Tito was president for life. On April 7, 1963, Josip Broz, known as Marshal Tito, was appointed president for life of Yugoslavia. He ruled dictatorially, suppressing any opposition to his regime, although the Yugoslav republics were granted a certain degree of autonomy. Tito’s refusal to answer to the USSR for his moderate regime ultimately earned him the respect of both Moscow and Washington. Tito ruled for forty years, until his death in 1980 at the age of 87.
