his contribution to national defense" Medal "For the Capture of Berlin" Badge "Meritorious activist ORMO" Order of Lenin (USSR) (1968) Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (USSR) Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose (Finland) References 1906 births 1980 deaths Architects from Łódź People from Piotrków Governorate Communist Party of Poland politicians Polish Workers' Party politicians Members of the Politburo of the Polish United Workers' Party Heads of state of the Polish People's Republic Members of the State National Council Members of the Polish Sejm 1947–1952 Members of the