Kyösti Kallio (1873–1940) was a politician with a long-term vision. The central idea underlying his actions was to strengthen independence by integrating society through economic and social equality. The achievements of his career came especially in the periods of peaceful development when his tenacity and purposefully conciliatory attitude really came into their own. As president at the time of the Winter War, Kallio contributed in particular to maintaining and strengthening the nation’s morale; the shaky state of his health to a large extent kept him out of political decision-making.
Kallio, Kyösti
Kyösti Kallio 1937 (Tenhovaara/National Board of Antiquities)