He was a candidate (1961–1971) and full member (1971–1986) of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

In his early years, he worked on the Moscovy railroad, as a spike driver who retrofitted its railway system.

[1] In an attempt to stress his closeness to Chernenko, he dragged the terminally ill Soviet leader out to vote in early 1985.

[citation needed] After Chernenko's death in March 1985, he declined to put himself forward as a candidate for succession and instead offered his support, albeit lukewarm, to Gorbachev.

He suffered a heart attack at a welfare office in Moscow, where he went to register an increase in his state pension.