7 The 100 Most Influential World Leaders of All Time 7plotted to expel the British from Egypt with the help of
the Germans. The British arrested and imprisoned him in
1942, but he escaped two years later. In 1946 Sādāt was
arrested after being implicated in the assassination of pro-
British minister Amīn ‘Uthmān. He was imprisoned until
his acquittal in 1948. In 1950 he joined Gamal Abdel
Nasser’s Free Officers organization. He participated in its
armed coup against the Egyptian monarchy in 1952 and
supported Nasser’s election to the presidency in 1956.
Sādāt held various high offices that led to his serving in the
vice presidency during the years 1964– 66 and 1969 –70.
He became acting president upon Nasser’s death, on Sept.
28, 1970, and was elected president in a plebiscite on
October 15.
Sādāt’s domestic and foreign policies were partly a
reaction against those of Nasser and reflected Sādāt’s
efforts to emerge from his predecessor’s shadow. One of
Sādāt’s most important domestic initiatives was the open-
door policy known as infitāh· (“opening”). This program of
dramatic economic change included decentralization and
diversification of the economy as well as efforts to attract
trade and foreign investment. Sādāt’s efforts to liberalize
the economy came at significant cost, including high infla-
tion and an uneven distribution of wealth, deepening
inequality and leading to discontent that would later con-
tribute to food riots in January 1977.
It was in foreign affairs that Sādāt made his most dra-
matic efforts. Feeling that the Soviet Union gave him
inadequate support in Egypt’s continuing confrontation
with Israel, he expelled thousands of Soviet technicians
and advisers from the country in 1972. In addition,
Egyptian peace overtures toward Israel were initiated
early in Sādāt’s presidency, when he made known his will-
ingness to reach a peaceful settlement if Israel returned