presidency became much more important during his tenure. On September 23, 1992, he was the successor to Võ Chí Công Chairman of the State Council and thus President of Vietnam. This predominantly ceremonial office he held until his replacement by Trần Đức Lương on 24 September 1997. For his services, General Lê Đức Anh received several awards, including the Order of the Golden Star (Huân chương Sao vàng) and the Ho Chi Minh Order (Huân chương Hồ Chí Minh). Anh is considered by many to have been (ideologically) the most conservative (communist) among the three political leaders during his tenure. Prime Minister Võ Văn Kiệt was associated with the reform camp and therefore often disagreed with Anh. Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Vietnam Đỗ Mười was ideologically more flexible and effectively came to be seen as representing the middle ground between Anh and Kiệt, but seems to have tended towards conservative positions. His opposition to Kiệt's reform ambitions are part of a long-lasting rivalry. In 1991, Anh joined Đỗ Mười to support him in his candidacy for party leadership against Võ Văn Kiệt. The Kiệt camp later spread rumours about wrongdoings Anh was said to be involved in Cambodia. Resignation In mid-November 1996, he was hospitalized after a major stroke. This was at a time when the reform camp that he opposed was in decline and for some time his illness seemed to change the dynamics within the political leadership, weakening the conservative camp and reinvigorating the reform camp. However, Party leader Đỗ Mười led a counter-attack against the reform camp, warning of the dangers of the 'current market economy'. The conservative camp gained further momentum when Anh surprisingly recovered in April 1997. He stepped down as president in September 1997 after the Communist Party Congress, was replaced by Trần Đức Lương. He was an Advisor of the Party's Central Committee from December 1997 – 2001. Personal life In 1951, Anh married his first wife, Phạm Thị Anh (1925–2011). and had two daughters. In 1956, Anh married his second wife, Võ Thị Lê (1928 – 18 November 2016). and had one son and one daughter. On 21 February 2018, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was admitted to the Central Military Hospital 108 in Hanoi in critical condition. He was discharged in June and resumed public life, however he was readmitted in July. Lê Đức Anh died on 22