In 1968 during the antisemitic purge of the army, at Gomułka's request he left the Polish Army and his job as Minister of Defense, to assume civilian posts as President of the Front of National Unity, and from 10 April 1968 to 23 December 1970 as Chairman of the Council of State – the "de facto" head of state of Poland – the Council being the "de jure" executive authority in the People's Republic, although some considered the post to be mostly symbolic.