Operation Able Archer. He addressed the Kremlin Palace of Congresses in order to commemorate the October Revolution, where he remarked: Western analysts, unaware of the Exercise that was taking place and therefore uncertain as to why Romanov would describe the situation as "white hot", dismissed the remarks as Soviet propaganda. During Konstantin Chernenko's short time in office as General Secretary in 19841985, Romanov already occupied a position clearly inferior to Gorbachev, who had been styled Second Secretary of the Central Committee since February 1984 and acted as chairman of the Politburo, Secretariat and Central Committee in the course of Chernenko's long periods of absence due to his illness. Gorbachev vs. Romanov Romanov was the second youngest member of the Politburo after Gorbachev. In the months preceding the death of Konstantin Chernenko in March 1985, Romanov and Gorbachev were commonly regarded to be chief rivals in the succession struggle for the post of General Secretary. Viktor Grishin was also considered a viable candidate. However, after Chernenko's death Gorbachev emerged with the strongest position to succeed Chernenko. Andrei Gromyko, one of the oldest and widely respected Politburo members, nominated Gorbachev for the position of General Secretary of CPSU, both at the March 11 meeting of Politburo and subsequently at the March 1985 Plenum (meeting) of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Neither Romanov nor Grishin mounted a formal challenge to Gorbachev's bid and the votes in favor of Gorbachev, both in the March 11 meeting of Politburo and at the March Plenum, were unanimous. End of career Gorbachev quickly moved to oust Romanov following his ascent to become General Secretary. He informed him that he had no future under Gorbachev, and sacked him three months later. Romanov was forced to retire from the Politburo on 1 July 1985. Romanov subsequently lived as a pensioner in Moscow. For several years he headed the "Association of Leningradians in Moscow". References Archie Brown. The Gorbachev Factor. Oxford University Press, 1997. External links A Soviet War Veteran Speaks Out Pro-Romanov account of the battle to succeed Chernenko 1923 births 2008 deaths Burials at Kuntsevo Cemetery Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union members People from Novgorod Oblast Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union members Soviet military personnel of World War II Soviet politicians