The famous Soviet leader during the Cold War was Leonid Brezhnev. He served as the General Secretary of the Communist Party from 1964 until his death in 1982, marking a significant timeframe in Soviet history. Brezhnev's leadership was characterized by a policy of detente with the West, attempting to ease tensions with the United States while also focusing on strengthening the Soviet military and economy. His tenure also saw the expansion of the Brezhnev Doctrine, which justified military intervention in Eastern Europe.